News Archive
20/4/2024
The Axe Falls As Highland Council Management Restructures To Save £310,000
As intimated in Highland Council's budget plan, a new senior management structure is to be implemented following approval by Council 14th March. It reconfigures the senior management team into two layers, rather than three and brings Highland Council into line with other benchmarked authorities.
20/4/2024
Peter Murrell - What Might Happen Next In The SNP Embezzlement Probe?
The husband of former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has been charged in connection with the embezzlement of funds from the Scottish National Party. Peter Murrell was previously arrested as a suspect on 5 April last year before being released without charge.20/4/2024
Prime Minister Right To Focus On People Not Being Well Enough To Work - But Has Offered A Problem Statement Not A Plan
With the UK the only G7 economy yet to return to pre-pandemic employment levels, the Prime Minister is right to make reducing long-term sickness a top economic priority. But his latest announcement is a problem statement not a plan, the Resolution Foundation said on Friday.20/4/2024
Scottish Government Abandons 2030 Net Zero Target But Announces New Moves
Whilst abandoning the 2030 Net Zero target the Scottish Government is stepping up action to tackle climate change with a suite of new policies on transport, including increasing the number of electric vehicle chargers, and land use. The increase in charging points comes as part of a wider climate package that also includes an integrated ticketing system which can be used across all public transport.20/4/2024
Publication Of Wildlife Crime In Scotland 2022
The Chief Statistician for Scotland has released figures for Wildlife Crime in Scotland 2022. The statistics show that recorded wildlife crime was down by 7% from 308 offences in 2020-21 to 286 offences in 2021-22.20/4/2024
Scottish Government Finds Money To Support Refugee Integration
Refugees and people seeking asylum who live in Scotland will be supported to settle into local communities through new funding for Scottish Refugee Council. Scottish Government funding of £3.6 million will support Scottish Refugee Council's Refugee Support Service, which helps people access health, housing, welfare and employment support.20/4/2024
Squeeze on Benefits On the Way - Disability Benefits System To Be Reviewed As Pm Outlines 
The Prime Minister has outlined a package of sweeping reforms to put work at the heart of welfare and deliver on his "moral mission" to give everyone who is able to work, the best possible chance of staying in, or returning to work. Government to consult on proposed reforms to disability benefits system to ensure benefits targeted at those who need it most.
20/4/2024
Joint Investment With The UK And Scottish Governments Driving Digital Success
More than one million faster broadband connections have been delivered to homes and businesses across Scotland, backed by £1 billion of publicly-driven investment. The £463 million Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) programme launched in 2014 and connected more than 950,600 premises to fibre-based broadband - over 150,000 more than originally anticipated.20/4/2024
Another New Tax Being Considered By Scottish Government To Pay For Building Safety Measures
Parliament to consider tax to raise more funding to fix unsafe cladding. A tax on developers to raise funds to help fix building safety issues will be considered in Scotland under powers secured from the UK Government.20/4/2024
PM to overhaul benefits system and tackle Britain's sick note culture in welfare reform speech
In a major speech on Friday 19 April 2024, the Prime Minister unveiled a package of welfare reform measures to tackle the unprecedented rise in economic inactivity and ensure our benefits system is better targeted at those who need it most. PM to announce plans to overhaul benefits system to ensure people who are fit to work aren't left behind on benefits.
20/4/2024
Uk's Most Lethal Tank Rolls Off The Production Lines
British Army soldiers are a step closer to getting their hands on one of Europe's most lethal tanks - the Challenger 3 - the Defence Secretary has announced. Latest Challenger 3 tanks finalising production.
20/4/2024
The Freezing by Scottish Government Of Capital Spending Hits Shetland Hospital
Every part of Scotland is hit by the freeze on capital spending by Scottish Government. The Shetland Times has highlighted the issue in the long running campaign to renew the Gilbert Bain hospital.20/4/2024
UK Government Sells Assets For Efficiency And To Help Deficits
The latest figures released today in the government's annual State of the Estate report, highlight the significant progress being made to make the public estate more sustainable and efficient. Over £163 million in savings was secured last year due to reduced overall energy consumption across government buildings.20/4/2024
UK And US Sanction Leading Iranian Military Figures And Entities Following The Attack On Israel
The UK sanctioned a further 7 individuals and 6 entities that enabled Iran's destabilising activity in the Middle East, including its direct attack on Israel. On Thursday 18 April 2024 the UK has sanctioned a further 7 individuals and 6 entities who have enabled Iran to conduct destabilising regional activity, including its direct attack on Israel.19/4/2024
Taxing Land In Scotland And Replacing Council Tax
A proposal for a Local Authority controlled Land Tax with projected revenue for each Local Authority in Scotland. Land is possibly the greatest immovable asset and store of wealth in Scotland that is not currently taxed.
19/4/2024
Dingwall And Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 17 April 2024
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd, (April, 17th) sold 1,101 store cattle and 63 OTM cattle. Bullocks (553) averaged 312.0pp per kg and sold to 383.1p per kg for a 355kg Limousin cross from Wester Tomloan, Nairn, and £1,680 gross for a pen of 588kg Limousin crosses from 2 Hallum, Forss.19/4/2024
Live Scotonomics Special With Professor Richard Murphy - The Wealth Report Discussion
The video is almost 53 minutes but well worth watching if you really want to understand wealth, taxes and debt. This month marks the start of a new tax year, during which we will inevitably have a new government.
19/4/2024
A 3% Inflation Target Would Work Just As Well As A 2% One
The UK's inflation target is 2%, but 3 per cent would do just as well. Let me explain.
19/4/2024
A 10% Student Tax Is Unfair
Why are we imposing tax rates only designed for those with much higher incomes onto students earning little more than the minimum wage? It makes no sense, at all. Why are so many people paying up to 38 per cent tax on quite, well, average levels of earnings in the UK? As we know, the basic rate of income tax on earnings up to £50,270 a year in the UK in 2024 is supposedly 20%.
19/4/2024
