News Archive
25/3/2024
Eight Firms Selected For £600m Civil Engineering Framework
The Scottish Government has selected eight firms for its public works framework covering civil engineering projects. Expected to be worth £600 million over the next four years, the framework is divided into three lots: general civil engineering works of a value between £5m and £25m (total value £120m); structural civil engineering works of a value between £5m and £25m (total value £80m); and all civil engineering works of a value between £25m and £100m (total value £400m).25/3/2024
£30 Million Mental Health Funding
Two funds to support projects aimed at improving mental health and wellbeing in adults, children and young people have been awarded a further £30 million. The Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for Adults, and the Children and Young People's Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Supports, have been awarded £15 million each for 2024-25.24/3/2024
Government Saves Over 80 Community Spaces From Closure 
Community assets including pubs, music venues and sports clubs saved from closure thanks to a major £33.5million package announced by the Government. More than 80 community assets including pubs, iconic music venues and sports clubs have been saved from closure thanks to a major £33.5million package announced by the Government today.
24/3/2024
Your Brain Can Reveal If You're Rightwing - Plus Three Other Things It Tells Us About Your Politics
A few years ago, the leader of Mexico's PRI party told the New York Times that he, "would stick to tried and trusted campaign tools, like polls and political intuition", and rely on "the old-fashioned way" to win the country's election. His party had been caught using neuroscience to gauge voters' opinions about their candidate for the presidency and the party was embarrassed.
24/3/2024
New Islands Are Being Built At Sea - But They Won't Help Millions Made Homeless By Sea-level Rise
Dubai's famous Palm Jumeirah is not the only man-made island to have emerged from the sea this century. Over the past 20 years, many islands have been built to accommodate both tourists and well-heeled residents - especially in the Arabian Gulf states and China.
24/3/2024
The Persisting Pay Gap And The Motherhood Penalty
Despite progress in gender equality, the pay gap continues to be a major challenge. Policymakers are yet to understand the nuances and intricate mechanics of why women's earnings take a hit after they become mothers, argues Almudena Sevilla at The London School of Economics.
24/3/2024
650,000 State Pensioners Face New Tax Raid From April - Many Have Already Spent The Money
In 2010, when the Tory-led coalition came to power, fewer than five million pensioners paid income tax, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies. Today, more than 8.5 million do so.24/3/2024
Living Standards, Poverty And Inequality In The UK
An item from The Institute for Fiscal Studies. Key research, data and resources that show how and why living standards and poverty have changed since 1961.
24/3/2024
UK Continues Global Fight To End TB Around The World
A £4 million funding boost from the UK will help test new approaches to increase the number of people diagnosed and treated for TB. The disease, which is fully preventable and treatable, kills on average at least 1.3 million people every year, more than any other infectious disease, and ending it by 2030 is one of the UN Sustainable Development Goal targets.
24/3/2024
Four Things We Learned From Rachel Reeves' Mais Lecture
From the Institute For Government. What is the shadow chancellor's vision for the economy? The IfG's public finances team found much to welcome in the shadow chancellor's big lecture - but also plenty of questions that need answering The annual Mais lecture is an opportunity for leaders in economics and finance - chancellors, central bank governors, sometimes prime ministers - to set out their vision.
23/3/2024
Five Sentenced In £500,000 Bank Fraud And Money Laundering Scheme
Insolvency Service secures convictions against five individuals involved in a complex fraud and money laundering scheme. Convicted fraudster Neale Rothera set up businesses which claimed to sell furniture and carpets with the help of associates However, the companies were a sham and used as a vehicle to both commit fraud against banks and money laundering The offences, which happened in 2012 and 2013, came to court after lengthy investigations by the Insolvency Service Five people have been sentenced for their involvement in a "persistent and carefully prepared" fraud and money laundering scheme which cost banks more than half a million pounds.23/3/2024
Research Partnership Established Between UHI Scientists And Bangalore North University In India To Support Groundbreaking Water Recycling Project
University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) researchers from the Environmental Research Institute (ERI) based at UHI North, West and Hebrides Thurso campus, and the Centre for Living Sustainability based at UHI Inverness, recently returned from a visit to Bangalore North University in India where they established an environmental and social sciences research partnership. Dr.
23/3/2024
Fair Work Milestone - Record Number Of Real Living Wage Employers In Scotland
The number of Scottish employers registered as paying the real Living Wage has hit a new high of 3,500. The milestone was reached ahead of the tenth anniversary of Living Wage Scotland, a programme launched by Poverty Alliance with Scottish Government funding to encourage more firms to pay the real Living Wage.23/3/2024
Wildlife Management And Muirburn Bill Passed
Scotland's wildlife will benefit from increased protection thanks to a new law passed by the Scottish Parliament. The Wildlife Management and Muirburn Bill includes a range of measures that will help tackle raptor persecution, and ensure that the management of species on grouse moors is done so sustainably and with animal welfare as a priority.23/3/2024
Review To Examine Use Of Mobile Messaging Apps And Non-corporate Devices In Scotland
An externally-led review into the Scottish Government's use of mobile messaging apps and non-corporate devices is to be led by former Channel Islands data protection commissioner Emma Martins. The review, which was commissioned by First Minister Humza Yousaf, will also explore if updates are required to both the Ministerial Code and Scottish Civil Service Guidance with a particular focus on the government's interaction with statutory Public Inquiries.22/3/2024
New HBAI Data Shows Rises In Food Insecurity And Child Poverty During Cost-of-living Crisis
New Households Below Average Income (HBAI) data for 2022-23, released today by the DWP, sheds fresh light on the cost of living crisis, with households across the income distribution experiencing a fall in real household incomes during this period, due to an inflation hit of 10 per cent. The share of people living in absolute poverty rose from 17 to 18 per cent (up by 600,000 people to 12 million), with the child poverty rate jumping by 2 percentage points to 25 per cent (up by 300,000 to 3.6 million children).22/3/2024
3 Great Days Out In Caithness And Sutherland
Caithness and Sutherland are magical parts of Scotland. With their ruggedly beautiful scenery, historic homes, adventurous activities and, of course, fine whisky, they're a must-see destination.
22/3/2024
New Income Statistics Suggest This Parliament Is On Course To Be The Worst For Living Standards On Record
the Department for Work and Pensions released the latest official statistics on household incomes, poverty and income inequality, covering April 2022 to March 2023. As well as being the first official data on household incomes since the cost of living crisis reached its peak, this is also the final release before the next general election, and so is a key source for measuring how material living standards have evolved during this parliament.22/3/2024
How Do I Use Payroll Software To Send Reports To HMRC?
What this video to Find out about payroll software and how to use it to send reports to HMRC HMRC is the UK's tax, payments and customs authority. We collect the money that pays for the UK's public services and help families and individuals with target financial support.
22/3/2024
