Boyd Alexander will have a key role in projects that support people who currently live in or are moving into the area. He will work with agencies and other organisations on specific projects to tackle key challenges, particularly housing, as well as other issues people face when moving into the area.
Self-builders who are unable to access standard bank lending can now apply for a loan of up to £175,000 to help with the development costs of their home. The Self-Build Loan Fund reopens for applications on Monday 21 November and aims to support the delivery of good quality and energy efficient housing, giving people more choice about the homes they want to live in.
Energy prices had previously been frozen for two years from October 2022 in the "mini budget" at £2500 per year for the typical household. While the price cap is remaining in place this winter it has been made less generous in 2023 and onwards.
Members of The Highland Council's Communities and Place Committee have unanimously rejected the Boundary Commission for Scotland’s revised proposals relating to the 2023 Review of UK Parliament constituencies and agreed that the Council will challenge the proposals. The revised proposals affecting Highland would impact on the areas bordering with Argyll and Bute Council and Moray Council areas.
This report provides Resolution Foundation's overnight analysis of the 2022 Autumn Statement. Jeremy Hunt delivered an Autumn Statement that combined the ‘tough choices' rhetoric of George Osborne and the policies of Gordon Brown.
The RAF and industry partners have carried out a world-first 100% sustainable fuel flight using a military aircraft of its size, and the first of any aircraft type in the UK. First time an aircraft has flown in the UK using 100% sustainable aviation fuel on all engines.
Prime Minister confirms UK will bolster Ukraine's air defence against barbaric aerial assault. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said it is "deeply humbling" to be in Kyiv and pledged that the UK will continue to stand by Ukrainians in their fight, on his first visit to the country today [Saturday 19th November].
Public finances As expected, the new Chancellor had to contend with a much worse economic and fiscal outlook than forecast back in March. For 2025-26, weak growth and high inflation led to receipts being revised down by £25 billion and spending on benefits and state pensions being revised up by £14 billion.
The Chancellor found some additional cash for the NHS and schools over the next two years to ease the inflation squeeze those priority areas are facing. This was funded in large part by recycling £5 billion previously earmarked for increasing overseas aid spending to 0.7% of national income (instead, it will remain at 0.5%).
The Chancellor announced further ‘one-off' grants for households in 2023-24, targeted at households on means-tested or disability benefits and pensioners. Unlike the 2022-23 vintage, there will be no such support this time for those not receiving a benefit or state pension.
The EIS has announced two additional national strike days in its ongoing campaign for a fair pay settlement for Scotland's teaching professionals. Following a meeting of the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) Extended Joint Chairs this afternoon, at which no new offer was made, EIS members are set to take strike action next week, on Thursday 24 November, in schools across Scotland.
November 2022 Economic and fiscal outlook Transcript of Presentation by: Richard Hughes, Chair, Office for Budget Responsibility 17 November 2022 2. Introduction • Good afternoon everyone and thank you for joining us here at the Institute for Government and online.
Royal Mail workers are to stage six more strikes next month, including on Christmas Eve, in a long-running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions. The Communication Workers' Union (CWU) said its members would walk out on 9, 11, 14, 15, 23 and 24 of December.
The new Chancellor Jeremy Hunt made his first major fiscal statement, the Autumn Statement, on Thursday 17th November. This comes against a backdrop of a gloomy - but uncertain - outlook for the economy as rising inflation squeezes household incomes despite substantial government support for energy bills, and much media coverage of possible future spending cuts and tax rises in an attempt to return public sector net debt to a falling path.
Dan Atzori, Research Partner at Cornwall Insight:. "The energy announcements from the government's Autumn Statement today will be felt across households, businesses and throughout the UK energy market.
Chancellor's tax heavy consolidation adds to pressure on the ‘squeezed middle' as well as the top. The Chancellor’s Autumn Statement has piled further pressure on ‘the squeezed middle’, with personal tax rises announced during the parliament set to deliver a permanent 3.7 per cent income hit to typical households, the Resolution Foundation said today (Friday) in its overnight analysis of the Autumn Statement 2022.
Overspends are currently projected on housing repairs, homelessness, and other rent void loss, with the biggest emerging issue on housing repairs. Labour and material costs for housing repairs continue to be affected by rising inflation.
Mr Speaker, In the face of unprecedented global headwinds, families, pensioners, businesses, teachers, nurses and many others are worried about the future. So today we deliver a plan to tackle the cost-of-living crisis and rebuild our economy.
To protect the most vulnerable the Chancellor unveiled £26 billion of support for the cost of living including continued energy support, as well as 10.1% rises in benefits and the State Pension and the largest ever cash increase in the National Living Wage. To support the poorest pensioners, I have decided to increase pension credit by 10.1% which is worth up to £1470 for a couple and £960 for a single pensioner in our most vulnerable households.
The Chancellor has today (Thursday 17th November) announced his Autumn Statement, aiming to restore stability to the economy, protect high-quality public services and build long-term prosperity for the United Kingdom. Chancellor unveils a plan for stability, growth, and public services.
