News Archive

20/9/2023

Keeping People Safe And Secure Online - £500,000 Funding For Communities

Projects providing practical help to support people tackle the growing risks posed by online crime will share a £500,000 fund aimed at ensuring a digitally secure and resilient Scotland.   Organisations including Scottish Union Learning and Community Enterprise, will use the money to provide workshops aimed at tackling scams and internet safety, deliver training to upskill under-represented groups into careers within cyber security and provide digital advice in different languages.  

20/9/2023

Defence Secretary Pledges Tens Of Thousands Of More Artillery Shells For Ukraine

The UK has delivered over 300,000 artillery shells to Ukraine and is committed to delivering tens of thousands more artillery shells this year, the Defence Secretary announced today (20 September 2023) The UK has delivered its 300,000th artillery shell to Ukraine, and has committed to delivering tens of thousands more this year.   Comes as the Defence Secretary and Chief of the Defence Staff joined representatives from 50 nations to urge further support.  

20/9/2023

UK House Price Index Summary - July 2023

The annual percentage change for average UK house prices was 0.6% in the 12 months to July 2023, compared with 1.9% in the 12 months to June 2023.   The average UK house price was £290,000 in July 2023, which is £2,000 higher than 12 months ago, but £2,000 below the recent peak in November 2022.  

20/9/2023

Improving Digital Connectivity - Enhancing Broadband In New Builds

Plans to enhance broadband connection speeds in new homes across Scotland are being considered.   A three month consultation has been launched to gather views about the proposed regulations and how they would be implemented.  

20/9/2023

 
95% Of Ex-smokers See Positive Changes Soon After Quitting

Stoptober is back and calling on smokers to join the thousands of others committing to quit from 1 October.   New research reveals smokers can expect positive changes as soon as 2 weeks after quitting, including having more energy (45%), feeling healthier (42%) and improved breathing (42%).  

20/9/2023

 
UK Pushes Protections For International Marine Biodiversity

The UK Government has today reaffirmed its commitment as a leader on international nature conservation at the UN General Assembly.   The UK Government has today reaffirmed its commitment as a leader on international nature conservation, with a package of measures to address pressing challenges such as biodiversity loss, marine protection, climate change and illegal fishing.  

20/9/2023

 
Lorry Drivers - Posting Declaration - Enforcement Begins On 1 October

From 1 October 2023, DVSA will begin enforcement of the posting declaration regulation for lorry drivers.   DVSA's responsibilities cover EU operators carrying goods between loading and unloading points which are both in the UK.  

20/9/2023

Same-day Is Not Some-day - It's Now, Says Parcelhero

58% of consumers believe same-day delivery options are important, according to ParcelHero's latest survey.  But UK retailers are increasingly cautious about investing in new delivery options now that the pandemic e-commerce bubble has burst.  

20/9/2023

Britain Makes Internet Safer, As Online Safety Bill Finished And Ready To Become Law

Online Safety Bill passes its final Parliamentary debate and is now ready to become law.   The Online Safety Bill has been signed off by the Houses of Parliament and will become law soon.  

19/9/2023

Addressing The Unequal Impacts Of Climate Change

The First Minister Humza Yousaf has called on governments to accelerate financial support for countries most affected by climate-induced loss and damage, in a keynote speech during Climate Week NYC.   In the speech, the First Minister set out the details of how Scotland's loss and damage finance - pledged at COP26 and COP27 - is being mobilised.  

19/9/2023 : Advisory / Counseling Services

 
NDA Welcomes Its Largest And Most Diverse Cohort Of Graduates

NDA group welcomes the first cohort of graduates recruited through the NDA group graduate programme, launched late last year.   On Monday 18 September 2023 the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) group welcomed the first cohort of graduates recruited through the NDA group graduate programme, launched late last year.  

19/9/2023

Transformative Student Finance Bill Becomes Law

The Lifelong Learning Bill becomes law, paving the way for a radical transformation of the student finance system.   New measures have been enshrined in law that will transform the student finance system, allowing colleges and universities to charge different fees for different courses for the first time and opening up opportunities for adults to study in a way that works for them.  

19/9/2023

Class And The City Of London - My Decade Of Research Shows Why Elitism Is Endemic And Top Firms Don't Really Care

During the COVID pandemic, as most wages stagnated, workers in the City of London were enjoying bumper pay packets.  Average partner salaries in one corporate law firm exceeded £2 million for the first time.  

19/9/2023

Universities And Their Students Are Vulnerable To Money Laundering - New Research

Money laundering jeopardises the security of UK citizens and the integrity of its economy.  Money launderers often target financial institutions, but they are also increasingly targeting lesser regulated or unregulated sectors, such as universities.  

19/9/2023

Poverty In Britain Is Firmly Linked To The Country's Mountain Of Private Wealth - Labour Must Address This Growing Inequality

Labour's shadow chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has said that a Labour government would not raises taxes on wealth, capital gains or higher incomes.  She does not, she says, see "the way to prosperity as being through taxation." Britain is asset rich.  

19/9/2023

 
Geography Teaching Has Improved Significantly But More Focus Needed On Fieldwork

This article is from the UK government Ofsted department but may be of interest to teachers, pupils and parents in Scotland reflecting on the position in Scotland.   Ofsted has today (19 September 2023) published a subject report looking at how geography is being taught in England's schools.  

19/9/2023

 
France Used 10% Less Electricity Last Winter - Three Valuable Lessons In Fighting Climate Change

Measures which help people use less energy at home, while travelling or at work could significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions according to the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.  When there is less demand for energy, that means less low-carbon electricity needs to be generated to replace fossil fuels and reach net zero.  

19/9/2023 : Local Authority

Still Time To Apply For The First Decision Making Round Of The 2023/24 Nature Restoration Fund

The Highland Council have extended the deadline for applicants to apply for the first decision making round of the 2023/24 allocation of Nature Restoration Funding by 12 noon, Wednesday 4 October 2023.   Chair of the Council's Environment and Infrastructure Committee, Cllr Ken Gowans said: "Eligible applicants can apply between £2,000 - £25,000 towards nature restoration projects.  

19/9/2023 : Local Authority

Thurso High School Heating Oil Leak And River Thurso - Update 19 September

The Thurso High School heating oil leak investigation work continues to identify the cause and the extent of the leak.   This involves considerable site analysis to enable The Highland Council to know the extent of the contamination and will inform the scale of the site clean-up.  

19/9/2023

First Minister Announces Up To £2.5 Million To Boost Global Health

First Minister Humza Yousaf has pledged up to £2.5 million over the next five years to the Health4Life Fund - which supports global action and progress on the prevention of non-communicable diseases such as heart attacks, strokes and cancers.  The fund is coordinated by the World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).