The Government Actuary has published his annual report on the National Insurance Fund (NIF) for Great Britain. The report: projects contribution income, benefit payments and the balance of the NIF over the coming financial years is a source of information for MPs who scrutinise the government's draft legislation for up-rating social security benefits and pensions and updating National Insurance contribution (NIC) terms National Insurance contributions are split between the NHS and the NIF.
Articles are all over the internet predicting increases in the oil price following the attack by Yemen's Houthi group on the United Arab Emirates, escalating hostilities between the Iran-aligned group and a Saudi Arabian-led coalition. After launching drone and missile strikes which set off explosions in fuel trucks and killed three people, the Houthi movement warned it could target more facilities Brent, WTI jump over $1/barrel to highest since October 2014.
On behalf of The Highland Council, High Life Highland this week announced Airborne Lens as the successful partner for the immersive input to Spirit of the Highlands and Islands project. Director of the Inverness Castle Project, Fiona Hampton, said: "This is a very exciting part of our project, allowing people to become immersed in the natural and cultural heritage of the Highlands and Islands through virtual and augmented reality.
New research from Choose finds 87% of broadband and mobile customers are unaware prices may increase by as much as 10% by April 2022. With annual price rises linked to inflation set to come into force over the coming months, almost half of respondents (46%) did not know prices would be increasing at all.
The Office for National Statistics published its latest report today. Between November and December 2021, the number of payrolled employees in each of the regions of the UK continued to increase.
Funding is being awarded to deliver carbon-cutting projects across the country. Eight projects will share £8.7 million of Scottish Government investment, with project partners providing match funding, taking total investment to £24.4 million.
7,752 new cases of COVID-19 reported. Please note that this figure.
High Life Highland and the Neil Gunn Trust are delighted to announce that from Monday 20th September 2021, the 21/22 Neil Gunn Writing Competition is open for entries. The lead judge is distinguished author and patron of the Neil Gunn Trust, James Robertson.
Hospitality businesses who lost bookings during the Christmas/New Year period are to secure grant support from the Scottish Government. Business will receive either a grant of £4,500 or £6,800 depending on their rateable value.
The economic impact of the offshore wind industry in the Highlands and Islands could be similar to that of historic oil and gas developments, according to Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). The agency has welcomed today's ScotWind offshore wind leasing round announcement by Crown Estate Scotland.
Crown Estate Scotland has today announced the outcome of its application process for ScotWind Leasing, the first Scottish offshore wind leasing round in over a decade and the first ever since the management of offshore wind rights were devolved to Scotland. The results coming just months after Glasgow hosted the global COP26 climate conference show the huge opportunity that Scotland has to transform its energy market and move towards a net zero economy.
First Minister hails "truly historic" opportunity of ScotWind. Billions will be invested in high quality green jobs as part of Scotland's transition to net zero.
6,221 new cases of COVID-19 reported*. Please note that this figure now includes cases identified using either a first LFD (Lateral Flow Device) or PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) positive test.
The Stay in Scotland campaign has been relaunched with updated resources to help European Union (EU) citizens living in Scotland access and prove their immigration status online using the UK Government's ‘view and prove' service. Although the Scottish Government continues to push the UK Government to offer physical proof of immigration status, EU citizens currently have to use the Home Office's digital-only system to prove their rights in the UK.
Around 12,000 students will assist in the safe delivery of health and social care as services continue to respond to the pandemic. More than 3,000 nursing and midwifery students are heading out on placements this month.
The Highland Council is piloting a new open market purchase scheme to buy directly from owners in a bid to bolster its housing stock to meet the need for additional affordable housing and provide new homes and futures for families, young and old in communities across the Highlands. The Council is asking anyone considering selling a house to contact them and help make to make a difference to families who are in need of home.
Highland's Online Primary School (HOPS) has launched for P4-P7 pupils to enhance children's learning through a weekly timetable of daily lessons with engaging content. The resource is available on the already established Highland Schools Digital Hub.
Recently published this short video of Wick Harbour promoting sailing is one of a growing list from Sail Scotland..
The Highland Council is calling on the Scottish Government to provide greater transparency in relation to its budget settlement for local government and is seeking further funding to address a range of significant external budget pressures. The Council has asked the Government to examine the analysis of the budget settlement which shows less money will be flowing into the Highlands from Edinburgh.
The UK will continue delivering COVID-19 vaccines around the world, including to Uganda, to ensure equitable access to the vaccines to help tackle the pandemic. Five million of these doses are being offered to the COVAX Facility to ensure equitable, global access to COVID-19 vaccines.
