News Archive
2/4/2012
A New Era For Crofting
Scotland's Crofting Commission is now open for business - and Environment Minister Stewart Stevenson met the new commissioners for the first time today. The Crofting Commission - which was established on April 1 and supersedes the Crofters Commission - aims to meet the needs of crofting and crofters in the 21st century.2/4/2012
Consultation On Scotland's Referendum
The Scottish Government has published details of the referendum consultation responses as at first thing this morning, which show that only 414 responses out of a total of 11,986 were anonymous - just 3.5 per cent of the total. The figures demonstrate there is no evidence that the process is being skewed by anonymous contributions, Cabinet Secretary for Parliamentary Business Bruce Crawford said.2/4/2012
Carbon Capture and Storage
Energy Minister Fergus Ewing today welcomed the launch of the Department for Energy and Climate Change's (DECC) Carbon Capture and Storage Competition. Energy Minister Fergus Ewing said:"I welcome the launch of DECC's Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Competition despite two previous false starts, and am keen to work with DECC as part of the competition process to ensure that it results in the development of CCS.2/4/2012
Warning - Phone Scam From Bogus Finance Company
Warning - phone scam Northern Constabulary has received information from members of the public that a bogus finance company is calling and stating that they have a substantial refund to pay and are requesting the last numbers of a visa/debit card along with other personal details. Police advise members of the public that they should not provide any personal information over the phone to unknown individuals.2/4/2012
More Empowerment For Scotland's Tenants
Social housing in Scotland entered a new era today, as Housing and Transport Minister, Keith Brown MSP, launched Scotland's first Social Housing Charter. Affecting over 600,000 households, the Social Housing Charter sets 16 standards and outcomes that all social landlords should be achieving for the tenants and other customers.1/4/2012
Work Begins on Railhead To Support Dounreay Closure
Construction work is underway on a new railhead to support the closure of the redundant nuclear site at Dounreay. The facility at Georgemas Junction on the far north rail line will enable fuel belonging to the UK to be returned to national stocks where it can be used to generate electricity.
1/4/2012
Expert Advice On Doing Business In Ireland
Businesses in the Highlands and Islands are encouraged to take advantage of business opportunities in Ireland at a free event in Inverness this month. Ireland is the UK's fifth largest export market and the UK's largest export market in sectors such as food and drink, fashion and footwear.1/4/2012
Dounreay Decomissioning Speeds Up Again
Senior figures from government and industry are gathering at Dounreay today to hear the site's new clean-up team set out their vision to accelerate the demolition of Britain's second largest civil nuclear site. Three of the world's biggest engineering and project management companies - Babcock International, CHM2HILL and URS - have come together to win the largest site closure contract ever let in the UK.1/4/2012
Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd Now controlled by Babcock
Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd is under new ownership from today. The company is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Babcock Dounreay Partnership.1/4/2012
New Scottish study of ticks and Lyme disease - Your help needed
With the backing of BADA-UK, the charity behind Tick Bite Prevention Week, leading Scottish life sciences company Xeroshield is looking for your help with the completion of a major new study about ticks and Lyme disease in Scotland. Members of the public are being encouraged to take five minutes to complete a short online survey asking them some straightforward questions about their own experience of ticks and Lyme disease in Scotland.
1/4/2012
NDA Business Plan Sets Out Goals For Dounreay Clean-up
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority today publishes its business plan for 2012/13, setting out key clean-up goals for sites such as Dounreay to achieve. "Our business plan for 2012/2013 sees us entering into the second year of funding allocated in the last spending review," says NDA chief executive John Clarke.1/4/2012
Rural Parliament for Scotland
Scotland is a step closer to having its own rural parliament to empower rural communities and give them a greater opportunity to influence decision-making, network and share expertise. A report, published today, highlights the experiences of countries which already have rural parliaments, including the benefits and potential pitfalls, success stories and the various formats used.1/4/2012
Patients Law Comes Into Force
An independent advice service has been set up to offer advice and support to NHS patients across Scotland. As part of the Patients Rights Act, from April 2, the Patient and Advice Support Service (PASS) will raise awareness of patients rights and provide support to patients on how to give feedback about their healthcare.1/4/2012
Scotland Beats 2011 Green Energy Target
Energy Minister Fergus Ewing has welcomed new figures that demonstrate Scotland will beat the 2011 renewables target. Statistics published today show that the amount of renewable electricity generated in 2011 rose 45 per cent on 2010 to 13,750 Gigawatt hours.[Forestry]
31/3/2012Log Building Course At Dunnet Forest
Dunnet Forestry Trust are holding a FREE log-scribing course in Dunnet Forest under the instruction of Dan Franklin www.woodenways.com who runs the British Isles School of Log Builders. The course will start on Monday 11 June 2012 and there will be a limited number of places available for students who must own their own chainsaw and hold a certificate of competence for crosscutting and chainsaw maintenance.
31/3/2012
"Flavours" A New Ice Cream Shop At John O'Groats
A new ice cream shop opened in John O'Groats today. "Flavours" will feature Capaldi's ice cream in addition to a range of sweets and other local yummies like cakes and chocolates.
31/3/2012
Drivers Fines And Penalty Points For Mobile Phones Use Soars
Drivers across the Highlands and Islands are being warned to concentrate on driving and not to use handheld mobile phones or other communication devices behind the wheel. The warning comes in the wake of concerns raised during Northern Constabulary's online engagement with young people on Facebook led by Chief Superintendent Innes.29/3/2012
170 Candidates to contest 22 Council multi-member wards
Full List Of Candidates on the Highland Council Web Site at http://www.highland.gov.uk/yourcouncil/elections/highlandcouncilelections/list%20ofcandidates2012.htm The elections for the 80 seats on The Highland Council, being held on Thursday 3 May, will involve 170 candidates contesting all of the 22 multi-member wards. The breakdown of candidates is as follows: - Independent, 49; Scottish National Party (SNP), 33; Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, 22; Scottish Liberal Democrats, 18; Scottish Labour Party, 17; Scottish Christian Party "Proclaiming Christ's Lordship, 9; Scottish Green Party, 4; UK Independence Party, 3; the Labour and Co-operative Party, 2; Scottish Liberal Democrat Focus Team, 2; Scottish Anti-Cuts Coalition, 2, All Scotland Pensioners Party, 1; No description,8.29/3/2012
Deadlines for Council Elections
Nominations Closed Thursday 29th March. 5 pm Wednesday 18 April: Deadline for receipt of new requests to vote by post or postal proxy, or to change or cancel an existing postal or proxy vote arrangement 5 pm Wednesday 25 April: Deadline for new applications to vote by proxy (not postal proxy) except for medical emergencies.29/3/2012
