2022 is set to the ‘year of the squeeze', with real wages set to be no higher next Christmas than today, and families face a typical income hit of around £1,200 a year from April as a result of tax rises and soaring energy bills, according to new Resolution Foundation research published on 29 December 2021. The Foundation’s latest quarterly Labour Market Outlook looks ahead to how workers and families will be affected by the big economic shifts in 2022.
11,962 new cases of COVID-19 reported*. 60,818 new tests for COVID-19 that reported results* 22.6% of these were positive.
The final three months of 2021 have been a mixed bag for the pandemic and the labour market. At the end of September, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (JRS) came to an end after 18 months - and the feared rise in unemployment does not seem to have come to pass.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (December 28th) sold 350 prime sheep. New season lambs (321) averaged 257.6p (-9.4p) and sold to 305.1p and £131 gross.
More than £1 billion has been recovered from the proceeds of crime and tax offenders since the formation of a specialist HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) fraud squad five years ago. Launched in April 2016, the department's Fraud Investigation Service (FIS) has now recovered assets equivalent to funding around 20,000 NHS nurses for an entire year.
More than 31,000 Self Assessment customers submitted their tax return for the 2020 to 2021 tax year over the festive period. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has revealed that 2,828 customers filed their Self Assessment tax return on Christmas Day, compared to 2,700 in 2020.
16,857 new cases of COVID-19 reported*. 71,612 new tests for COVID-19 that reported results* 27.1% of these were positive.
NHS Highland has delivered over 20,000 doses of COVID-19 booster or third dose vaccinations in five days last week. A total of 193,754 people in the NHS Highland area have received three doses of the vaccine, which is 81% of our adult population eligible for their booster.
More women and girls living and working in Scottish agriculture will be able to apply for funding for courses to help develop their skills. Eligible courses include support to get tractor and trailer driving certificates or help to train sheepdogs.
If you're due to file accounts with Companies House by the end of December, use our online services where possible and allow plenty of time before your deadline. December is always a busy time with many companies due to file accounts with Companies House before the end of the month.
Nearly £10 million has been awarded to four research projects over the next four years to improve the targeting of treatments for patients with serious illness The research will look at how treatments for those with diabetes, multiple sclerosis and liver disease, and patients in critical care, can be made more effective and targeted. The £9.75 million funding has been made through Precision Medicine Alliance Scotland (PMAS) - a Programme for Government commitment to support research in precision medicine.
Projects that support low income households will benefit from a funding boost through the Scottish Government's Winter Support Fund. A total of 16 charities will receive a share of over £6 million to provide support to low income families with direct assistance for living costs, as well as initiatives such as debt advice and parenting helplines.
15,849 new cases of COVID-19 reported*. 63,238 new tests for COVID-19 that reported results* 28.9% of these were positive.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced how £107 million is being allocated to support businesses impacted by the spread of the Omicron variant. The funding, which follows an initial £100 million lifeline package, means the Scottish Government has now allocated £207 million of the £375 million committed to business support.
An ambitious project is harnessing the power of technology to finally reveal the secret lives of wild Atlantic salmon - backed by £400,000 from the Scottish Government. Atlantic salmon start their lives in streams and rivers, before migrating to the high seas to grow and return home to spawn, connecting vast ranges of diverse habitats.
A new film from the government Better Health Smoke Free campaign has been released to discuss how adult smoker can influence younger people. Experts warn that teenagers whose parents smoke are likely to copy them in adulthood New film features health experts discussing how adult smokers can act as role models NHS support offered to smokers - in particular parents, carers and other adults - to encourage them to quit in the new year.
The introduction of Adult Disability Payment and extension of Scottish Child Payment to children under 16 will see a major increase in the number of people eligible to receive Sottish benefits in 2022. The Scottish Child Payment will increase to £20 from April, giving increased support to 111,000 children under the age of six.
Five days left to get ‘boosted by the bells'. With just five days left to get ‘boosted by the bells’ all remaining over-18s are being urged to come along for their COVID-19 booster.
Provisional data indicates an increasing number of COVID-19 cases. Figures for 25, 26 and 27 December are the highest daily totals recorded in Scotland since the start of the pandemic.
Temporary measures to limit the spread of the Omicron variant whilst the accelerated booster vaccination programme takes effect have come into force. From 05:00 yesterday (26 December), attendance at large events has been limited to: 100 people for indoor standing events 200 people for indoor seated events 500 people for all outdoor events (seated or standing).
