News Archive
25/2/2021
Highland Council Staff Numbers Underspend Helps To Create A £3million Surplus
The Corporate Resources Committee of Highland council debated the latest account to December 2020 that show an underspend in staffing costs of £14,474. This saving has helped to create a surplus and stated in the report "at current projections for the year-end outturn position suggest a net year end budget surplus of £3.1m, a significant improvement from the £8.7m forecast overspend reported to this committee in November." Councillor Matthew Reiss appeared today to chair the meeting of the Corporate Resource committee following the resignation of councillor Alister Mackinnon.25/2/2021
MSP, Rhoda Grant has slammed Michael Matheson MSP's performance in defence of HIAL's Air Traffic Centralisation
The centralisation of air traffic services in the Highlands was the fore again yesterday at the petitions committee of the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday 24th February 2021. The importance of the issue for outlying areas in terms of connectivity and employment were highlighted.25/2/2021
Highland Council Look To Help Kickstart The Highland Economy With Capital Projects
An underspend to 31 December 2020 of almost £60million in capital spending. Contractors mainly could not get moving due to covid restrictions.25/2/2021
Partnership Approach Provides Food Support for Highland Households
To help mitigate the persistent uncertainty and challenges arising from the pandemic, the Highland Council continues its humanitarian support, in partnership with the Community Food Initiative North East (CFINE), which operates FareShare Scotland in the north of Scotland. With funding from the Scottish Government and donations from supermarkets and food suppliers, FareShare, the Highland Council, local community groups and the Third Sector have adopted a collaborative and co-ordinated approach to food support for the wellbeing of households across the Highlands.25/2/2021
Self-employed Individuals In The UK Believe IR35 Changes Should Be Delayed Amid Confusion About New Legislation
* Approaching half (44%) of the UK's self-employed individuals believe changes to IR35 should be delayed, with 17% claiming it will reduce their income. * Over a third (36%) of the self-employed are unaware of the incoming changes, and just 3% agree with the current timeline.25/2/2021
UK Workers Put In £24 Billion Worth Of Unpaid Overtime During The Pandemic - TUC Analysis
£7 billion worth of the total unpaid overtime in 2020 was put in by key workers who have kept the country running in the pandemic. Friday is ‘Work Your Proper Hours Day' when workers are encouraged to finish on time with the active support of their employers.25/2/2021
Acas Publishes New Advice On Getting Coronavirus Vaccines For Work
Workplace expert, Acas, has published new advice on getting the coronavirus vaccine for work. The NHS vaccination programme offers a free coronavirus vaccine for everyone in the UK and is currently prioritising those who are at most risk from coronavirus first before a wider rollout expected by July 31st.25/2/2021
UNISON disappointed with NHS interim pay award
UNISON comment on the Scottish government's interim pay award of 1% backdated to December 2020, announced (24 February 2021). Scottish Health Secretary Jeane Freeman has written to all staff on Agenda for Change terms and conditions to set out the position on the 2021-22 pay settlement.25/2/2021
Dingwall & Highland Marts - Sale 25 February 2021
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts, (February, 25th) sold 1,416 sheep of all classes. Lambs (716) averaged £77.34 and sold to £128 gross for a pen of Texel crosses from Dell Farm, Farr.25/2/2021
Employments furloughed as at 31 January 2021 provisional, by country and region and gender
There was broad consistency in furlough rates across the nations and regions of the UK at the end of December with London having the highest take-up rate of 16% against the UK average of 13%. Provisional estimates show that this was also true at the end of January with London having the highest take-up rate at 17% against an increased UK average of 16%.25/2/2021
Employments Furloughed As At 31 December 2020, By Country And Region And Gender
A geographic breakdown of CJRS claims based on the residential address information that HMRC holds for employees. This does not directly translate to the employee's usual place of work, or employer's centre of operations which may be in a different region.25/2/2021
How Much Debt Does Scotland Owe On Independence
Forget the rumours bout potential Scottish debt following independence It may not be the only issue for independence but very interesting. Richard Murphy is a chartered accountant.25/2/2021
Additional Support For UK Fish And Shellfish Exporters To The EU
UK Minister for Scotland David Duguid has updated seafood industry leaders on support available to those who have incurred losses. UK Government Minister for Scotland David Duguid has written to seafood industry leaders updating them on efforts to resolve issues around exports and highlighting the financial assistance the UK Government has made available to those who have incurred losses.25/2/2021
Coronavirus COVID-19 daily data for Scotland - 25 February 2021
769 new cases of COVID-19 reported. 24,589 new tests for COVID-19 that reported results - 3.7% of these were positive.25/2/2021
Why We Don't Need To Pay For Covid Because We Already Have
Richard Murphy writes on all thing taxation. Watch this short video to the end and your thinking may be changed on the cost of covid.25/2/2021
Vaccines Delivered To A Third Of Scotland's Eligible Population
One and a half million people have had their first dose. Scotland's vaccination programme has delivered first doses of the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine to a third (33.4%) of those eligible - more than 1.5 million people (1,515,980).24/2/2021
The Economic Cost Of Catalonia's Hypothetical Independence - A Report That May Mirror The Scottish Independence Situation
A recent academic report on the Hypothetical Independence of Catalonia from Spain may suggest some of the dangers if Scottish Independence some to pass. ----------------------------------- Since the 2017 constitutional crisis in Catalonia, the momentum to secede from Spain has grown, but the potential economic impact has not been thoroughly assessed.24/2/2021
Launch Of £15 Million Scottish Community Lenders Fund
A new £15 million fund has been announced to support affordable lending services. It will support Credit Unions and Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) which offer financial help to those who have poor credit and are often turned away from high street banks.24/2/2021
Celebrating Local Produce
Development of regional food and drink projects across Scotland. An initiative to help drive projects that celebrate locally sourced and produced food and drink has reopened for applications.24/2/2021