Labour Shadow Health Minister lodges PQ asking Scot Gov 'did our researchers examine Victoria's winning Covid-busting strategy?' HIGHLANDS & Islands MSP David Stewart, who is Labour's Shadow Health Minister, lodged a Parliamentary Question on Thursday 25th February asking the Scottish Government whether its researchers had looked at the experience of Victoria in Australia, which succeeding in slashing Covid rates to emerge into a virus-free country. It follows Stewart's questions to leading New Zealand professor Michael Baker at today's virtual sitting of Holyrood's Covid Committee.
A £5 billion sale of Bradford & Bingley plc and NRAM Limited (formerly Northern Rock) and their remaining loans, acquired by the taxpayer as a result of the financial crisis, has been announced today, 26 February. This final sale constitutes a significant milestone in the work to achieve the government's objective of returning the institutions brought into public ownership as a result of the 2007-2008 financial crisis to private ownership.
581 new cases of COVID-19 reported. 20,410 new tests for COVID-19 that reported results - 3.3% of these were positive.
The STEM bursary scheme to encourage more people to train as secondary school teachers in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Computing Science, Technical Education and Home Economics is set to continue. These are the secondary school STEM subjects with the greatest demand for teachers, and 150 bursaries will once again be available for career changers to apply for the £20,000 bursary in the next academic year while studying for a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE).
Latest HMRC statistics show more than 264,000 people have opened a Help to Save account and could be earning money on their savings. More than 264,000 individuals have opened a Help to Save account and could be earning money on their savings, statistics from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have revealed.
Health and social care professionals will have access to a new specialist service offering confidential mental health assessment and treatment. The Workforce Specialist Service will be delivered by experts with experience in treating a range of issues such as stress, anxiety, depression or addiction, with a focus on the impact this may have on a person's work.
Everyone across the UK is being reminded of the importance of staying at home and the risks in relaxing their behaviour at this crucial point, in a new advertising campaign. Government launches new national campaign encouraging people to keep going and stay at home.
Proposed legislation to implement Scotland's Budget for 2021-22 has passed its first parliamentary hurdle. MSPs have voted to endorse the general principles of the Budget Bill at Stage 1.
We temporarily paused our strike off processes from 21 January 2021 so that companies and creditors would not be adversely affected by processing delays at Companies House. Following a review, this temporary measure will be lifted on 8 March 2021.
A Scottish Parliament Committee has criticised the implementation of the 2015 Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act saying that not enough has been done to empower people from deprived backgrounds to take action in their communities. The report by the Local Government and Communities Committee reflected on the impact of two key areas of the act aimed at empowering communities: participation and asset transfer requests.
Move provides aviation sector with much-needed flexibility and protects environment as airlines will not have to operate carbon-inefficient 'ghost flights' to retain their slots. The government has today (26 February 2021) introduced legislation to extend the airports slot allocation waiver, further supporting the aviation industry through the upcoming summer months.
Six more fire stations across Highland and Argyll & Bute will provide local access to coronavirus (COVID-19) tests from next Tuesday 2 March. The stations are the remainder of the 21 announced by Public Health Minister Mairi Gougeon earlier this month to provide more convenient access to testing in remote and rural areas.
The centralisation of air traffic services in the Highlands was the fore again yesterday at the petitions committee of the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday 24th February 2021. The importance of the issue for outlying areas in terms of connectivity and employment were highlighted.
The Corporate Resources Committee of Highland council debated the latest account to December 2020 that show an underspend in staffing costs of £14,474. This saving has helped to create a surplus and stated in the report "at current projections for the year-end outturn position suggest a net year end budget surplus of £3.1m, a significant improvement from the £8.7m forecast overspend reported to this committee in November." Councillor Matthew Reiss appeared today to chair the meeting of the Corporate Resource committee following the resignation of councillor Alister Mackinnon.
To help mitigate the persistent uncertainty and challenges arising from the pandemic, the Highland Council continues its humanitarian support, in partnership with the Community Food Initiative North East (CFINE), which operates FareShare Scotland in the north of Scotland. With funding from the Scottish Government and donations from supermarkets and food suppliers, FareShare, the Highland Council, local community groups and the Third Sector have adopted a collaborative and co-ordinated approach to food support for the wellbeing of households across the Highlands.
An underspend to 31 December 2020 of almost £60million in capital spending. Contractors mainly could not get moving due to covid restrictions.
* Approaching half (44%) of the UK's self-employed individuals believe changes to IR35 should be delayed, with 17% claiming it will reduce their income. * Over a third (36%) of the self-employed are unaware of the incoming changes, and just 3% agree with the current timeline.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts, (February, 25th) sold 1,416 sheep of all classes. Lambs (716) averaged £77.34 and sold to £128 gross for a pen of Texel crosses from Dell Farm, Farr.
Workplace expert, Acas, has published new advice on getting the coronavirus vaccine for work. The NHS vaccination programme offers a free coronavirus vaccine for everyone in the UK and is currently prioritising those who are at most risk from coronavirus first before a wider rollout expected by July 31st.
£7 billion worth of the total unpaid overtime in 2020 was put in by key workers who have kept the country running in the pandemic. Friday is ‘Work Your Proper Hours Day' when workers are encouraged to finish on time with the active support of their employers.
