The UK's first fleet of uncrewed fighter aircraft is one step closer to reality following a £30-million contract to design and manufacture a prototype in a three-year deal supporting more than 100 jobs in Belfast. The uncrewed combat aircraft will be designed to fly at high-speed alongside fighter jets, armed with missiles, surveillance and electronic warfare technology to provide a battle-winning advantage over hostile forces.
In 2020, Britain's electrical use was the lowest it had been since 1983. This wasn't entirely due to COVID - demand for electricity had been falling for more than a decade anyway, thanks to savings from energy-efficient appliances, moving industry offshore and consumers becoming more careful as costs increased.
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, has contacted the Association of British Insurers after being made aware of what she describes as ‘a deeply unsavoury situation' whereby a commercial landlord has been contacted by his insurance broker regarding his premises being unoccupied due to the Covid-19 restrictions in place. Typically, most insurance policies only provide unoccupied property cover for a limited period, usually 30 to 60 days.
Appointments scheduled for next groups on the priority list. Blue envelopes containing an invitation to a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine appointment for people aged 70 -79 will start to land on doormats in several health board areas from Monday 25 January.
1,195 new cases of COVID-19 reported. 19,339 new tests for COVID-19 that reported results - 7.4% of these were positive.
The scientists and experts cannot agree the way forward on the second dose of vaccine. This article may or may not answer the question for you.
1,307 new cases of COVID-19 reported. 20,393 new tests for COVID-19 that reported results - 9.3% of these were positive 76 new reported death(s) of people who have tested positive.
Armed Forces now working in hospitals, vaccine centres, and testing across all four nations of the UK to support the coronavirus response. Over 5,000 Armed Forces personnel are now deployed on the largest ever peacetime resilience operation, across all four of the home nations and focused on three strands of the Covid response - testing, vaccines and clinical support for the NHS.
Government launches new national campaign featuring hospital staff and COVID-19 patients to remind the public of the extreme pressures still facing the NHS. New emotive TV ad challenges the public to think about the impact their actions might have by asking: "Can you look them in the eyes and tell them you're helping by staying at home?" The TV advert will launch on ITV and Channel 4 this evening and further advertising will run across radio, out of home, digital and across social media from Saturday evening.
Today Minister David Duguid spoke with senior figures in the Scottish seafood industry to acknowledge there have been difficulties and provide solutions. Temporary issues felt in the seafood supply chain are steadily improving, UK Government Minister for Scotland David Duguid heard in a meeting he chaired today with senior figures in the industry.
Commenting on the new variant of COVID-19 in the UK the Government's Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, said: The new UK variant comprises a significant number of the our cases. It is spreading 30 to 70% more easily than the old variant.
A discussion by the Institute for Government held on 19th January 2021. The UK left the transition period at 11pm 31 December 2020.
The Highland Council has begun detailed designs works on a major £2.5m energy project, part-funded by the Scottish Government through Salix Finance. At a site on the River Ness, near Whin Park in Inverness, the council is preparing to install a 92kW ‘Archimedes Screw' hydroelectric power turbine.
1,480 new cases of COVID-19 reported. 26,054 new tests for COVID-19 that reported results - 6.9% of these were positive.
Members of The Highland Council's Caithness Committee have approved additional funding for a project to bring new life to the site of a former derelict building on Wick High Street. In September last year the Scottish Government announced extra funding through the Town Centre Fund as part of its national economic recovery stimulus package, particularly aimed at supporting construction activity across Scotland.
Inverness Councillors on The Highland Council's City and Area Recovery Group today discussed the importance of local businesses having an online digital presence for customer access during the pandemic and post-lockdown recovery. Good digital access via websites and social media was the common theme raised by two speakers from Business Gateway and the Highland Food and Drink Trail in presentations to Councillors.
Responding to the recent media reports which stated that the Chief Secretary to the Treasury had written to the Scottish Government to indicate that the UK Government intended that the Shared Prosperity Fund which will replace European structural funds could be routed through local authorities. Cllr Alasdair Christie, Deputy Leader of the Council said:"We urgently need clarity on how the UK Shared Prosperity Fund is going to operate, who is operating it and when the money will start to flow.
Applications have opened today to help shape the COP26 venue in Glasgow ahead of the crucial climate change talks later this year. Call for groups to bring climate action to life in an interactive setting Chance to engage with key audiences and make a real change in the fight against climate change Two-week showcase opportunity when world leaders gather in Glasgow.
Public sector net borrowing (excluding public sector banks, PSNB ex) is estimated to have been £34.1 billion in December 2020, £28.2 billion more than in December 2019, which is both the highest December borrowing and the third-highest borrowing in any month since monthly records began in 1993. Central government tax receipts are estimated to have been £43.6 billion in December 2020 (on a national accounts basis), £1.4 billion less than in December 2019, with notable falls in taxes on production such as Value Added Tax (VAT) and Business Rates.
BRIEF RESPITE FOR MANUFACTURING SECTOR BUT OUTLOOK REMAINS CHALLENGING. Manufacturing output stabilised in the quarter to January, following three consecutive quarters of decline, according to the latest CBI quarterly Industrial Trends Survey for Scotland.
