News Archive
20/6/2021
Coronavirus Covid-19: Daily Data For Scotland - 20 June 2021
1,205 new cases of COVID-19 reported 22,098 new tests for COVID-19 that reported results 5.8% of these were positive. 0 new reported death(s) of people who have tested positive (noting that Register Offices are now generally closed at weekends).20/6/2021
1,000th Hazel Dormouse Reintroduced To The UK
Conservation milestone reached as 30 hazel dormice are released into Lancashire as part of national reintroduction programme and local ‘Back on our Map' species recovery efforts. This week, the 1,000th hazel dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius) will be reintroduced to the UK by wildlife charity People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES), Natural England and the University of Cumbria.
20/6/2021
Fireworks And Pyrotechnics Bill
A consultation on new legislation on the sale and use of fireworks and tackling the misuse of pyrotechnics has been published. The proposed Fireworks and Pyrotechnics Bill follows the report of an independent Fireworks Review Group which recommended tightening legislation to reduce the harm fireworks can cause.20/6/2021
Updates To The Highway Code Will Make Roads Even Safer
The Highway Code will be updated to make roads even safer, thanks to the input of thousands of drivers, motoring groups and transport organisations. Highways England has drafted updated guidance for The Highway Code with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to help road users better understand how motorways and high-speed roads operate.
20/6/2021
Cbd And Controlled Cannabinnoids: Results From A Ring Trial
The Government Chemist team have published a report summarising the findings of a ring trial to assess laboratories' performance in measuring CBD and controlled cannabinoids. The project has been funded by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), the Food Standards Agency (FSA), the Home Office and the Office for Product Safety & Standards (OPSS) and has been carried out in collaboration with Food Standards Scotland (FSS) and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL).
20/6/2021
Delivering An Energy Transformation
More than £26 million is being invested in a major initiative to accelerate the energy sector's transition to net-zero emissions. The Energy Transition Zone, which will be located adjacent to Aberdeen’s new £350 million south harbour development, is expected to directly support 2,500 green jobs by 2030, alongside a further 10,000 transition-related jobs.20/6/2021
Statement On Trade Talks Between Uk And New Zealand
Minister O'Connor’s visit concludes the fifth round of talks, in which strong progress was made in agreeing key issues across the deal including reaching consensus on disputes, transparency and gender equality in trade. Both countries have agreed to accelerate negotiations to finalise the details of the deal.20/6/2021
£215 Million To Improve Attainment But After 13 Years Little Improvement
Pupils living in Scotland's most deprived communities will be among those to benefit from £215 million of targeted funding in 2021-22 to help close the poverty-related attainment gap. The announcement meets the Government's commitment to pay the first instalment of the expanded £1 billion Attainment Scotland Fund in the first 100 days of Parliament, and is the largest amount awarded for a single year.19/6/2021
Coronavirus COVID-19: daily data for Scotland - 19 June 2021
1,209 new cases of COVID-19 reported. 28,809 new tests for COVID-19 that reported results 4.5% of these were positive.18/6/2021
Cobalt In EV Batteries? The Story Of Cobalt & Its Importance To Batteries & Electric Cars
Cobalt has hit the headlines in recent years in relation to its role in batteries and reports of controversial mining, but how much do you really know about it? It's been with us for thousands of years but as the world becomes more electrified our interest in this chemical element has grown. Cobalt plays a key part in Lithium-Ion batteries which can be found in pretty much anything electrical we use from hearing aids to electric cars.
18/6/2021
Highland Council Submits Levelling Up And Community Renewal Fund Bids
The Highland Council has submitted bids to the UK Government's Levelling Up Fund and Community Renewal Fund totalling over £80 million. When the Chancellor set out details of the Levelling Up Fund in March 2021 the Council was advised that they could submit one transport bid and one bid for each of the three Westminster constituencies.18/6/2021
£3,400 Electric Car! Would You Buy Wuling's Mini EV? | Fully Charged Cars
Is the Wuling Hongguang Mini EV the most exciting electric car on the market? Probably not. But what is it about this little box on wheels that has led to it outselling Tesla? It's small, it's cheap but it could also be the answer to mass EV adoption.
18/6/2021
Rise In Delta Variant Cases Leads To Manchester Travel Restriction
Step taken to protect public health in Scotland. A rise in the prevalence of Delta variant cases has led to travel restrictions being placed on Manchester and Salford.18/6/2021
First Results From UK Experiment Point To A Solution To One Of Fusion's Hottest Problems
Tests on the MAST Upgrade machine at Culham Science Centre are crucial for developing fusion power plants. UKAEA's new MAST Upgrade device is solving a major challenge for commercial fusion energy.
18/6/2021
First Doses Booked In For All Adults Ahead Of Schedule
All over 18s will be scheduled by the end of next week. All adults in Scotland will have been booked in for their first coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine appointment by the end of next week (27 June), five weeks ahead of the target of 31 July.18/6/2021
New Fund Opens For Island Communities
Businesses and community groups located across Scotland's inhabited islands are now able to apply for grants of up to £150,000 through the new Island Communities Fund (ICF) for projects focussed on supporting sustainable island economies and the journey towards net zero. The fund is backed by £2 million of Scottish Government funding, which comes from the £9.5 million committed to the Islands Programme for 2021-22.18/6/2021
Balanced Budget Despite Pandemic Pressures
Despite unprecedented challenges presented by the coronavirus (COVID-19) the Scottish Budget was balanced last year. The 2020-21 Provisional Budget Outturn shows 99% of the £48 billion budget was spent, meaning the Scottish Government has fulfilled its legal obligation to deliver a balanced budget.18/6/2021
Alcohol Sales Fell To 26-year Low In 2020
Overall alcohol consumption in Scotland fell to a 26-year low during 2020, according to a comprehensive report published today by Public Health Scotland. The annual Monitoring and Evaluating Scotland's Alcohol Strategy (MESAS) report brings together data on alcohol consumption, price and related harms into a single publication.18/6/2021
Fusion Industry Challenges - An Introduction
UKAEA is launching the Fusion Industry Challenges, a £2m project to support the development of the UK fusion private sector, sustain clean energy needs in the UK and facilitate the UK's transition into an exporter of fusion technologies. Tim Bestwick, Chief Technology Officer and Director of Strategy, Communications and Business Development, gives an overview of the challenges and more details on the application process.
18/6/2021
