News Archive

New Criminal Offence and Penalties for Offshore Tax Evaders

People with undeclared offshore tax liabilities are being urged to come forward and pay what they owe or face prosecution, under new rules announced by the government today.   The new criminal offence of failing to declare taxable offshore income and gains is set out in an HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) consultation paper launched today.  

New Initiative Will Open Up Free Business Course to Anyone, Anywhere

A new initiative, due to launch on 8 September 2014, will allow anyone, anywhere in the world to get a better understanding of how to run a business, thanks to a collaboration between global accountancy body ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), the University of Exeter Business School and online learning platform FutureLearn - https://www.futurelearn.com/ .   Together, they are launching a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) - Discovering Business in Society - which is free to study and open to anyone in the world with access to the internet.  

1 in 3 Savers Enquire About Raiding Their Pension Pots

A third of savers have "actively enquired" about raiding their pension pots next April, reveals one of the world's largest independent financial advisory organisations.   deVere Group reports that since Chancellor George Osborne announced in the Budget in March that all restrictions to pension fund access will be scrapped from April 2015, approximately one in three clients who have pensions have sought advice on accessing retirement savings.  

Work to start on latest radon testing programme in Highland

The Highland Council's Community Services have commissioned Public Health England (PHE) to test around 1,150 Council houses in Highland at the highest risk from radon gas.   PHE is writing to 1,150 Council tenants in parts of Badenoch and Strathspey; Wester Ross Strathpeffer and Lochalsh; Caol and Mallaig; Landward Caithness; East Sutherland and Edderton; Dingwall and Seaforth; and Aird and Loch Ness Wards during the week commencing 18 August 2014.  

New build council housing nearing completion at Ullapool

There are just a few months to go until fourteen new cottage flats start to be handed over to their new tenants and owners.   The Highland Council and the Scottish Government has invested approximately £1.75m to transform a derelict site of a former hotel into affordable housing, enhancing local housing opportunities and be positive for the local environment.  

Council to consider extending grass cutting contracts

Members of The Highland Council's Community Services Committee are to consider an update report on the Council's Grounds Maintenance Service Delivery which includes an extension to existing grass cutting contracts on Thursday 21 August 2014.   A report to Committee will invite Members to: · note the grounds maintenance performance information for April to July 2014; · note the management action taken to address performance issues; · agree that a review of the supervision of grounds maintenance is undertaken; and · agree that the existing contractual arrangements for delivery of amenity grass cutting are extended for the 2015 season so that all contracts terminate at the same time.  

Referendum Agents appointed

Fifteen referendum agents have been appointed in the Highland area to act for the permitted participants in the Scottish Independence Referendum.   The deadline for applications was 12 noon yesterday (Thursday 13 August) and the assigned referendum agents will be appointing both polling and counting agents for the Referendum which takes place on Thursday 18 September.  

Risks to currency, EU membership and public spending key to Referendum vote choice

According to new analysis, there is considerable public interest in the referendum campaign but almost seventy per cent (69.5%) of voters do not believe that either the Yes or No campaigns can predict the consequences of independence.  Many voters, therefore, are relying on their own research and reaching their decision based on what they consider to be certain key risks, especially currency following a Yes vote, EU membership - whatever the outcome - and the prospects for government spending in the event of a No vote.  

1 in 10 Travellers Has Taken the Wrong Currency on Holiday

1 in 10 holidaymakers confesses to currency confusion, with 14% of men admitting to having taken Euros to a non-Euro country, according to a new survey* of 1000 people by ICE - International Currency Exchange, the leading travel money provider.   ICE is urging those jetting off abroad this summer to double-check the legal tender of their destination and not to assume that any European country will accept Euros.  

Automatic Enrolment Hits Four Million Landmark

Figures published yesterday (14 Aug 2014) by The Pensions Regulator show that more than four million workers have now been automatically enrolled into a workplace pension.   The regulator's monthly declaration of compliance report shows that more than 21,000 employers have now completed their declaration of compliance (registration) informing the regulator how they have met their duties.