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News Archive


26/1/2021
Letter To Scotland's Businesses From Kate Forbes, Finance SecretaryThumbnail for article : Letter To Scotland's Businesses From Kate Forbes, Finance Secretary
Over a third of overall COVID-19 funding has been spent on business support.  Ms Forbes confirmed that more than 90% of all funding announced is live, with some smaller schemes due to come on stream in the coming weeks.  
26/1/2021
New Button Battery Safety CampaignThumbnail for article : New Button Battery Safety Campaign
Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is again raising awareness of the potential hazards posed to children by button batteries, which have become commonplace in our homes.   Working with The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, the Child Accident Prevention Trust, and the British and Irish Portable Battery Association, OPSS has produced safety messages on how to keep children safe.  
26/1/2021
Scottish Secretary Responds To The Latest Ons Employment Figures
Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said:Today's figures show signs of resilience in Scotland during the Autumn months, however we continue to live in challenging times.   Throughout the pandemic, the UK Government has taken quick and decisive action to protect jobs and support businesses, providing more than £280 billion in support including the furlough scheme, business loans and self-employed income support.  
25/1/2021
Highland Businesses Start Receiving Closure Grants - Have You Applied Yet?Thumbnail for article : Highland Businesses Start Receiving Closure Grants - Have You Applied Yet?
Businesses throughout Highland will today start seeing Closure Grant payments in their bank accounts.  The Business Closure Grant is a Scottish Government scheme, administered by The Highland Council, which gives grants of £2000 and £3000 to businesses who have had to close due to the COVID-19 protective measures introduced on Boxing Day.  
25/1/2021
Fuel Support Fund For Low Income Highland Households Experiencing Fuel Insecurities - Deadline to apply 28 FebruaryThumbnail for article : Fuel Support Fund For Low Income Highland Households Experiencing Fuel Insecurities - Deadline to apply 28 February
Households in the Highland who are on low income and experiencing fuel insecurities as a result of COVID-19 can apply for a Fuel Support Fund from The Highland Council.   The £270,000 Fuel Support Fund has been set up by the Council using Scottish Government funding which can be used flexibly to alleviate financial insecurities.  
25/1/2021
Coronavirus Covid-19 Daily Data For Scotland - 25 January 2021
752 new cases of COVID-19 reported 10,326 new tests for COVID-19 that reported results - 8.6% of these were positive 4 new reported death(s) of people who have tested positive (noting that Register Offices are now generally closed at weekends).   151 people are in intensive care with recently confirmed COVID-19.  
25/1/2021
Council Tenant Briefing focuses on supportThumbnail for article : Council Tenant Briefing focuses on support
As we continue to deal with Level 4 temporary lockdown restrictions, more and more people are experiencing an impact on their finances and wellbeing.  The Highland Council Housing Tenant Participation team have produced a ‘Tenant Briefing' advising tenants what housing services are available, and where they can access help and support if they need it.  
25/1/2021
No Self Assessment late filing penalty for those who file online by 28 February
Self Assessment customers who cannot file their tax return by the 31 January 2021 deadline will not receive a late filing penalty if they file online by 28 February.   Self Assessment customers will not receive a penalty for their late online tax return if they file by 28 February, HM Revenue and Customs' (HMRCs') Chief Executive Jim Harra has announced.  
25/1/2021
More Employers Sign Up To Rapid Testing To Protect WorkforceThumbnail for article : More Employers Sign Up To Rapid Testing To Protect Workforce
Dozens of public and private sector employers are now offering rapid testing to those without symptoms.   Expansion of testing will find more positive cases, keeping key workers from unknowingly passing on the virus and protecting vital services Organisations signed up to workplace testing already include Royal Mail, Tate & Lyle Sugars, Primula, Moy Park, Octopus Energy, Apetito, and DVLA.  
25/1/2021
Supporting The Wedding SectorThumbnail for article : Supporting The Wedding Sector
A £25 million fund to support the wedding sector and its supply chain will open to applications this week.   In recognition of the ongoing challenges faced by the sector, a further £10 million has been added to the £15 million announced in December.  
25/1/2021
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jonathan Van-tam Highlights The Importance Of Continuing To Follow The Guidance, Even After Receiving A Covid-19 VaccinationThumbnail for article : Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jonathan Van-tam Highlights The Importance Of Continuing To Follow The Guidance, Even After Receiving A Covid-19 Vaccination
Next Saturday will mark the first anniversary of the World Health Organization's declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern and next Sunday will be one year on from the first case of COVID-19 detected in the UK.  It has been a terrible year as the virus has spread across the world causing misery, hardship, death and severely disrupting all of our lives.  
25/1/2021
Exports Of Scottish Food And Drink Grow - Burns Night Boost For HaggisThumbnail for article : Exports Of Scottish Food And Drink Grow - Burns Night Boost For Haggis
Today (Monday 25 January), Scots across the world will be celebrating Burns Night with a hearty serving of haggis, thanks to the rise in exports from Scotland's largest producer of the iconic dish to key Free-Trade Agreement markets including Singapore and Canada.   Macsween of Edinburgh, which produces a range of haggis products including gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian haggis, has played an important role in sharing the dish globally.  
25/1/2021
Call For Evidence: An Inspection Of The Use Of Hotels And Barracks As Contingency Asylum AccommodationThumbnail for article : Call For Evidence: An Inspection Of The Use Of Hotels And Barracks As Contingency Asylum Accommodation
The Independent Chief Inspector invites anyone with knowledge and experience of the Home Office's use of hotels and barracks as contingency asylum accommodation to submit evidence.   The Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration (ICIBI) has begun an inspection of the use of hotels and barracks as contingency asylum accommodation and is inviting anyone with relevant knowledge or experience to submit their evidence to chiefinspector@icibi.gov.uk.  
25/1/2021
Vegan Dairy Products Face EU Ban From Using Milk Cartons And Yoghurt Pots - And UK Could Be NextThumbnail for article : Vegan Dairy Products Face EU Ban From Using Milk Cartons And Yoghurt Pots - And UK Could Be Next
Leading oat milk brand Oatly and the owner of Flora margarine are spearheading a campaign to overturn new proposed EU rules that could have dire consequences for vegan food companies.   A ruling by the European Court of Justice in 2017 has already banned Vegan food producers trading in the EU from using terms such as "oat milk" and "soya yoghurt" on packaging.  
25/1/2021
Britain's electricity use is at its lowest for decades - but will never be this low againThumbnail for article : Britain's electricity use is at its lowest for decades - but will never be this low again
In 2020, Britain's electrical use was the lowest it had been since 1983.  This wasn't entirely due to COVID - demand for electricity had been falling for more than a decade anyway, thanks to savings from energy-efficient appliances, moving industry offshore and consumers becoming more careful as costs increased.  
25/1/2021
£30-million Injection For UKs First Uncrewed Fighter AircraftThumbnail for article : £30-million Injection For UKs First Uncrewed Fighter Aircraft
The UK's first fleet of uncrewed fighter aircraft is one step closer to reality following a £30-million contract to design and manufacture a prototype in a three-year deal supporting more than 100 jobs in Belfast.   The uncrewed combat aircraft will be designed to fly at high-speed alongside fighter jets, armed with missiles, surveillance and electronic warfare technology to provide a battle-winning advantage over hostile forces.  
25/1/2021
MSP Questions Unsavoury Insurance Practice
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, has contacted the Association of British Insurers after being made aware of what she describes as ‘a deeply unsavoury situation' whereby a commercial landlord has been contacted by his insurance broker regarding his premises being unoccupied due to the Covid-19 restrictions in place.   Typically, most insurance policies only provide unoccupied property cover for a limited period, usually 30 to 60 days.  
24/1/2021
Vaccination Programme Update
Appointments scheduled for next groups on the priority list.   Blue envelopes containing an invitation to a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine appointment for people aged 70 -79 will start to land on doormats in several health board areas from Monday 25 January.  
24/1/2021
Coronavirus COVID-19 daily data for Scotland - 24 January 2021
1,195 new cases of COVID-19 reported.   19,339 new tests for COVID-19 that reported results - 7.4% of these were positive.  
24/1/2021
FactCheck Q&A: why are we delaying second dose of Covid vaccine?
The scientists and experts cannot agree the way forward on the second dose of vaccine.   This article may or may not answer the question for you.