News Archive

Certainty for oil and gas industry in light of landmark ruling

UK Government announces plans for new environmental guidance for oil and gas firms as the North Sea transitions to its clean energy future.   The government has today announced plans for new environmental guidance for oil and gas firms to provide stability for industry, support investment, protect jobs, deliver economic growth, and meet its climate obligations, as the North Sea transitions to its clean energy future.  

Hundreds Of Rogue Employers Targeted In Illegal Working Crackdown

Hundreds of rogue employers across the UK have been targeted by the Home Office during a nationwide weeklong intensive operation into illegal working.   The Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, announced last month that the government would crack down on unscrupulous employers who are hiring migrants illegally and exploiting vulnerable people, alongside extensive work to disrupt the criminal networks who bring the workers to the UK.  

Fall In Small Business Confidence As Employment Costs Take A Toll, New Report Finds

Small firms' confidence back in negative territory following a more positive start to the year.   The headline confidence reading fell back by over 16 points, to -10.8 points in the second quarter of 2024 (April to June).  

Five Years Supporting Families In Scotland

Two benefits providing extra money to families with the cost of healthy food and starting school, are turning five years old.   Best Start Grant School Age Payment supports families with a one-off payment of £314.45 to help cover the cost of starting primary school, and has provided £33.5 million to over 100,000 parents and carers.  

£1.5 Million Competition Seeks Innovations To Remotely Monitor Sensitive Sites

The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) is looking for organisations to come forward with innovations to enable the remote monitoring of its legacy nuclear sites.   The Remote Monitoring of Sensitive Sites: Phase 2 competition is managed by DASA The NDA is making up to £1.5 million of funding available Submissions must be received by midday (GMT) on 5 March 2024.  

Sharp Rise In Late Payments As Scottish Small Business Confidence Dips

Scotland's small firms have experienced a significant rise in late payments, as business confidence fell in the run up to the General Election, new research from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) reveals.   FSB’s Small Business Index (SBI) for Q2 2024 found more than three-fifths of Scottish small businesses (62.5%) experienced issues with late payments, significantly more than in the previous quarter (57%), while nearly a third of firms (32.29%) reported the problem was getting worse.  

Dingwall Handighland Marts Ltd - Sale 27 August 2024

DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (August 27th) sold 6 Prime Cattle.   Prime Bullocks (3) averaged 303.0p per kg and sold to 304.0p per kg Twice and £1,956.50 gross.  

Do You Have A Legal Right To Your Gross Income? - Richard Murphy

I argue that taxpayers are only legally entitled to their income after taxes, not before.  Taxes are seen as a precondition for earning gross income, meaning that the amount paid in taxes never truly belongs to the taxpayer but is held in trust for the government.  

How Could The Chancellor Raise More Tax? - IFS Zooms In

The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) today looks at how to raise more taxes.   Over the summer we're bringing you a series of briefings on the key challenges and policy options facing the new set of government ministers.  

Will The SNP Government Really Axe Free Prescriptions, University Tuition, Bus Travel And School Meals

The dire warnings keep coming from the Scottish and UK governments.   Today the Prime minister warned a hard budget coming in October.