News Archive

Councillors Agree Revised Community Wealth Building Strategy

Members at meeting of The Highland Council 919 Septmber2024) agreed a refined strategy and action plan for the Council's approach to Community Wealth Building.   The Community Wealth Building Strategy 2024 - 2027 provides an alternative approach to economic development and a practical response that aims to keep wealth within a local area.  

£4 million from Cayman? That will do nicely, thank you

Richard Murphy reveals a serious issue on the increasing sleaze.   As Open Democracy has revealed: The Labour Party's largest-ever donation came from a Cayman Islands-registered hedge fund with shares worth hundreds of millions of pounds in fossil fuels, private health firms, arms manufacturers and asset managers.  

Reform Of Qualifications And Assessment

Less reliance on "high stakes" final exams.   The balance of assessment used for senior phase pupils in Scotland will change, with greater use of internal and continuous assessment to award final grades.  

The Growth Mindset - Sizing Up The Government's Growth Agenda

Government plans to boost infrastructure and build more homes could feasibly get Britain halfway towards having the strongest economic growth in the G7.  But it will need to deliver these contentious reforms on the ground, and put growth at the forefront of other policy decisions on trade, skills and labour market reform, if it's to turn its growth ambitions into reality, according to new Resolution Foundation research published on Thursday 19 September 2024.  

Health-related Benefit Claims Have Risen Substantially Across Every Part Of UK - But There Is Little Evidence Of Similar Trends In Other Countries

How do post-COVID claimants of health-related benefits compare with pre-COVID claimants? Where in the UK are they? How do other countries compare?.   The number of working-age people getting health-related benefits in UK has increased significantly since 2019.  

Tradng Standards - Roof Coating Scams

As we approach the autumn and winter months there has been an increase in reports of rogue traders who go door to door and offer to carry out roofing repairs and to coat the roof with products they say will save the resident money on their energy bills.   In one recent case, cold callers offered to line a roof and coat it with a paint that would supposedly provide a defence against frost.  

Independent Review Of Qualifications And Assessment - Scottish Government Response: Education Secretary Statement

A speech to Parliament by Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills Jenny Gilruth on 19 September 2024.   Presiding Officer, I am pleased to set out the Scottish Government's next steps on qualifications reform today in response to the recommendations from the Independent Review of Qualifications and Assessment.  

Today's Moneyfacts Average Mortgage And Savings Rates - 20.9.24

Average fixed mortgage rates, sourced from the Moneyfacts Mortgage Database, represent the mean average initial pay rate of residential fixed rate mortgages for terms of two years across whole of market.   Data is collated at the end of each business day and excludes Standard Variable Rate mortgage products as well as those designed for the adverse credit market and products that are only available for new build, self build and equity and shared ownership properties.  

There are 13 million women ‘missing' in Gulf states - here’s why it is holding their economies back

Email X (Twitter) Facebook27 LinkedIn Print When you think of modern, oil-rich Gulf states like Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), you may picture a life of luxury.  But beneath the shots of towering skyscrapers and splendid grand malls, there is a concerning reality: women are frequently missing from the economic picture.  

US Interest Rates - the first cut is the deepest

The Fed cut interest rates to 4.75-5.00%.   The cut is the first in four years after holding rates at a 20 year high for a year.