Railway workers have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action across Network Rail and the train operating companies, in the biggest endorsement for industrial action by railway workers since privatisation. 71% of those balloted took part in the vote with 89% voting in favour of strike action and only 11% voting against.
Make your own mind up after reading the report. FINDINGS OF SECOND PERMANENT SECRETARY'S INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGED GATHERINGS ON GOVERNMENT PREMISES DURING COVID RESTRICTIONS.
New Tax-Free Childcare statistics from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have revealed that 29,110 families in Scotland received up to £2,000 towards the cost of their childcare during the 2021 to 2022 tax year, up from 20,330 in the previous year. Tax-Free Childcare provides thousands of eligible working families with vital financial support towards the cost of their childcare with the government paying £240 million annually in top-up payments to families using the scheme.
Thank you Mr. Speaker With permission, I will make a statement.
Plastic particles smaller than 5mm (known as microplastics) are well-documented pollutants in ocean and freshwater habitats. The discovery of microplastics in the most remote rivers of the Himalayas and the deepest trenches of the Pacific Ocean has sparked widespread concern.
The AstraZeneca vaccine, developed in partnership with the University of Oxford, was one of the first vaccines available for use in the UK and around the world during the COVID pandemic. More than two billion doses have been distributed to at least 170 countries, with around 50 million doses administered in the UK.
The Highland Council is now accepting expressions of interest for the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund for 2023-2024. You will have until 9 June 2022 to submit your form.
The latest outbreak of monkeypox has, at the time of writing, reached 17 countries with 110 confirmed cases and a further 205 suspected cases. It's a fast-moving story, so if you need to catch up on the latest, here are answers to some of the most pressing questions.
Food prices, like almost everything else, are rising fast. There have recently been warnings of "apocalyptic" costs, and a declaration that the "era of cheap food" is over.
A new fund to support the North East economy in its transition to net zero will open next week for expressions of interest. The Just Transition Fund for the North East and Moray will help finance organisations, businesses, communities and individuals to transition to net zero, creating jobs in low carbon industries and contributing to the region's future prosperity.
Plans for future legislation are part of the Scottish Government's response to an independent review into the handling of complaints against the police. The Scottish Government has launched a 12-week consultation on a new Bill which delivers on a Programme for Government commitment made in September last year.
Experts to implement the National Strategy for Economic Transformation. Experienced leaders from business, academia, third sector and trade unions have been appointed to the new delivery board promised in the National Economic Strategy to deliver Scotland's long term economic ambitions.
The first case of monkeypox in the current outbreak was reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) on May 7. The person in question had recently returned to the UK from Nigeria, where they are believed to have contracted the infection.
UK wide Taskforce will develop a strategy to boost skills and jobs in the shipbuilding industry. Members of the UK's first Shipbuilding Skills Taskforce (UKSST) have been announced today (24 May).
The UK local elections in May saw gains for nationalists in Scotland and Northern Ireland, raising the prospect of increased debates over the future make-up of the country. In Scotland, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, is hoping to hold a second independence referendum in 2023.
For the first time since records began, there are more job vacancies in the UK than unemployed people, according to the latest monthly labour market figures. This has been driven mainly by a near-fourfold surge in job vacancies to around 1.3 million since the summer of 2020, when economic activity was allowed to resume at the end of the first COVID lockdown.
The energy price cap is expected to hit an al time high from £1,971 to £2,800 a year in October 2022, the boss of Ofgem has told MPs. The energy regulator's chief exective Jonathan Brearley told the the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee he will write to Rishi Sunak, informing the chancellor he expects the cap to be "in the region of £2800.
Tax credits customers are being urged to be on their guard for potential scams and fraudsters who claim to be from HMRC. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is warning tax credits customers to be aware of scams and fraudsters who imitate the department in an attempt to steal their personal information or money.
Inflation might mean the pound in your pocket is wilting at home, but it now goes further in 45 popular holiday destinations than it did before the pandemic. Brits heading abroad this summer will get a better exchange rate on four out of five of the most in-demand foreign currencies, new analysis by No1 Currency reveals.
Over one in five of employers (21%) in Scotland plan to implement a "no-jab, no-job" policy in the year ahead for existing staff, according to a new study. Workplace experts, Acas, commissioned YouGov to ask senior decision makers in Scottish businesses whether they plan to make it a requirement for staff to be vaccinated against Covid-19 as a condition of employment in the year ahead.
