The second phase of road improvements has been officially opened on the A832 at Slattadale. This replaces a single track road with passing places to one lane in each direction and lies between Kinlochewe and Gairloch.
UKAEA and Tokamak Energy to collaborate on developing spherical tokamak technology for commercial fusion energy. Agreement follows news that STEP prototype fusion power plant will be built in North Nottingham.
Just Transition Fund awards announced. Projects across the North East and Moray will receive a share of over £50 million to accelerate the energy transition and secure future jobs in the region.
In the final week of operations, the Bank is announcing additional measures to support an orderly end of its purchase scheme. Against the backdrop of an unprecedented repricing in UK assets, the Bank announced a temporary and targeted intervention on Wednesday 28 September to restore market functioning in long-dated government bonds and reduce risks from contagion to credit conditions for UK households and businesses.
In the final week of operations, the Bank announced today additional measures to support an orderly exit from its purchase scheme, including that it will stand ready to increase the size of its daily auctions. Market Notice Against the backdrop of an unprecedented repricing in UK assets, the Bank announced a temporary and targeted intervention on Wednesday 28 September to restore market functioning in long-dated government bonds and reduce risks from contagion to credit conditions for UK households and businesses.
British lamb has now been exported to the USA for the first time in over 20 years. The United States Department for Agriculture (USDA) agreed to open the market for British lamb last year, and following the necessary inspections, the first consignment was flown to the USA this week containing lamb produced by meat processors Dunbia from its site in Carmarthenshire, Wales.
Self Assessment customers who are starting to think about their annual tax returns for the 2021 to 2022 tax year should guard against being targeted by fraudsters, warns HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). In the 12 months to August 2022, HMRC responded to more than 180,000 referrals of suspicious contact from the public, of which almost 81,000 were scams offering fake tax rebates.
Kwasi Kwarteng will bring forward his plan for balancing the government's finances by almost a month to 31 October as he tries to reassure markets. The fiscal statement is expected to show how the chancellor intends to pay for £43bn of tax cuts and cut debt.
First Minister announces doubling of December Bridging Payment to £260. Families of an estimated 145,000 children will benefit from extra support this winter to help with cost of living pressures - backed by Scottish Government investment of £18.9 million.
The fund is provided by ScottishPower Renewables, developers of the Halsary Windfarm. The Fund will be worth approximately £30,000 annually for the life of the windfarm, expected to be 25 years.
When long-dated UK government bonds fell sharply following the consistent criticism of the new economic measures laid out by the UK government, it forced the Bank of England to intervene to prevent an "unwarranted tightening of financing conditions and a reduction of the flow of credit to the real economy". On September 28, the Bank announced it would buy UK government bonds (also known as gilts) with maturities of 20 years and upwards on "whatever scale is necessary" over a two-week period.
Richard Murphy in his blog today highlights the growing fears among Tory MP's after Liz Truss seems to have alienated many environmental charities that between them have over 10 million members. The National Trust has lined up with the RSPB, the Wildlife Trust and the Wetlands and Wildfowl Trust..........But now she has the bastion of small c conservatism lined up against her.
By 2025-26 these freezes take away £2 for every £1 given to households through the headline personal tax cuts. Much has been made about the mini Budget's surviving high-profile tax cuts: the reductions in National Insurance contributions (NICs) and the 1p cut to the basic rate of income tax.
A report by the Institute For Fiscal Studies. Key findings 1.
A veterans support fund is now open to help improve the lives of former service personnel and their families. A key priority for this year's Scottish Veterans Fund is to make sure veterans and their families are supported in response to the ongoing cost of living crisis.
SLC provides an update on first term Maintenance Loan payments to students. Over £2.6bn has been paid to 1.1m students in the first term of the 22/23 academic year, according to figures released today* by the Student Loans Company (SLC).
Legislation to champion the welfare of people receiving healthcare, with the creation of a Patient Safety Commissioner, has been published. The Commissioner's remit, set out in the Bill, will cover all healthcare providers operating in Scotland, including the NHS and NHS-contracted and independent healthcare providers.
If you are still wondering what hit the UK following Kwasi Kwarteng's incredibly inept budget announcements then here are some explanations about taxes that may surprise you. Most people are not interested in the background to taxes but the usual rules were not followed and it pays to know exactly why this whole sorry mess has unfolded costing all of us dearly.
NHS Highland message as Covid numbers rise and hospitalisations increase. After a long period where we have seen the number of COVID-19 cases in NHS Highland declining we have started to see a rise in positive numbers.
Highland Council's renewable energy installation, Hydro Ness, has been commended with a Merit from judges at the prestigious, national Structural Steel Design Awards 2022. The Archimedes Screw installation on the banks of the River Ness in Inverness was shortlisted for the main awards earlier this year.
