Nine additional mobile masts announced. Mobile coverage in some of the most rural parts of Scotland will be improved with an additional £3.75 million investment.
The Chief Statistician today published results from the Scottish Employer Skills Survey 2020. The Scottish Employer Skills Survey (ESS) 2020 is a large-scale telephone survey of 3,497 employers in Scotland.
Government borrowing in April 2021 of £31.7 billion was £15.6 billion below last April and £7.3 billion below the profile consistent with our most recent forecast. The shortfall against forecast mostly relates to the timing of payments to the EU.
New Government report shows steep fall in trade with both EU and non-EU countries - with Brexit having a bigger impact than Covid. Today's ONS report looking at the combined impact of Covid and Brexit shows trade with EU countries has declined 23.1%.
Bitcoin, the original cryptocurrency, was launched in 2009. Today, there are thousands of cryptocurrencies with a total value of about $2 trillion.
Members of today's Recovery, Improvement and Transformation Board were provided with an update of the early progress of the Transformation Programme, which consists of nine key projects that form a major part of the Council’s Health and Prosperity Strategy, which was approved in March 2021. £3.7m will be invested over 24 months in these key projects, which are projected to generate an estimated £18.7m of savings, efficiencies, cost mitigation and cost avoidance.
The humble potato has been given a bad rap. What was once a cheap staple of many countries' diets has instead been branded in recent years an "unhealthy" food best avoided.
313* new cases of COVID-19 reported. 12,177* new tests for COVID-19 that reported results 2.8% of these were positive.
Following the UK Government's launch of its competition for the manufacture of three solid support ships, GMB Scotland has warned Defence Secretary Ben Wallace MP to "learn the lessons" of lost manufacturing contracts to the rest of the world, and ensure the vessels are built in yards across Britain. Speaking ahead of the Ministerial Statement in the House of Commons this afternoon (Monday 24 May), GMB Scotland Secretary Gary Smith said:"The award of the solid support vessel contracts to a consortium of UK manufacturers is the key to transforming our shipbuilding industry, and the working-class communities that depend on it.
UK launches consultation on rebalancing measures in response to Section 232 tariffs by US on steel and aluminium imports. The UK is today (May 24th) launching a review of tariffs against the US in response to the ongoing trade conflict around steel and aluminium.
Government plans to protect small pension pots by limiting the level at which fees can be charged on them will be outlined today. Proposals include introducing a threshold of £100 or below which a person cannot be charged a flat fee by their pensions provider, helping limit the erosion of small pot pensions and protect savers.
New study by PHE shows for the first time that 2 doses of the COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective against the B.1.617.2 variant first identified in India. Vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic disease from the B.1.617.2 variant is similar after 2 doses compared to the B.1.1.7 (Kent) variant dominant in the UK, and we expect to see even higher levels of effectiveness against hospitalisation and death.
World Council of Credit Unions is excited to launch a new monthly podcast that will provide the international credit union community with an in-depth look at some of the interesting and important stories it has to tell, particularly in the areas of international advocacy, international projects, education and networking, and digital transformation. The Global Credit Union Podcast will also be telling stories about the work credit unions across the world are doing on behalf of their members.
Britain's new flagship aircraft carrier will lead the largest concentration of maritime and air power to be deployed from the UK in a generation. Nine ships, 32 aircraft, and 3,700 personnel will set sail on Satruday 22 May 2021 on the UK Carrier Strike Group's maiden operational deployment.
378 new cases of COVID-19 reported. 21,002 new tests for COVID-19 that reported results - 2% of these were positive.
Claims for furlough days in May 2021 must be made by 14 June 2021. For details go HERE.
Launched in October 2020 to tackle the rise in unemployment caused by COVID-19, the National Transition Training Fund, helps people, aged 25 or over, prepare for a new career by offering short sharp training opportunities for in-demand skills. Find out more HERE.
370 new cases of COVID-19 reported. 21,744 new tests for COVID-19 that reported results - 1.8% of these were positive.
More than 100 ventilators and medical equipment donated. Scotland is sending life-saving oxygen and ventilation equipment to India as part of a UK-wide effort to support it in its fight against coronavirus (COVID-19).
This article was first published on the Brookings web site on 20 May 2021. After lagging behind the United States and United Kingdom on the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines this spring, the European Union is on track to catch up by July.
