News Archive
17/9/2012
Highland Fishing Communities Urged To Land Euro Funds
Highland fishing communities are being urged to apply for assistance from a new Euro fund for projects that make a difference in their communities, such as those relating to tourism, business diversification and training. The Highland Council is contributing £137,348 towards the £549,392 that is available for award before the end of 2013 from Axis 4 of the European Fisheries Fund.17/9/2012
Planning For Sustainable Economic Growth
Planning Minister Derek Mackay today updated parliament on progress towards planning reform, and outlined a major review of Scottish Planning Policy and the programme for delivery of Scotland's third National Planning Framework. In a statement to Parliament, Mr Mackay stressed the importance of the planning system in creating sustainable economic growth for Scotland.17/9/2012
Scottish Future For Global Energy - Salmond
The First Minister has told 200 energy CEOs that Scotland will continue to be a major centre for global investment - and that independence will help growth. Speaking at the FT Global Energy Leaders summit in London, Alex Salmond cited recent inward investments in oil and gas and renewables, and pledged to continue to work with the international energy industry to grow Scotland's economy and create jobs.16/9/2012
NHS Highland Achieves 'Exceptional' Patient Safety Rating
NHS Highland has emerged as one of the top two health boards in Scotland in a national assessment of patient safety standards. The board has scored an "exceptional" 4.0 on a five-point scale set by the American-based Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), in conjunction with Healthcare Improvement Scotland.16/9/2012
Hotline To A Place In Training Or College
The first ever national hotline for 16 to 19 year olds looking to take up the offer of a guaranteed place in training, college or university was launched by Youth Employment Minister Angela Constance today. The Opportunities for All free phone number, 0800 917 8000, will put any young person directly through to an expert adviser in their own local area who will know what opportunities are available and suitable to their skills and career ambitions.16/9/2012
Budget To Bring Further Support
Finance Secretary John Swinney is expected to set out a further phase of support in Scotland's strategy for economic recovery when he publishes the Scottish Government's draft Budget plans on Thursday. The move follows the £485m of additional investment in the Scottish economy that has already been confirmed above and beyond the investment package announced in last year's Spending Review.16/9/2012
Brewing Up Success For Food And Drink
£9 million awarded to support growth in key sector. The Scottish Government has awarded 32 companies grant support worth £9 million under the latest rounds of food and drink funding.16/9/2012
Help For Scotland's Poorest Under Threat
Scotland's poorest and most vulnerable groups will suffer if the UK Government progresses with its proposed welfare reform agenda, Deputy First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, warned again yesterday. Measures being brought in by the UK Government will see spend in Scotland on the equivalent of Community Care Grants and Crisis Loans fall by almost £10 million in 2013/14 in comparison to previous years.16/9/2012
Government Slashes Public Sector Pension Costs
The following statement has been issued by HM Treasury on 16th September 2012. Public Service Pensions Bill published recently delivered the final stage in halving cost of pensions.16/9/2012
Unwrapping The Potential In Plastics
Companies that can recycle plastics, including cling film and uPVC windows, are eligible for a new investment from the Scottish Government. The new £2.5 million loan fund offers direct financial support to organisations to develop plastics sorting and reprocessing facilities in Scotland.16/9/2012
Diabetes Treatment Success
Twelve patients have been cured of a life threatening complication of type one diabetes thanks to an innovative Scottish transplant programme. Eighteen months on from the first operation, the Scottish National Pancreatic Islet Transplant Programme has carried out 18 islet cell infusions, and improved the lives of 12 patients.15/9/2012
Drivers Reduce Mobile Phone Use But Still Being Caught
Northern Constabulary see reduction in driving offences during recent ACPOS campaign. Northern Constabulary are welcoming the results of the recent ACPOS day of action in comparison with results in an identical campaign, targeting mobile phone use and wearing of seatbelts, early last year, in the Highlands and Islands.15/9/2012
Miller Construction Invite Contractors To Meet The Buyer
Miller Construction is extending an invitation to businesses of all construction disciplines to a Meet the Buyer event being held at Inverness Caledonian Thistle Football Club on Wednesday, 19th September. Miller is the preferred bidder on £50 million of work to be delivered over the next three years in Wick, Tain and Forres and is seeking local partners to deliver these projects and others when they arise.14/9/2012
Update for Caithness and North Sutherland Partneship
Week commencing 10th September 2012 Energy: DSRL's Commercial Team will be holding two Supply Chain Briefings this month to give an update on the Shaft and Silo Decommissioning Project at Dounreay.The project comprises of the design, build, operations and decommissioning of limited-life plant and facilities necessary to retrieve and treat the waste from within the Dounreay Shaft and Wet Silo. The overall project is valued between £80M and £100M, so it represents a significant opportunity for supply-chain companies.13/9/2012
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sheep Sale 14 September 2012
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (September, 14th) sold 7,075 store lambs including 748 on behalf of Lewis Livestock Producers. Lambs (6,327) sold to £72 gross for Blackfaces from Tulloch Farm, Dingwall.13/9/2012
£1.2m Lottery Investment For North Of Scotland
A new initiative aimed at preventing homelessness amongst ex offenders and their families in Aberdeen, Inverness and Perth has received Lottery funding worth £889,317, the Big Lottery Fund announced recently (TUES 11 September). Also in the north of Scotland, over 100 young carers will benefit from the recent £1.2 million investment as Skye & Lochalsh Community Care Forum receives a grant of £358,054.13/9/2012
Local Dividends From Green Power
An ambitious plan to make sure communities across Scotland reap the rewards of renewables has been launched by the First Minister. The Community Benefit Register gives information on the benefits to local areas of having renewable energy projects nearby.12/9/2012
Scotland's Drinking Water Still High Quality
Scotland's drinking water continues to be of a high quality, according to a report published today. The annual report by the Drinking Water Quality Regulator (DWQR) on the quality of public supplies during 2011 found that well over 99 per cent of tests on samples complied with strict regulatory standards.12/9/2012
UK Parliamentary Boundary Changes
The Boundary Commission for Scotland today (Thursday 13 September 2012) begins an eight week final consultation period with its Sixth Review of UK Parliament Constituencies. The final consultation period allows comments to be made to the Commission concerning any of its revised proposals for constituencies.12/9/2012
