1,003 new cases of COVID-19 reported. 14,163 new tests for COVID-19 that reported results - 8.1% of these were positive.
The UK is formally applying to join one of the world's largest free-trade areas, deepening trade ties with some of the fastest-growing markets in the world. International Trade Secretary Liz Truss will speak to ministers in Japan and New Zealand on Monday morning (1 February 2021) to request to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), with formal negotiations set to start this year.
As the Spaces for People programme continues to be rolled out across the Highlands, work is scheduled to begin in Wick next week to enhance the active travel environment for walking and wheeling in the area. Work will include improving dropped and pedestrian crossings, making it safer and more convenient to travel actively around main routes.
In these past weeks there have been increasing numbers of articles about the self-employed and who wins and who loses in the grants from government. Increased tightening of the rules by the tax authorities may make some people question the value of entering self-employment.
Throughout February all households will a receive a leaflet explaining the change in the law around organ and tissue donation in Scotland. From 26 March 2021 the law will change to an opt out system.
The RAF are continuing to take the fight to Daesh in Iraq and Syria. Summary Sunday 24 January - Typhoons struck two groups of Daesh terrorists in caves in northern Iraq.
Hundreds of teachers who are new in post, or working in pastoral or child protection roles, are to be offered support to manage the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Education Scotland and the General Teaching Council for Scotland have partnered with social enterprise organisation KnowYouMore who will provide coaches for the new online one-to-one sessions.
COSLA leaders have today voted in favour of a Scottish Labour amendment in protest against the SNP's plans for Local Government funding put forward yesterday. Despite Scotland's councils facing 14 years of underfunding and the loss of £767 million due to the pandemic, the Scottish Government has called for a council tax freeze but is offering financial support that does not come close to matching the losses incurred by councils.
994 new cases of COVID-19 reported. 22,056 new tests for COVID-19 that reported results - 5.8% of these were positive.
Scottish Construction Now. The public sector in the UK spends an incredible £290 billion per annum with third party organisations.
Due to an increase in prevalence of coronavirus (COVID-19) and an increase in infection rates Na h-Eileanan Siar will move to Level 4 from 00.01 Saturday 30 January 2021. New cases following a previous rise - including a community outbreak on Barra - have placed a significant strain on hospital capacity in the Western Isles Health Board area and the hospital on Stornoway is now reaching full capacity within available staffing resources.
Scottish Housing News. Funding announced by the Scottish Government falls short of delivering the required number of affordable homes needed in Scotland and won't effectively tackle fuel poverty, housing charities have warned following yesterday's Scottish Budget.
Scottish Housing News. Scottish Government has been under pressure for a considerable period of time to ‘do something' about the alleged proliferation of short-term lets.
Scottish Housing News. Scotland witnessed a 28% decline in new home registrations in 2020, despite a strong Q4 bounceback, as the impact of the coronavirus pandemic took its toll on housebuilders.
Scottish Housing News. The move to homeworking and a decline in demand for short-stay Airbnb lets, as well as worries about Covid rates in urban areas, are thought to have contributed to rents plummetting in Edinburgh.
Shares in the US retailer GameStop have jumped in value again as small investors continued their attack on major corporate investors. GameStop: hedge fund attacks have opened up powerful new front against Wall Street In the dying days of 2009, Rage Against the Machine achieved the unlikeliest of Christmas number ones with a re-release of their anti-establishment anthem Killing in the Name.
Scottish Housing News. Relief for first-time buyers, which raises the nil rate band for LBTT to £175,000, has been extended, while the ceiling of the nil rate band for residential land and buildings transaction tax (LBTT) will return to £145,000 from April 1, finance secretary Kate Forbes confirmed as part of the Scottish Budget yesterday.
1,155 new cases of COVID-19 reported. 23,330 new tests for COVID-19 that reported results - 5.8% of these were positive.
Mass vaccination centres to open in Edinburgh and Aberdeen. People aged 70 and over will get Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines in a range of settings, from community centres to mass vaccination centres, from Monday 1 February as the vaccination programme moves to the next stage.
This Fiscal Update, published at the same time as our Scotland's Economic and Fiscal Forecasts (SEFF), sets out how the 2020-21 Scottish Budget has changed since it was set in February 2020. Foreword The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has had a profound effect on the fiscal and economic outlook in Scotland and the UK.
