Education specialists from across the North-east, North and West of Scotland are to deliver a week-long series of digital professional learning events for teachers and practitioners from the end of September as part of a drive to increase awareness about child poverty in Scotland and the impact this has on learning. Led by the Northern Alliance (Regional lmprovement Collaborative for the area's eight local authorities) in collaboration with Education Scotland, Promoting Equity Week will run from Monday 28 September.
The Scottish Government will lay legislation to enable delivery of the new Child Winter Heating Assistance later today. This is the first disability benefit to be introduced using new social security powers.
OCHMADDY, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (August, 31st) sold 2,394 store lambs. Lambs (2,394) averaged £63.60 (up £16.91 on the year) and sold to £95 gross for a Suffolk cross lamb from Clachan Farm, Lochmaddy.
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will close on 31 October 2020. From 1 July, employers can bring furloughed employees back to work for any amount of time and any shift pattern, while still being able to claim CJRS grant for the hours not worked.
Indoor gatherings limited in Glasgow, East Renfrewshire and West Dunbartonshire. Following an increase in the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Glasgow, East Renfrewshire and West Dunbartonshire, additional restrictions will be introduced for people living in these areas for an initial two week period.
Ensuring Scotland's economic, health, and social recovery from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is the focus of this year's Programme for Government, published today. Speaking in Parliament, the First Minister said the Scottish Government would prioritise work to suppress the virus - building on its commitment to COVID-19 testing, contact tracing, and surveillance.
The Scottish Government is leading a global push to ensure action is taken at all levels to protect biodiversity. A statement of intent, known as The Edinburgh Declaration, has been agreed between subnational, regional and local governments across the world and calls on the Convention on Biodiversity to take bold action to halt biodiversity loss.
This article is published to day by the Constitution Unit. The Constitution Unit in the Department of Political Science at University College London is the UK's leading research body on constitutional change.
An independent review is to consider the idea of a national care service. The review, a Programme for Government commitment, will aim to ensure Scotland provides consistently excellent support for people who use these services, as well as their carers and their families.
A national network of technology hubs is being established to foster the next generation of Scottish start-ups, Finance Secretary Kate Forbes has told Parliament. The hubs, known as tech scalers, will deliver world-class training and mentoring for technology entrepreneurs while providing opportunities to network and share ideas.
Plans to establish a vertical launch site for satellites in the north of Scotland have taken another step forward. Development agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is applying to the Scottish Land Court for consent to build, operate and, ultimately, decommission Space Hub Sutherland on a crofting estate on the A'Mhoine peninsula.
From the Institute for Fiscal Studies - Authors Rowena and Crawford and Carl Emmerson. From tomorrow (1st September), the first 18-year-olds will be able to access Child Trust Funds (CTFs) set up over a decade ago by Tony Blair's Labour government.
Review of the Scottish tech ecosystem by Mark Logan, commissioned by the Scottish Government, with recommendations on how to develop a world-class tech sector. In May 2020, Cabinet Secretary of Finance Kate Forbes asked Mark Logan, tech entrepreneur and former Skyscanner COO, to conduct a short-life review into how Scotland's tech sector can contribute to Scotland's economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Article published by the Institute for Fiscal Studies on 26 August 2020 - Author David Phillips. Summary Today's Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) figures show Scotland's implicit budget deficit increasing to 8.6% of GDP in 2019-20, around 6 percentage points higher than the UK as a whole, largely reflecting higher government spending.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will publish a Programme for Government next week focused on dealing with the economic, health, and social crisis caused by coronavirus (COVID-19). Protecting public health will remain the priority, and the Scottish Government will also set out plans to help people, businesses and communities recover from the pandemic by creating new jobs, promoting lifelong health and wellbeing and tackling inequalities.
The Highland confirms that its actions on the provision of Early Learning Childcare (ELC) provision are in line with Scottish Government Guidance and directions issued. With implications of COVID-19 the Scottish Government chose - following a Scottish Parliament decision - to remove the Statutory Duty for provision of 1140 hours from August 2020.
£2.4 million of new funding to help households with money problems. More people will be able to benefit from free debt advice following investment from the Scottish Government.
The aquaculture industry contributes to the long-term viability of many communities, according to a new report. Commissioned by Marine Scotland, the report found the sector provides year-round, well-paid jobs and supports economic growth in rural, coastal and island areas.
The Highland Council is encouraged by the excellent response to the advertising campaign that took place during the first week of the school session for promoted teaching staff. Strategic Chair of the Education and Learning Committee, Cllr John Finlayson, said: "I am delighted at the excellent response this campaign has produced, including over 13 applications being received for one Head Teacher post and over 20 for one Depute Head Teacher post.
Emergency funding announced. Culture and heritage sectors are to benefit from a £59 million funding package to protect jobs and help the industry weather the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
