News Archive
23/2/2024
Promoting Positive Behaviour In Schools
Education Committee Members have strongly endorsed the Council's approach to addressing behaviour in schools through informed guidance and the promotion of positive relationships. The Council’s Promoting Positive Relationships guidance pulls together best practice, draws on national guidance, and is well researched in terms of being evidence based.23/2/2024
Action On Single-use Vapes
A ban on the sale and supply of single-use vapes in Scotland is due to come into effect on 1 April 2025, under proposed legislation published today. The move takes forward the recommendation to ban single use vapes from a consultation on ‘Creating a Smokefree Generation and Tackling Youth Vaping', which ran across Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland last year.23/2/2024
Growing Scotland's Green Economy
Scotland can lead the net zero revolution, using its natural resources, world-class universities and entrepreneurial spirit to build the industries of the future, according to Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero and Energy Màiri McAllan. Ms McAllan said the announcement of a £24.5 million grant to secure Japanese company Sumitomo Electric Industries' investment in a new cable factory for the offshore wind sector at Nigg highlighted how net zero went hand-in-hand with economic growth.23/2/2024
Income Generation Projects Proposed As Part Of 3-year Highland Council Budget
Around £15.8m of income generation could be realised over the next 3 years if ambitious budget proposals are agreed at Highland Council's budget setting meeting on 29 February. Senior Strategic Chair Ken Gowans said: "Our budget saving proposals of £54m over three years are underpinned by the need to invest in change to deliver recurring and sustainable cost reduction, redesign and increased income generation.22/2/2024
Helping People Pay For Costs Of A Funeral - Eligible People Urged To Apply For Funeral Support Payment
The cost of paying for a funeral can cause extra strain for many people at what is a difficult time. Funeral Support Payment provides eligible people with financial support to help pay for a partner, child, parent or sibling's funeral.
22/2/2024
Election Year Tax Cuts Are Sandwiched Between £20 Billion Of Tax Rises Already Implemented And £17 Billion Planned For After Polling Day
Lower interest rates will slightly increase the Chancellor's fiscal headroom for election year tax cuts, but these will be sandwiched between far bigger past and future tax rises, according to new Resolution Foundation research published on Wednesday 21 February 2024. The Foundation's Spring Budget 2024 preview examines how the Office for Budget Responsibility might update its economic and fiscal outlook ahead of the Budget on 6 March, what this could mean for the size and shape of new tax cuts, and how these would fit into the government's wider tax and spend plans.
22/2/2024
NHS In Scotland Under Sever Pressure According to Audit Scotland
The Scottish Government needs to develop a clear national strategy for health and social care to address the pressures on services. Significant changes are needed to ensure the financial sustainability of Scotland's health service.
22/2/2024
Political Leadership Gap In Economic Strategy In Scotland
The Scottish Government's 10-year economic strategy currently lacks collective political leadership and clear targets. The government launched its National Strategy for Economic Transformation (NSET) in March 2022.
22/2/2024
January Usually Sees The Government Run An Overall Surplus, As This Is The Month When A Large Chunk Of Self-assessment Receipts Is Paid
ONS government borrowing figures published on Wednesday 21 February 2024 suggest that the public sector ran a surplus of £16.7 billion in January. This is much bigger than the £7.5 billion surplus it ran in January 2023, and is the biggest January surplus on record.
22/2/2024
One Million Premises Upgraded To Gigabit Broadband By UK Government
The government is rolling out gigabit networks faster than any other country in the EU. Government has delivered faster, more reliable connectivity to an average of one building every six minutes since project began, as one million properties connected.
22/2/2024
Digital Tech To Drive Health And Social Care Innovation
The expansion of a ‘world-leading' data and analytics platform will help improve collaboration and innovation across Scotland's health and social care system. Seer is a platform that allows staff to access and analyse data easily, helping clinicians, teams and boards in decision-making around patient care and the planning of resources.
22/2/2024
Public Sector Finances, Uk - January 2024 Ons Report
Public sector net borrowing excluding public sector banks (borrowing) in January 2024 was in surplus by £16.7 billion, more than double the surplus of January 2023 and the largest surplus since monthly records began in 1993 in nominal terms. Each January tax receipts are always higher than in other months, owing to receipts from self-assessed taxes; combined self-assessed income and capital gains tax receipts were £33.0 billion, £1.8 billion less than a year earlier.
22/2/2024
UK Departs Energy Charter Treaty
The UK government confirms its withdrawal from the Energy Charter Treaty after efforts to agree vital modernisation fail. European countries have been unable to reach agreement on modernisation of the Energy Charter Treaty.
22/2/2024
Non-domestic Rates Relief Statistics For Scotland
The Chief Statistician has released statistics on the reliefs and exemptions from non-domestic rates that were in place on 1 July 2023. These figures were produced by independent statistical staff, free from any political influence, in accordance with professional standards set out in the Code of Practice for Statistics.22/2/2024
The IRS push to take on America's ultra-rich is proving a formidable task
In 2022, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service received a historic infusion of $80 billion, partly to bulk up the beleaguered agency's capacity to audit America's ultra-rich.
22/2/2024
More American Students Have Student Loans Debt Forgiven By Biden Administration
US President Joe Biden announced that more than 150,000 student loan borrowers will have their debt forgiven under a program aimed at providing relief for Americans who had been making their payments for at least a decade and borrowed less than $12,000. The move, worth a total of $1.2 billion, will benefit those enrolled in the government's Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan.
21/2/2024
Dingwall and Highland Marts Ltd -Sale 20 February 2024
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (February 20th) sold 12 Prime Cattle. Prime Bullocks (2) averaged 285.16p per kg (-11.8p) and sold to 295.0p per kg and £1,780.20 gross.21/2/2024
Saved - Transport Scotland Confirm Funding For Wick- Aberdeen PSO For 2024/25
Late yesterday, Transport Scotland formally confirmed funding for the Wick-Aberdeen PSO to continue in 2024/25. This decision has come about following submission of information about the service including a substantial increase in passenger numbers over the first two years of operation.21/2/2024
Capital Gains: Sunak And Starmer's Tax Bills Show How The System Benefits The Rich
Rishi Sunak paid over £500,000 in UK taxes last year, recent documents published by the government revealed. As well as displaying a considerable contribution to the nation's coffers, the details of the prime minister's financial affairs also highlighted a common perk enjoyed by many wealthy British citizens who have substantial investments: that their tax bill is a fraction of what it would be if they received all of their money as earnings from their day job.
21/2/2024
