Communities are being reminded that the consultation on the Caithness and Sutherland Local Development Plan (CaSPlan) Main Issues Report continues, with any comments needing to be received by The Highland Council no later than 12 noon on Thursday 29 January 2015. A number of consultation events have already been held across Caithness and Sutherland, where people have been able to speak to planners about development options in their settlements and the important issues relevant to their communities.
97 Patient Deaths on Delayed Discharge Lists in NHS Highland Since 2012. Figures revealed by NHS Highland to Rhoda Grant MSP, the Shadow Minister for Sport, Health Improvement & Mental Health, following a freedom of information request show that nearly 100 patients have died whilst on delayed discharge lists.
Highland MSP and Scottish Labour Shadow Sport, Health & Mental Minister, Rhoda Grant is to write to NHS Highland to ask for figures relating to the number of patient's across the health board that are dying in hospitals whilst waiting on a delayed discharge list. Mrs Grant is seeking figures after the Scottish Labour Party revealed at the weekend that across Scotland more than 400 patients a year died in hospitals whilst on a delayed discharge list in the previous two years, however, NHS Highland has failed to produce figures.
The starting gun on the UK election has sounded, as MP's return to Parliament today. David Cameron has come out of the starting blocks by flagging the prospect of an early referendum on EU membership, while Ed Miliband kicks off his campaign in a speech in Manchester later today.
Will Population Growth End in This Century? The human population nearly tripled from 2.5 billion people in 1950 to 7.3 billion today and will continue growing through 2070, according to two recent demographic projections. After that, demographers disagree on whether populations will begin to shrink or continue to rise into the next century, write Worldwatch Institute Senior Fellow Robert Engelman and Research Assistant Yeneneh Terefe in the Institute's latest Vital Signs Online article (www.worldwatch.org).
John Erskine, Scottish Labour candidate for the upcoming General Election, has slammed the local Liberal Democratic MP John Thurso for voting in favour of keeping the unfair and unworkable Bedroom Tax. The vote was held after a debate called for by the Labour Party.
New Worldwatch Institute analysis explores trends in coal consumption and global energy policies. Global coal consumption rose 3 percent from 2012 to 2013, reaching over 3,800 million tons of oil equivalent (mtoe) in 2013.
Worldwatch Institute's State of the World 2014 explores the benefits and challenges that digital technologies offer for sustainability Washington, D.C.—With resource-saving notions like "the paperless office" and “telecommuting,” the digital age holds great environmental promise. But have digital technologies really helped to improve global sustainability? In the Worldwatch Institute’s State of the World 2014: Governing for Sustainability, Richard Worthington, professor of politics at Pomona College, posits that a dose of healthy skepticism regarding emerging digital systems may safeguard our environment and our democracy (bit.ly/SoW2014).
New Worldwatch Institute analysis examines global trends in renewable and nuclear power. Advocates of nuclear energy have long been predicting its renaissance, yet this mode of producing electricity has been stalled for years.
Highland Council welcomes the New Year's Honour that has been awarded to a long serving former manager. Harriet Dempster has received an OBE for services to child welfare.
John Howie, CBI Scotland Chairman, said:"The New Year is a good time to reflect on the year past and look ahead to our hopes and ambitions for 2015. “To say that 2014 was a momentous year for Scotland is a gross understatement, but it is worth reflecting on all we have achieved.
Talks on climate change in Paris in 2015 could be the breakthough moment, according to IPPR's expert on international climate change, writing for the Left Foot Forward blog. He outlines how the political conditions for reaching a pact on climate change have been transformed since 2009, which saw the historic failure of the UN climate summit in Copenhagen.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (December, 30th) sold 65 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (29) averaged 213.4p (-0.3p) and sold to 232p per kg and £1,562.20 gross.
Subsea7 at Wick fabricated bundles for the project. BP, on behalf of the Kinnoull field co-venturers, is pleased to announce the start of production from the Kinnoull field in the central North Sea.
New Year Message - 2015 Must Bring Living Standards Boost as Average Wage Fell £500 in 2014. In her New Year message, TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady reveals that the real value of the average full-time wage fell by £487 in 2014 (from new TUC analysis - full details below).
New research on the impact of welfare reform on Scottish households has been commissioned by a Scottish Parliament committee for 2015. The research for the Welfare Reform Committee will be carried out by Professors Christina Beatty and Steve Fothergill of the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research at Sheffield Hallam University.
Small shops must make change by April With New Year approaching, retailers are being reminded that they must stop displaying tobacco products by 6 April 2015. The small shop display ban will follow a similar ban for larger shops which has been in force since 2013.
Minister announces 23.9% rise. Registered business start-ups are at a record high in Scotland with a 23.9% increase in 2013, Business Minister Fergus Ewing announced today.
DFM: ‘a strong economy will help tackle the inequality that blights our society'. Deputy First Minister and Finance Secretary John Swinney has today welcomed news that 2014 has been another encouraging and buoyant year for Scotland, according to employment statistics covering the period Aug-Oct 2014.
Young Innovators Challenge 2015. £247,500 made available to recognise invention and forward thinking.
