News Archive
25/2/2015
MORE than 1.5 million households and businesses across Scotland can now connect to high-speed fibre broadband, BT announced today. The landmark milestone has been achieved through BT's commercial fibre roll-out and the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband partnerships with the Scottish Government, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, UK Government, Scottish local authorities and the European Regional Development Fund.
25/2/2015
THE Famous Grouse Experience at Glenturret Distillery in Crieff has announced it is to hold an Open Casting Session on Thursday 26th February between 4pm and 6pm in a bid to find new members to join their cast of 2015. It is led by former Red Hot Chilli Pipers founder and frontman, Stuart Cassells.
25/2/2015
The BMW 2 Series Convertible is the third model in the company's 2 Series line-up and comes to market as a direct replacement for the 1 Series Convertible - a vehicle that was the most successful car in its class with global sales of more than 130,000 units. The new car will initially be available with a choice of four engines, including a new 2.0-litre diesel for the 220d and, for the first time in a BMW convertible, an M Performance variant, the M235i.
25/2/2015
Toyota ushered in a new era in vehicle technology last November with the launch of production of its Mirai hydrogen fuel cell-powered saloon. The factory chosen for the task is the Motomachi plant in Toyota City, home to many landmark models, most recently the Lexus LFA supercar.
25/2/2015
Government Names and Shames Largest Ever Number of National Minimum Wage Offenders. A further 70 employers who failed to pay their workers the National Minimum Wage have been named.
25/2/2015
Scottish Labour candidate John Erskine has expressed his disappointment at the lack of planned improvements for the Far North Line by new Scotrail franchise operator Abellio who will run the franchise from April 1st. Mr Erskine, who is contesting the seat of Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, expressed this disappointment after he attend a stakeholder engagement meeting hosted by Abellio and HITRANS, where a presentation by Abellio ScotRail bid director Mike Kean was given followed by questions.
25/2/2015
Wick - The Work/Life Balancing Act - Tuesday 3rd March 2015, 10.00—15.00. Pulteney Centre Wick.
25/2/2015
Highlands & Islands MSP and Shadow Minister for Sport and Health Inequalities, Rhoda Grant has said that the Scottish Government really need to address the bed blocking issue to release pressure on the NHS. Speaking today she said " The BBC reports that an average of 1,216 beds per day were blocked in Scotland during the festive period.
Digital First Programme aims to have at least 40% of transactions online and deliver £1.3 million in savings over next four years. THE Highland Council Digital First Programme aims to greatly increase access to online services, enabling at least 40% of transactions to be carried out online by April 2017.
Around 90 representatives from the North's forestry sector will hear about the latest thinking on pollution prevention and control in the Highlands and Islands this week. The Highlands and Islands Forest Industry Cluster (HIFIC) is behind the event being held at Tulloch Caledonian Stadium in Inverness this Thursday 26 February at 5pm.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (February, 24th) sold 49 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (36) averaged 211.2p (-3.6p) and sold to 228p per kg and £1,508.00 gross.
FOLLOWING the resignation of Councillor Colin Macaulay (SNP), a by-election will be held to elect a Member for Ward 19, NAIRN Ward. Nairn is a four-member ward.
24/2/2015
The government has today opened registration for the new Marriage Allowance, a tax break for married couples, helping them save up to £212 a year. Applying online is straightforward.
24/2/2015
Tesco Bank has reduced the interest rate on loans between £7,500 and £15,000 to3.8%APR representative (reduced from 4.1%), offering customers our lowest ever personal loan rate. The new interest rate is effective immediately, and both new and existing customers can apply.
24/2/2015
The Council of Mortgage Lenders estimates that gross mortgage lending reached £14.3 billion in January. This represents a 14% decrease from December's gross lending total (£16.6 billion) and is 11% lower than the £16.1 billion lent in January last year.
24/2/2015
A new flexible cash ISA that allows customers to spread their tax-free savings across variable and fixed rate products in one place online. The Online ISA will allow customers to consolidate all their ISAs and spread or split their savings across various rates in one tax-free account.
24/2/2015
Inflation figures released today show that the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) fell from 0.5% to 0.3% during January. To beat inflation, a basic rate taxpayer at 20% needs to find a savings account paying 0.38% per annum, while a higher rate taxpayer at 40% needs to find an account paying at least 0.50%.
24/2/2015
Suppliers with white labels will have to inform customers of their cheapest tariff, whatever brand it is sold under New rules provide greater flexibility for white labels brands to operate in the retail energy market Ofgem has today set out final proposals for regulating suppliers who sell energy using white labels in the domestic energy market. From July, suppliers will have to be more transparent and tell customers what their cheapest tariff is regardless of the brand they use.
Following a successful meeting with the Lord Lyon and The Flag Institute with local community and Highland Council representatives, a competition for the design of a new flag for Caithness is launched today. Caithness Civic Leader, Councillor Gail Ross said: "This is a great chance for people to get creative and design an eye catching flag that will become the public symbol for Caithness.
A six month review of the Highland Council website, which was launched in 2014, reveals high satisfaction levels amongst Highland residents. The majority of people visit the website to access services or to find information on Council meetings.