News Archive

Scottish pensions complex, uncosted and uncertain after separation

The Scottish Affairs Committee publishes its report on the Referendum on Separation for Scotland: Implications for Pensions and Benefits.   A report published by the Scottish Affairs Committee says the Scottish Government's failure to properly cost its plans for both public and private pensions will leave Scots with uncertainty in an area where most value security.  

Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update

Week Commencing 14th July 2014 Energy & Business services: We welcomed a new business to the area this week, with Aberdeen-based Process Safety Solutions (PSS) opening a new base at the HIE-owned Wick Business Park.  The opening was carried out by John Swinney MSP, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth whilst the Scottish Cabinet was in Wick this week.  

Scottish Cabinet Meeting 14th July 2014 at Wick

The Scottish Cabinet are meeting in Wick as part of a series of public question and answer sessions.  Members of the public had the opportunity to ask questions of Ministers about 'Scotland's Future'..  

Island airports deliver passenger growth for HIAL

Passenger numbers at HIAL's regional airports grew by almost 8000 during the last quarter, with the group's island airports driving growth.   Latest figures for the last quarter (April - June) show that passenger numbers at HIAL’s 11 airports grew by 7806, an increase of 2.2% on the same quarter last year.  

We need a public debate about Policing By Consent in Scotland

From councillor Deirdre Mackay, Highland Council ‘This is Brora not Beverley Hills and it's a classic example of what we are now seeing at family events across Highland.  ‘Since I first raised this issue in June the responses from Police Scotland become ever stranger.  

New £48.5 million school campus for Wick

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon today broke the ground on the new £48.5 million Wick Community Campus.   The facility, which will replace Wick High School, Pulteneytown Academy Primary School, and South Primary School, is part of Scotland's Schools for the Future programme and will receive more than £17 million from the Scottish Government.  

Thurso college facility to host high level apprentice engineer pilot

Engineering students at North Highland College will get the chance to get hands on work experience as part of a new course based in Thurso.   The move follows a recommendation by the Commission for Developing Scotland's Young Workforce to increase the number of higher level apprenticeship opportunities and to ensure those undertaking high level qualifications receive enhanced levels of work experience.  

CAITHNESS-MORAY TRANSMISSION LINK

SHE Transmission, the electricity transmission subsidiary of SSE plc, has welcomed Ofgem's decision to approve the need for the new transmission link between Caithness and Moray.  The new link, which will feature over 100 miles of under ground and subsea cable, is needed to transmit a large volume of electricity from renewable sources in the north of Scotland.  

Regions and Countries of the UK Recovering from the Economic Downturn

Latest regional and country economic indicators show that the economy across the UK has been improving.  Nominal output grew in every region and country between 2009 and 2012 (the latest data available) and this led to the level of nominal output in 2012 surpassing the pre-downturn level in all regions and countries except Northern Ireland.  

Local rogue builder to appear on BBC How Safe is Your House?

A local Highland builder is to appear in a new BBC rogue trader consumer programme entitled "How Safe is Your House?" Norman Hughes (recently trading as: Caledonian Roofing and Building and Driveline Paving) has been carrying out shoddy paving work at extortionate prices and ignoring warnings from trading standards officers.  To alert consumers, Highland Council trading standards officers seized the opportunity to be featured in a primetime slot for BBC One's How safe is your house? programme.