News Archive
1/8/2014
Defined Contribution Workplace Pensions: The Audit of Charges and Benefits in Legacy Schemes
A progress update has today been published by the Independent Project Board responsible for overseeing the audit of charges and benefits in legacy defined contribution workplace pension schemes. View the full update at - http://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/docs/dc-audit-charges-benefits-legacy-report-2014.pdf .1/8/2014
US Economy Rebounds Strongly
Keith Wade, Chief Economist at Schroders, comments on yesterday's US GDP figures, which far outstripped expectations with growth of 4%. "Within the details, consumer expenditure was the largest contributor to the quarterly figures (+1.7 percentage points) as households took advantage of the continued improvement in real disposable income.1/8/2014
More and More Money Advice Service Customers Are Taking Action
More and more people are taking action after receiving support from the Money Advice Service. New figures reveal that in the year from April 2013 to March 2014 its customers took 653,000 positive steps to manage their debt better, save regularly, prepare for retirement, protect their assets or provide for their dependants.1/8/2014
20.5 Million People Plan to Rely on State Benefits When They Retire
Just three per cent of the UK see saving for their retirement as a top priority. One in three people have no pension provision at all.1/8/2014
A Licence to Print Money
Ofgem has today set out its proposed price control settlements for five of the six companies that run Britain's local electricity network, which transports energy into homes and businesses. www.ofgem.gov.uk/press-releases/ofgem-announces-£17-billion-electricity-network-and-cuts-bills-consumers Ecotricity founder Dale Vince wrote to Ofgem over 18 months ago highlighting the incredible profits being made by these electricity distribution companies that operate as a monopoly.1/8/2014
Economic Review, August 2014
The preliminary estimate of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) indicated that the UK economy grew by 0.8% in Q2 2014. This is the sixth successive quarter of output growth, contributing to annual growth of 3.1% - the highest rate since Q4 2007.1/8/2014
Over £0.7billion Left Unspent in Britain's Back Pockets
New research from Lloyds Bank reveals that Britons are letting the pennies slip when it comes to looking after their cash. Overall, men have £20 and women have £10 unspent change each month, meaning we could be sitting on over £0.7bn that is left in our back pockets, houses, cars and offices.1/8/2014
Moneysupermarket Tells Energy Customers Still To Shop Around
MoneySuperMarket Comments on Ofgem's Announcement That the Big Six Energy Firms Will Double Profit Margins Over the Next Year. Commenting on Ofgem's announcement that the Big Six energy firms will double profit margins over the next year, Stephen Murray, energy expert at MoneySuperMarket, said: "This news from Ofgem is yet another example of a failing energy market, at a time when UK households are still feeling the squeeze from high bills.1/8/2014
Driving Licence Fees to Fall
Driving licence fees are set to fall by up to 32% under plans announced today by Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander, and Transport Minister Claire Perry. The proposals are contained in a public consultation on driver licensing fees.31/7/2014
Wick Set To Become Beatrice Operation and Maintenance Base
Beatrice Offshore Windfarm Ltd (BOWL), a joint venture partnership formed between SSE Renewables (75%) and Repsol Nuevas Energias UK (25%), has announced that Wick Harbour is likely to become the future location of the Beatrice offshore wind farm Operation and Maintenance base (O&M). A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been finalised with Wick Harbour Authority and BOWL this week.
Financial boost for start-up ventures in Highland and Moray
Entrepreneurs in Highland and Moray are now able to access personal loans to help start their own business thanks to the new government-funded Start-Up Loans scheme which is locally delivered by Business Gateway and Highland Opportunity. For Moray businesses, this is an especially important development.30/7/2014
New tile and bathroom shop opening in Wick on 2nd August
J B Tiles & Mobility Solutions are proud to announce the opening of their new tile and bathroom showroom at 58 Henrietta Street in Wick. John Budge said, We aim to supply and fit affordable quality tiles bathrooms and showers with assurance in a quality service from start to finish with over 15 years experience in bathroom design and fitting.
30/7/2014
Rhoda Grant MSP Tells Tesco to Take Action 
Highlands and Islands (Scottish Labour) MSP, Rhoda Grant is calling time on land banking by Tesco in Thurso on the Auction site development. Mrs Grant visited the site with local Thurso Councillor Roger Saxon, a long term critic of the supermarket giant, to see first hand the lack of progress being made at the site.
29/7/2014
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 29 July 2014
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (July, 29th) sold 27 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (7) averaged 200.2p (-4.7p) and sold to 219p per kg and £1,479.00 gross.28/7/2014
Radioactivity Found In A Drainage System Near Dounreay
The Environmental Closure & Demolition department at Dounreay have found elevated levels of radioactivity in a manhole in a redundant offsite drainage system. Samples of sludge were taken from the manhole which indicated elevated levels of alpha activity.28/7/2014
NDA decommissioning supply chain event returns
The NDA estate's showcase event for suppliers is returning for a fourth year and is looking forward to welcoming even more visitors and exhibitors. More than 1,000 delegates from across the country attended the 2013 event, including existing supply chain members and decommissioning newcomers.28/7/2014
Police appeal for information following thefts from Wick Harbour
Between Friday 25 July 2014 and Sunday 27 July 2014 a number of local Wick fishing boats have had their Lobster Keepers, which were stored within Wick Harbour tampered with and the contents stolen. It is suspected that a vehicle may have been involved and Police would be interested in hearing from anyone with any information or knowledge of the incident or of any vehicles seen acting suspiciously around Wick harbour between the specified dates.28/7/2014
"Undecided moving towards ‘Yes', but not enough to win referendum vote"
New data released by the British Election Study (BES) shows that previously undecided voters are more likely to say Yes on September 18, but are not enough in numbers to catch up with No voters. The findings come from waves of data collected in March and June by BES and analysed by Professor Ed Fieldhouse from The University of Manchester, who Co-directs the study.28/7/2014
In Perpetuity Problem With Time Shares Follow You After Death
Most debts die with you. But not Timeshare.26/7/2014
