News Archive

The 50p tax rate and inequality

Posted on March 7, 2014 by David Eiser at The Economics of Constitutional Change Alex Salmond has twice this week refused to commit to re-introducing the 50p rate of income tax on incomes over £150,000 – first following his New Statesman lecture in London, and then at First Minister’s Questions on Thursday.   In making the case for independence, the Scottish Government has frequently argued that having access to tax and benefit levers would enable it tackle inequality more effectively than successive Westminster governments have tended to do.  

Council unanimously backs reducing the voting age

The Highland Council has unanimously supported reducing the minimum age for voting in all elections to 16.   The Council is also backing Highland Youth Voice’s “Votes[AT]16” campaign which calls for 16 and 17 year olds to get the vote.  

Council agrees plans to review customer services

The Highland Council has agreed plans to implement a review of Customer Services.   The Council has agreed to spend £68,500 from the Strategic Change and Development Fund to enhance the Council’s web site so that the public can conduct more transactions online and the Service Centre, which handles phone queries from customers.  

Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update

Week Commencing 10th March 2014 Energy & Business Services: Wick Harbour Authority is making progress with its plans to create a heavy-lift facility on the commercial quay at Wick harbour, with contractors Gunns Lybster Ltd having now begun the work.  The project, and its associated dredging works, was supported by CNSRP partners HIE and NDA respectively and is the first of several proposed phases of work to position the harbour as a key player in the energy sector, with the current focus being on potential to benefit from the development of Offshore Wind in the Moray Firth.  

Council team take top prize putting people into jobs

team from The Highland Council’s Planning and Development service has come out tops after winning the Strong and Sustainable Communities category in the 2014 COSLA Excellence Awards.   The Create and Employ project, a partnership with the council, Highland Opportunity and Business Gateway, was put forward after winning the Working Together for the Economy category in The Highland Council’s Quality Awards.  

Scotland's fiscal position worsened in 2012–13 as North Sea revenues fell

The Scottish Government has published the latest version of its annual Government Expenditure and Revenues Scotland (GERS) publication covering 2012–13.  The IFS will be publishing a full report on these figures and the last pre-referendum update of our assessment of Scotland’s fiscal position next month.  

Registration reminder for businesses offering credit

The Highland Council’s Trading Standards team is reminding Highland businesses involved in the provision of credit to consumers that they must register by the end of the month with the new Regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”).   Businesses affected include obvious financial sector operators like lenders, credit brokers, debt collection specialists, debt management companies and pawnbrokers.  

NHC GAMEKEEPING STUDENTS ARE SPORTING SUCCESS

Two Gamekeeping Modern Apprentice’s from the North Highland College UHI have been collecting numerous awards for their commitment to country sports and learning.   Duncan Seaton (19) and Greg Sinclair (19) are both studying their SVQ Level 2 in Game and Wildlife Management at the college on a block release basis, spending the rest of their time working on Highland estates.  

Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update

Week Commencing 3rd March 2014 Energy & Business Services: It was good to hear this week’s announcement of new ownership and opportunities for AGM Batteries and ABSL Power Systems in Thurso.  Under the new structure ABSL Power Systems will become Denchi Power Systems Ltd (named after Denchi House in Thurso, where both businesses are based).  

Maximising the benefits of female employment

Council of Economic Advisers to study ways of increasing female workforce.   The Scottish Government’s Council of Economic Advisers is to follow up its work on the importance of childcare in enabling more women to participate in the labour market with an analysis of further steps Scotland can take to maximise economic opportunities for women.