News Archive

Building A Connected Scotland - Social Isolation and Loneliness Fund launched

Funding Open now until 31 March 2023.   Support for community groups bringing people and communities together to tackle isolation has been launched today.  

Demand And Supply Factors In CPI Inflation UK - 2021 To 2022

Insights into the effects of the re-opening of economies and supply bottlenecks on Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation in 2021 and 2022.   Consumer price inflation reached 40-year highs in late 2022, including the effects of the re-opening of economies in 2021 and bottlenecks forming in the global economy.  

Independent Legal Representation For Sexual Offence Victims

Support for victims faced with potential questioning in court about their sexual history.   Free, independent legal representation is to be provided to sexual offence victims, where applications are made to lead evidence of their sexual history in court.  

Online Shopping: Purchase Scams

New research by Get Safe Online has shown a significant rise in online purchase scams, with more than 8 million Brits falling victim to this type of fraud at least once during the last year and 30% noticing more fake websites and sellers when shopping online.   Purchase scams involve being asked to pay in advance for goods or services that are never received, with digitally-savvy criminals creating professional-looking websites, social media profiles and documents that appear genuine, but are in fact fake.  

GMB Warns Well Intentioned Alcohol Advertising Ban Will Impact Jobs And Investment

The biggest trade union in Scotland's drinks manufacturing sector has today (Thursday 9 March) warned the Scottish Government it must ditch plans to restrict alcohol marketing and instead bring forward a national strategy for the future of jobs and investment with workers and employers.   The call comes from the GMB union, which represents thousands of workers in brewing, whisky, and spirits across Scotland, as the government’s Alcohol Advertising and Promotion consultation closes amid workforce concerns about the unintended consequences of reduced sales on existing employment levels across the sector.  

Support For Highland Businesses From Highland Council Loan Company

Highland Opportunity (Investments) Limited HO(I)L, The Highland Council's business loan company has launched its first social media campaign to make Highland businesses and community organisations aware of its loan funds.   HO(I)L has financially supported more than 1,200 local start-up businesses, community organisations and growth projects within the Highland Business community since it was established in 1986.  

Two Sheffield Businessmen Banned For Total Of 17 Years For Falsely Claiming Covid Loans For Their Companies

Bosses of TV rigging services and online fitness companies separately abused Bounce Back Loans totalling £61,000.   Michael Andrew Higgins, 56, and Dean Emanuel Miller, 41, both from Sheffield, have been disqualified as company directors for a total of 17 years after separate Insolvency Service investigations found that through their respective companies they had each abused the covid loan support scheme.  

CMA Launches Investigation Into Fragrances And Fragrance Ingredients

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has reason to suspect anti-competitive behaviour has taken place involving suppliers of fragrances and fragrance ingredients for use in the manufacture of consumer products such as household and personal care products.   The CMA has been in contact with the Antitrust Division of the US Department of Justice, the European Commission and the Swiss Competition Commission in relation to this matter, and this investigation has been launched in consultation with them.  

Stamp Prices Rise 15% From 3 April

Standard stamp prices are to rise by up to 15%, Royal Mail has confirmed.  From Monday 3 April, the cost of first-class stamps will be hiked to £1.10 (up 15p from 95p), while second-class stamps will increase to 75p (up 7p from 68p).  

Over 320 Foreign Criminals And Immigration Offenders Returned - A Drop In The Ocean

The Home Office returned more than 320 foreign criminals and immigration offenders with no right to be in the UK last month as part of efforts to stop the boats.   The people who were returned to their home countries included over 200 foreign national offenders, over 30 asylum offenders and over 85 non-asylum offenders, with more than 15 known to have arrived in the UK via small boats.