News Archive

Which? Calls for a National Savings Strategy

The new Which? report explores consumer behaviour and attitudes to saving in the UK and identifies that there are approximately 11.5 million people who struggle to save regularly, and a further 2.5 million who don't save but could afford to, who could be encouraged to save more.   The Government recommends that households have at least three months' of essential expenditure to protect against sudden shocks to income or expenditure, yet four in ten (41%) people say they could not last three months without their main source of income.  

Reviews of Police Scotland Standing Firearms Authority Announced

Two of the bodies responsible for oversight of policing in Scotland are today announcing a complementary programme of review and inquiry into the decision of Police Scotland to give a small number of firearms officers a standing authority to carry firearms.   HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS) is today publishing the full terms of reference for its planned assurance review to independently assess the current practices for the issue and carriage of firearms by armed response vehicle (ARV) crews under the standing authority.  

Big Six Fall Out of Love With New Customers

- "Big Six" energy companies absent from top five best buy tables since February 14th 2014.   - Size DOESN'T matter: smaller providers winning the energy price war as a result.  

Council Area Leader Welcomes Review of Armed Police Policy

Caithness and Sutherland Area Leader Cllr Deirdre Mackay has welcomed the announcement of two reviews into the decision by Police Scotland to allow a number of its officers to carry handguns.    It was announced that both the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) and the HM Inspectorate of Scotland (HMIS) will both hold reviews looking at different areas of the policy.  The HMICS will assess the current practices for the issue and the carrying of firearms by armed response vehicle crews.  It will aim to provide assurance that Police Scotland's approach is compliant with guidance, procedures and recognised best practice.  SPA has announced that its review will consider the public impact of Police Scotland's decision around firearms deployment.  

Government Takes Action to Promote the Provision of Affordable Credit Through Credit Unions

The Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Andrea Leadsom, today encouraged employers and voluntary sector organisations to engage with credit unions to help them provide affordable credit and responsible financial services in their communities.   Following the launch of the government's call for evidence on credit unions in June, the Economic Secretary today visited London Mutual Credit Union to hear first-hand how credit unions are providing a payday loan product at a fraction of the costs charged by payday lenders.  

UK Becoming the 'Self-Employment Capital' of Western Europe

The UK is becoming the 'self-employment capital' of Western Europe, according to new analysis from the think tank IPPR, ahead of the latest official unemployment figures.  IPPR's analysis shows that growth in self-employment in the UK has been the fastest of all Western European countries over the last year, with the proportion of workers who are self-employed rising by almost a whole percentage point.  

Growth of Private Sector Hits Six-Month High in July

The recovery in Scotland's private sector economy continued into the second half of the year, July's Bank of Scotland PMI report showed.  Business activity rose at the fastest rate in six months, helping to sustain solid employment growth across both the manufacturing and service sectors.  

Scotland's People, a snapshot of life in Scotland

A National Statistics Publication for Scotland.   The majority of people in Scotland rate their neighbourhood as a good place to live, have access to the internet and engaged in some type of cultural activity in 2013.  

Fish plan to tackle trade embargo

Key themes of 5-point action plan agreed.   A 5-point plan to protect Scotland's pelagic fishing sector from the effects of the Russia trade embargo was agreed at a meeting in Edinburgh today.  

Scottish employment at record levels

Employment in Scotland is at the highest level since records began in 1992, statistics published today show.   Published by the Office for National Statistics, the latest labour market figures covering April to June 2014 show that total employment increased in Scotland by 63,000 over the year to reach 2,594,000 - the highest level since records began.