New Resolution Foundation briefing The only way is down by Emily Fry and James Smith identifies: Very good news on bills (lower than they would have been) but it might not feel like it (still rising). Typical annual energy bills are now forecast to be around £2,400 next year (2023-24), down from the forecast of £3,000 at the time of the Autumn Budget i.e.
Speaking today in the Scottish Government update on the social security programme debate Rhoda Grant, Scottish Labour MSP for the Highlands and Island called out the Government's inability to roll-out much needed support to the people of Scotland. Speaking particularly about the due roll out of the Winter Heating Payment Mrs Grant said "It is truly unbelievable that again today we are hearing about further delays in implementing the Scottish Social Security System.
The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union has announced Civil Service industrial action that will impact Border Force operations. Travellers who are planning to enter the UK between 17 February and 20 February 2023 may face longer wait times at border control.
In total, 70,000 UCU members are involved at Colleges and Universities. The full dates of strike action are: Week 1 - Wednesday 1 February Week 2 - Thursday 9 and Friday 10 February Week 3 - Tuesday 14, Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 February Week 4 - Tuesday 21, Wednesday 22 and Thursday 23 February Week 5 - Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 February and Wednesday 1 and Thursday 2 March [No action week commencing Monday 6 March] Ths is the biggest series of strikes ever to hit UK university campuses.
The University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) has opened a new clinical simulation suite in Inverness. Jamie Hepburn MSP, Minister for Higher Education and Further Education, Youth Employment and Training, attended the launch event which took place at the Centre for Health Science on Tuesday 7 February 2023.
ChatGPT has taken the world by storm. Within two months of its release it reached 100 million active users, making it the fastest-growing consumer application ever launched.
ChatGPT is the latest and most impressive artificially intelligent chatbot yet. It was released two weeks ago, and in just five days hit a million users.
Measures to safeguard education. Measures to ensure that teacher and pupil support staff numbers as well as school hours are protected have been announced by Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville.
The prime minister, Rishi Sunak, has proposed that school pupils should continue learning maths until 18 in order to obtain the numeracy skills needed in careers and everyday adult life. This proposal may be useful to current teenagers - but what about those of us who have already started grappling with adult life, and may feel anxious every time we encounter numbers? Millions of adults in the UK struggle with basic arithmetic.
Today the Scottish Parliament's Citizen’s Participation and Public Petitions Committee considered petition PE1723 on Essential Tremor. Brought forward by petitioner and formidable campaigner Mary Ramsay from Inverness, the petition calls for Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) technology to be made available on the NHS.
The Foreign Secretary has unleashed a new round of sanctions on Kremlin elites and entities providing military equipment such as drones. new UK sanctions accelerate economic pressure on Russian military and Kremlin elites.
Views sought on exemptions. Councils would no longer pay a tax on additional properties when buying affordable housing stock, under proposals in a new consultation.
President Zelenskyy arrives in the UK today to meet the Prime Minister and visit Ukrainian troops. President Zelenskyy arrives in the UK today to meet the Prime Minister and visit Ukrainian troops.
Social enterprises are a critical part of the rural economy contributing £197m in the Highlands and Islands - up £32m since 2019. This is according to recent figures released by the Social Enterprise in Scotland: Census 2021.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (February 7th) sold 10 Prime Cattle. Prime Bullocks (1) averaged 270.0p per kg (+14.0p) and sold to 270.0p per kg and £1,728.00 gross.
Caithness councillors at their meeting 6 February 2023 discussed the latest list of roads requiring works. Although further capital is still to be allocated the listing somewhat ominously draws a line above which works are to be carried out but a huge list under that red line awaits further capital allocation that should come when the final council programme is approved.
To mark Safer Internet Day 2023, the Council is providing individuals with advice and resources to equip them with essential knowledge to navigate the online world safely. Safer Internet Day is a global campaign which calls upon people to join together to make the internet a safer and better place for all, especially for children and young people.
I've never bought any industrial fertiliser, and you probably haven’t either. Unless you’re a farmer, it’s not something you have to think about much day to day.
Cutting edge new technologies that could enable electric flying taxis and hydrogen powered aircraft to take to the skies will be developed in the UK. Government and industry are investing £113 million in hydrogen and all-electric flight technologies to unlock guilt-free flight and support green jobs across the UK.
