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News Archive


24/2/2022
Orkney Council Goes For 3 Per Cent Rise In Council Tax But Shetland Freezes Tax and Rents
The Council will spend £91,260,200 on its services, against a Scottish Government budget settlement of £84,715,000 including £15,528,000 of ring-fenced grants.   In order to meet the shortfall, the Council will increase Council tax by 3% and take an additional £11.826m from its reserves.  
24/2/2022
£2.8 Billion Of Benefit Credits Available To Pensioners Are Not Claimed A Year
Pension Credit The estimates show that: caseload: up to 850 thousand families who were entitled to receive Pension Credit did not claim the benefit.   expenditure: up to £1.7 billion of available Pension Credit went unclaimed: on average, this amounted to around £1,900 per year for each family entitled to receive Pension Credit who did not claim the benefit.  
24/2/2022
Glasgow City Council Still Dragging Its Feet On Equal Pay After Decades
Glasgow equal pay women need a meaningful offer to avert strike, says UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea.   UNISON's first female general secretary, Christina McAnea will visit women balloting for strike action on equal pay in Glasgow today (Thursday).  
24/2/2022
Home Secretary Announces Visa Concessions For Ukrainians
Changes allow Ukrainians in the UK to have their visas temporarily extended or be able to switch onto different visa routes.   Building on immediate support provided in recent weeks to assist British Nationals to leave Ukraine, the Home Secretary has today confirmed that Ukrainians who are on work, study or visit visas in the UK will have their visas temporarily extended or be able to switch onto different visa routes.  
24/2/2022
Pm Statement To The House Of Commons On Ukraine: 24 February 2022
Prime Minister Boris Johnson gave a statement to the House of Commons on Ukraine.   Mr Speaker, I have just come from a meeting of G7 leaders, joined by Secretary General Stoltenberg of NATO, and with permission I will update the House on our response to President Putin's onslaught against a free and sovereign European nation.  
23/2/2022
The Jet Stream Is Moving Northwards... But Not EverywhereThumbnail for article : The Jet Stream Is Moving Northwards... But Not Everywhere
New research led by the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) and the Maynooth University ICARUS Climate Research Centre in Ireland shows that the average winter northern hemisphere jet stream position over the North Atlantic and Eurasia has moved northwards by up to 330km.   The research has also revealed that the mean winter jet speed has increased by 8% to 132mph, during the 141-year period from 1871-2011.  
23/2/2022
Bankruptcy Restrictions For Student Who Took Out Bounce Back Loan
Bankrupt from Scunthorpe placed under 9-years of restrictions after he abused government support available for businesses during the pandemic.   Kurt John Barkhuizen, 28, from Scunthorpe, applied for and received a £50,000 Bounce Back Loan in June 2020.  
23/2/2022
Environment Secretary Sets Out Animal Health And Welfare Support For Livestock Farmers In England
Speaking at the NFU Conference, George Eustice set out plans for government funded vet visits, grants for welfare improvements, and health and welfare priorities for each sector.   Farmers will be encouraged to keep healthier, higher welfare animals as part of the Government's flagship farming reforms, including fully-funded annual vet visits and grants to improve conditions for livestock.  
23/2/2022
UK Sets Out New Multi-million Dollar Economic Package Of Support For Ukraine
The UK government has announced a new economic package that is designed to support Ukraine's continued stability.   Foreign Secretary Liz Truss reiterates the UK's commitment in standing ready to guarantee up to $500 million in loans to support Ukraine and mitigate the economic effects of Russian aggression.  
23/2/2022
Scottish Monthly GDP Estimates For December
Scotland's onshore GDP fell by 0.4% in December, according to statistics announced today by the Chief Statistician.  Output remains above the pre-pandemic level of February 2020, by 0.1%.  
23/2/2022
New Contracts Forecast Bright Future For National Highways Weather TeamsThumbnail for article : New Contracts Forecast Bright Future For National Highways Weather Teams
Three new weather forecasting contracts, which will help keep drivers moving, have been signed by the Met Office, DTN and MetDesk.   The Weather Forecasting Information Service (WFIS) comprises two regional winter season contracts and one all year-round national contract, which will provide National Highways' decision-makers with round-the-clock weather forecasting information to support them in making accurate and timely operational decisions.  
23/2/2022
Moray Council Agrees 3 Per Cent Rise In Council Tax
COUNCILLORS in Moray yesterday (Tuesday 22 Feb) agreed to increase Council Tax by 3 per cent for the financial year 2022-23.   This means a Band D property will cost residents £1,363 per year, marginally above the 2021-22 Scottish average of £1,308.  
23/2/2022
UK Hits Russian Oligarchs And Banks With Targeted Sanctions: Foreign Secretary's Statement
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has designated the initial tranche of sanctions on Russia in response to Russia's further violation of Ukraine's sovereignty.   Oligarchs at the heart of Putin's inner circle and banks which have bankrolled the Russian occupation of Crimea have been targeted by the first wave of UK sanctions in response to Russia’s further violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty.  
23/2/2022
SEPA Continues To Count Cost Of Cyber-attackThumbnail for article : SEPA Continues To Count Cost Of Cyber-attack
The full financial impact of a cyber-attack on Scotland's environmental agency is still not clear, and the incident remains a warning to other public sector bodies.   The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) suffered a sophisticated ransomware attack on 24 December 2020.  
23/2/2022
Deep Concern Over Actions Of Russia In Ukraine - Statement from the First Minister
Commenting on the situation in Ukraine, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said:"I am deeply concerned by the actions of Russia and the disturbing reports of its invasion of Ukraine.  The Scottish Government unreservedly condemns Russia's actions, which are in flagrant violation of international law and which further destabilise an already volatile situation.  
23/2/2022
Storm Gladys: What Does The Law Say On Employee Rights During Ice And Snow?
HEAVY snow and 70mph winds are expected to hit parts of the UK this week - with the Met Office issuing yellow weather warnings as Storm Gladys is expected to arrive.   It is the fourth storm to hit the country in five days after Storms Dudley, Eunice and Franklin caused widespread disruption when they swept the UK, with record 122pmh gales recorded in the south of England.  
23/2/2022
Biggest Ever Rail Cleaners Strike Rock Solid This Morning In Fight For Pay Justice
As rising cost of living bites low paid workers are getting more militant or looking for other jobs.   Employers may find it better to raise wages now than continually search for new employees which can be costly in advertising and training.  
23/2/2022
Successful First Year For UK-Australia Space Bridge
Today (23 February 2022) marks the first anniversary of the Space Bridge between UK and Australia - a partnership focused on facilitating collaboration between the two countries' space sectors.   A world first, the Space Bridge has unlocked improved access to trade, investment and academic research opportunities, better advice to businesses and innovative bilateral collaborations.  
23/2/2022
Signing Up To Save A Life - Thousands respond to national naloxone campaign
Almost 4,500 people have signed up to learn how to save someone's life in the event of an opioid overdose.   A nationwide awareness campaign, launched in August last year, encouraged the public to go to the ‘Stop The Deaths' website to learn how to recognise the signs of a drug overdose, receive training in the use of the life-saving medication naloxone and get a free naloxone kit.  
23/2/2022
Highland Trading Standards Team Highlight Risks From Disposable Vaping ProductsThumbnail for article : Highland Trading Standards Team Highlight Risks From Disposable Vaping Products
The Highland Council's Trading Standards team are highlighting the dangers of disposable vaping products and warning consumers to be aware.   Their warning comes following the findings on a comprehensive Scotland-wide project that Highland officers participated in.