News Archive
30/7/2013
More spent on disability benefits and less on housing benefit per person in Scotland than in the rest of GB
Overall spending per person on benefits (including tax credits and the state pension) is only slightly higher in Scotland than in Great Britain as a whole. Within this, higher spending on old-age benefits and significantly higher spending on disability benefits is almost entirely offset by lower spending on housing benefit and the fact that there are fewer children per adult in Scotland, which leads to lower spending on child benefit and tax credits.29/7/2013
First Highlands and Islands publicly funded exchanges live by April 2014
Following the news from BT that through its commercial rollout fibre broadband is now available in Inverness, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) says it expects the first exchanges of a multi million pound publicly funded next generation broadband project to go live by April 2014. The community and economic development agency signed a contract with BT in March which, alongside the telecoms company’s commercial rollout, will bring fibre broadband services to around 84% of the region’s homes.28/7/2013
Conon Bridge station praised at UK awards
The £600,000 project to reintroduce rail services at Conon Bridge for the first time in more than five decades has been praised at a top UK transport awards. Delivered by ScotRail and Network Rail, the station reopening earned Highly Commended in the Small Project categories at the Network Rail Partnership Awards in London.28/7/2013
Average speed cameras to be introduced on A9
A new average speed camera system, which will run from Dunblane to Inverness, is to be installed on the A9 to improve safety. Transport Minister Keith Brown visited Blackford along the route today (26 July) to see one of the areas that will benefit from the scheme.25/7/2013
Police warn businesses of deception frauds involving changing money
POLICE are renewing their previous warnings about deception thefts targeting businesses across the Highlands. Police received a report of a "ringing the changes" fraud at a restaurant/pub in the Inverness area yesterday, 25 July.25/7/2013
Weather Aid for Farmers - update
Expert group to begin considering applications for Scottish Government funding. Almost 1,000 applications have been received for Scottish Government funding to help farmers hit by extreme winter weather.25/7/2013
Scottish insolvencies for first quarter 2013-14
Figures released today show that personal and company insolvencies in Scotland have risen slightly in the first quarter of 2013-14, but continue to fall in comparison with the previous year. The Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS), continues to be seen as a viable alternative to bankruptcy.25/7/2013
Manufactured export sales rise
Food and drink sales up 3.3 per cent The volume of Scottish manufactured export sales grew by 2.5 per cent during the first quarter of 2013 (January to March). An expansion in exports of food and drink, which was up 3.3 per cent in the first quarter, has contributed to the overall increase in export sales.25/7/2013
£6m boost for Scottish fishing
Action plan for prawn and white fisheries. Fishermen will be offered help to deal with the current pressures facing the industry through an action plan unveiled today.Funding Boost For Small Businesses Looking To European Markets
FUNDING BOOST FOR SMALL BUSINESSES LOOKING TO TEST THE EUROPEAN MARKET. Highland Opportunity’s Business Gateway service has received Highland Council and Moray Council backing to launch a new grant scheme aimed at helping small businesses to explore new opportunities in Europe.24/7/2013
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 23 July 2013
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (July, 23rd) sold 48 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (23) averaged 240.7p (-4.4p) and sold to 250p per kg and £1,614.70 gross.23/7/2013
Wick John O'Groats Airport Continues Strong Passenger Growth
Scotland’s regional airports handled more than 5,000 extra passengers last month according to new figures. Passenger numbers across the HIAL network, which includes 11 airports, increased in June to 126,453, a rise of 5,282 (+4.4%) on June 2012.
23/7/2013
Police investigate thefts of outboard motors from coastal locations in the Highlands
The Highland and Islands Division of Police Scotland is investigating a number of thefts of outboard motors from various coastal locations across the area. These have occurred during the early part of this month and have been removed from moored boats when the tide has been low or from unsecured sheds.22/7/2013
Police warn of possible fraudulent music festival tickets on sale following reports from the public
Police warn of possible fraudulent music festival tickets on sale following reports from the public Police in the Highlands and Islands are looking to alert those who are still wishing to purchase tickets for the Belladrum Tartan Heart music festival of possible fraudlent sales following a number of people parting with money and not receiving them. Police have received eight reports from across the Division of incidents where there has been online correspondance, with money paid into bank accounts and the tickets have not been delivered.21/7/2013
Council launches new petition procedures
The Highland Council will launch its new petition procedure on Thursday 1 August, providing a new avenue for individuals, communities or groups to have their concerns or issues considered and debated by the full Council or one of its strategic committees. Petitions may be submitted by:- · A group of citizens with at least 50 signatures from people living within the Council area; or · A group of at least 10 local businesses, voluntary organisations or social enterprise companies with a business address within The Highland Council area.17/7/2013
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update
Week commencing 15th July 2013 Energy/ Business Services: This week’s Press & Journal picks up on the ongoing work to develop radar systems that are capable of picking up and identifying aircraft movements and movements from offshore wind turbine blades. The technology was tested recently in Scotland with apparently encouraging results.17/7/2013
Avoid unnecessary fees for European Health Insurance Card and UK Passports
Highland Council Trading Standards is warning consumers to be on the lookout for websites demanding a fee when making an application for the NHS European Health Insurance Card (or EHIC) or UK Passport application. Searches on the internet and consumer complaints received by the service show that many websites are offering to “review” or “forward” an application form for an EHIC or UK Passport.17/7/2013
Highland Business Awards 2013
Inverness Chamber of Commerce has recently launched the inaugural Highland Business Awards 2013 in conjunction with official media partners Scottish Provincial Press. The awards, an anchor event during Highland Business Week, aim to identify those businesses at the top of their game from within the Highlands, Islands and Moray and cover a wide range of categories including Caithness & Sutherland Business of the Year.15/7/2013
Wind farm planning consent refused
Visual impacts too high Energy Minister Fergus Ewing has today refused planning consent for the Druim Ba proposed wind farm in the Blairmore Estate, near Drumnadrochit. The Energy Minister concurred with the findings of the Public Inquiry Reporter that the number and height of the turbines would appear out of scale with the surrounding landscape and it would have significant adverse landscape and visual impacts.14/7/2013
