News Archive

Biggest Employment Fall Outside Of A Recession On Record Shows That Rising Interest Rates Are Making Their Mark On The Jobs Market

The biggest employment fall (down 207,000) outside of a recession on record offers the clearest sign yet that rising interest rates are cooling the labour market, but the recent pay spike will cause a headache for the Government by increasing the cost of the Triple Lock, the Resolution Foundation said today (Tuesday).   The latest labour market data showed a big fall in employment and further falls in job vacancies (now below a million for the first time in two years) alongside rising unemployment (up 159,000 on the quarter) and economic inactivity (up 62,000).  

Panama Canal Crisis Eases But Is Christmas Cancelled Already? - Maybe Shop Early

There's been a fall in the number of ships queuing to use the drought-stricken Panama Canal.  However, there are still restrictions on how many ships are allowed through the canal per day and how much vessels can carry.  

Scottish Council Tax Proposals Are A Small Step In The Right Direction But Duck The Biggest Issue: Revaluation

Proposed reforms to council tax in Scotland would further reduce regressivity but should go further, and the issue of revaluation is ducked yet again.   In 2017, the Scottish Government increased the relative tax rates (termed ‘tax relativities') applied to properties in bands E-H by between 7.5% and 22.5% in an effort to raise revenues and reduce the regressivity of council tax.  

Any Fiscal Nerds Out There - Persevering With The Autumn Statement Just Generates Confusion

Bi-annual fiscal events "have become an engine for an over-proliferation of measures, generating instability and confusion." Paul Johnson in the Times.   You may not have marked it in your diary yet, but the big news for us fiscal nerds is that we now know the date of this year's autumn statement (November 22, since you ask).  

UHI North, West And Hebrides Celebrate Launch As Scotland's Newest College

UHI North, West and Hebrides is celebrating its launch as Scotland's newest college following the merger of UHI North Highland, UHI Outer Hebrides and UHI West Highland.   UHI North, West and Hebrides will create an anchor institution connecting rural and island communities through distinctive education and research shaped by the culture, location, and landscapes of the North and West Highlands, Skye, and Outer Hebrides.  

Royal Navy Flagship Sails To Lead International Carrier Strike Group Deployment

Aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth sails from Portsmouth for her autumn deployment.   Britain's flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth sails this week from Portsmouth as she heads north to lead a Carrier Strike Group deployment alongside ships from partner nations.  

Dingwall And Highland Mart Sales 6,629 Store lambs - 8 September 2023

DINGWALL., Dingwall and Highlands Marts Ltd., (September 8th) sold 6,629 Store lambs.   Cheviot Wedder Lambs (983) averaged £58.31 and sold to £100 gross from Bogburn Farm, Duncanston.  

Local Authorities Publish RAAC Data

Inspections carried out by local authorities have shown that, at present, there are 16 council areas which have identified schools as containing Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC).   Local authorities have responsibility to ensure schools are safe for pupils, staff and all their users, and are carrying out inspections of school buildings to identify the presence of RAAC.  

Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete RAAC In Highland Schools

The Highland Council has two schools that are known to have buildings that contain RAAC components in their roof and wall construction; these are Charleston Academy and Nairn Academy.   The Council reacted in response to the further guidance that was issued by the Institution of Structural Engineers in April 2023 and engaged a firm of Chartered Engineers with the required expertise and experience to undertake detailed investigations and assessments at Charleston Academy and Nairn Academy during the summer holiday period.  

UK GDP Revisions And The Effectiveness Of Scottish Government Decisions

Last week the Office for National Statistics released their indicative estimates of the impact of the Blue Book revisions to GDP figures.  The actual physical book bound in a blue cover is long gone, but the exercise remains, and it's an annual attempt at compiling a set of consistent national accounts for the UK.