News Archive

Dounreay Bulletin - Issue 20

DOUNREAY DIRECTOR NAMED AS NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE Norman Harrison, currently acting chief operating officer of UKAEA, has been appointed its chief executive officer.   A chemist by profession, he was appointed director of Dounreay in 2003.  

Highland Council To Use Firms Registered With Constructionline In Future

Highland councilors will be asked at a meeting of the Resources committee on 14th February 2007 in Inverness to approve the use of contractors who are registered with Constructionline, an Approved List register of assessed companies.   See www.constructionline.co.uk Several councils and other public bodies in Scotland already require contractors and consultants in the construction industry to be registered with Constructionline as part of the pre-qualification requirements when applying for property-related construction tenders.  

UKAEA Pleads Guilty To Charges Under The Radioactive Substances Act

UKAEA pleaded guilty on 6 February 2007 at Wick Sheriff Court to four charges under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960.   The charges related to the disposal of radioactive waste to a landfill site at Dounreay between 1963 and 1975, and the release of particles from the site to the environment on dates between 1963 and 1984.  

To tax or not to tax - a guide to trading online

A new internet-based guide, accessible via the HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) website for people who trade online is being launched this week.   It outlines the rules for people who trade online for a profit, as opposed to others who are just clearing low value items from the attic.  

Transport Swap - Wheels on Reels

The Centre for Transport Policy (CfTP) at The Robert Gordon University (RGU) is challenging members of the public to travel to work a different way for one day in February and record their experiences on camera.   The project is being run as part of the Festival of Social Science, organised by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), who have given £2000 funding towards the project.  

Last Call For Scotland's New Business Stars

Scotland's budding new business brains have just one week left to make it into a new million pound initiative which will help fund the country's next generation of entrepreneurs.   The Starter for 6 project will build the enterprise skills of up to 300 new entrepreneurs over three years, working in Scotland across all business sectors.  

HM Revenue & Customs - Business Support Team - Free Learning Events

Are you newly Self Employed or thinking of becoming Self Employed? Do you have a Self Employed tax return to complete? Are you a New Employer? Do you have an Employers Annual Return to complete? Do you want to know about the changes to the Construction Industry Scheme? If you can answer "YES" to any of the above questions & would like to learn more, you may be interested in attending one of HM Revenue & Customs free learning events.   The following events will take place in Thurso; 13th March 2007 AM/PM Paying Your Employees 14th March 2007 AM Becoming Self Employed PM Self Assessment for the Self Employed 15th March 2007 AM Employer's Annual Returns PM New Construction Industry Scheme To book a place in one of our sessions, please telephone 01355 275 207.  

Unemployment At December 2006

UNEMPLOYMENT DIGEST SUMMARY The December 2006 unemployment figures were released on 17th January 2007.  During the month, November 2006 to December 2006, the number of people claiming unemployment benefit in Great Britain rose by 0.2%, from 895,833 to 897,758 (1,925 claimants).  

Highlands Set For Faroese Tourism Boost

A joint marketing campaign between The Highland Council and VisitScotland could see between 5 - 6,000 cruise passengers from Iceland, the Faroe Islands and Norway visiting the North of Scotland and generating around £2.5 million to the Highland economy.   Faroese ferry operators, Smyril Line, have just launched their 2007 brochure featuring holiday packages to the Scottish Highlands.  

Long-Term Unemployment By LEC Area - December 2006

LONG-TERM UNEMPLOYMENT BY LEC AREA For the purpose of this analysis, long-term unemployment (LTU) is defined as 'all those who have been unemployed and claiming benefit for over 6 months'.  The table below shows the number of people who are on long term unemployment benefit for December 2006 in each of the LEC areas.