UK scallopers who are yet to respond to a call for evidence on potential closure of the fishery in parts of the Channel this summer are being reminded to get their responses in by March 19. Marine Management Organisation (MMO), on behalf of all four UK fisheries administrations, published a six week call for evidence in January on proposals to close the king scallop dredge fishery in 7d and Lyme Bay in 7e this summer.
How are average house prices and changing interest rates affecting monthly mortgage repayments across Great Britain? Use the interactive map produced by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to see how the latest house prices and interest rates translate to monthly bills. What are average Great Britain monthly mortgage payments? Fill in some details below to find out about average mortgage payments near you.
Support for victims faced with potential questioning in court about their sexual history. Free, independent legal representation is to be provided to sexual offence victims, where applications are made to lead evidence of their sexual history in court.
One of the most common scams of recent months involves scammers posing as someone's family member or friend on WhatsApp and asking them to transfer money to pay an urgent bill or invoice. One man recently received a message which appeared to be from his daughter, saying that she had damaged her phone and had a new number.
New research by Get Safe Online has shown a significant rise in online purchase scams, with more than 8 million Brits falling victim to this type of fraud at least once during the last year and 30% noticing more fake websites and sellers when shopping online. Purchase scams involve being asked to pay in advance for goods or services that are never received, with digitally-savvy criminals creating professional-looking websites, social media profiles and documents that appear genuine, but are in fact fake.
The impact of challenges facing the economy and other events on UK businesses. Based on responses from the voluntary fortnightly business survey (BICS) to deliver real-time information to help assess issues affecting UK businesses and economy, including financial performance, workforce, trade, and business resilience.
The biggest trade union in Scotland's drinks manufacturing sector has today (Thursday 9 March) warned the Scottish Government it must ditch plans to restrict alcohol marketing and instead bring forward a national strategy for the future of jobs and investment with workers and employers. The call comes from the GMB union, which represents thousands of workers in brewing, whisky, and spirits across Scotland, as the government’s Alcohol Advertising and Promotion consultation closes amid workforce concerns about the unintended consequences of reduced sales on existing employment levels across the sector.
Delivered at the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, March 2023. Chair, The United Kingdom thanks the Director General for his report on the Agency's activities related to nuclear science, technology and applications and we reiterate our support for the Agency’s role in researching, promoting and sharing the benefits of peaceful nuclear technologies.
Maps of the Council's gritting routes by priority and policy are available online at www.highland.gov.uk/gritting. The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time.
Highland Opportunity (Investments) Limited HO(I)L, The Highland Council's business loan company has launched its first social media campaign to make Highland businesses and community organisations aware of its loan funds. HO(I)L has financially supported more than 1,200 local start-up businesses, community organisations and growth projects within the Highland Business community since it was established in 1986.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (March 7th) sold 13 Prime Cattle. Prime Bullocks (2) averaged 288.9p per kg (+10.4p) and sold to 294.0p per kg and £1,999.20 gross.
Bosses of TV rigging services and online fitness companies separately abused Bounce Back Loans totalling £61,000. Michael Andrew Higgins, 56, and Dean Emanuel Miller, 41, both from Sheffield, have been disqualified as company directors for a total of 17 years after separate Insolvency Service investigations found that through their respective companies they had each abused the covid loan support scheme.
Members have given their backing to an investment of more than £2.3m towards supporting vulnerable young people and families in the Highlands. The investment was agreed as part of the annual budget process, which took place last week on Thursday, 2 March.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has reason to suspect anti-competitive behaviour has taken place involving suppliers of fragrances and fragrance ingredients for use in the manufacture of consumer products such as household and personal care products. The CMA has been in contact with the Antitrust Division of the US Department of Justice, the European Commission and the Swiss Competition Commission in relation to this matter, and this investigation has been launched in consultation with them.
Standard stamp prices are to rise by up to 15%, Royal Mail has confirmed. From Monday 3 April, the cost of first-class stamps will be hiked to £1.10 (up 15p from 95p), while second-class stamps will increase to 75p (up 7p from 68p).
A world-leading £33 million Scottish Government initiative to digitally transform how evidence is managed across the justice system will spare witnesses from having to attend court as often and free up police officers' time. Dundee recently began piloting the Digital Evidence Sharing Capability service (DESC), a secure and robust system that will for the first time allow prosecutors, court staff, police officers and defence lawyers to access a unified system to handle evidence digitally.
The public are being urged to be wary when buying products from online platforms and to check on GOV.UK whether they have been recalled. The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is working with its partners Netmums and the Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT) to encourage people to ensure they are buying safe products from reliable sources.
The Home Office returned more than 320 foreign criminals and immigration offenders with no right to be in the UK last month as part of efforts to stop the boats. The people who were returned to their home countries included over 200 foreign national offenders, over 30 asylum offenders and over 85 non-asylum offenders, with more than 15 known to have arrived in the UK via small boats.
The Storr visitor attraction on Skye has launched its dedicated and branded website, providing information that aims to enhance the visitor experience. The Old Man of Storr project is "for the community, in the community, by the community" working closely with communities and with continual local Member involvement, to celebrate Gaelic and to demonstrate engagement and partnership working.
At the end of last year, the boards of management at UHI North Highland, UHI Outer Hebrides and UHI West Highland formally approved the merger proposal and business case, which will see them come together to form UHI North, West and Hebrides from 1 August 2023, subject to Scottish Government approval. Merger requires approval by Scottish Ministers under the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992.
