Investment of £19.2 million to support 83,000 carers As part of the next emergency coronavirus legislation, the Scottish Government is proposing an additional £19.2 million investment in Carer's Allowance Supplement. This is in recognition of the additional pressure that carers are under as a result of the ongoing pandemic.
Funding to connect the most vulnerable. A new £5 million programme will offer an internet connection, training and support, and a laptop or tablet to vulnerable people who are not already online during the response to coronavirus (COVID-19).
One-off Government payment to help mitigate financial effects of COVID-19. The Scottish Government has announced a one-off £75 million increase in funding for Scotland's universities to ensure they can protect their world-leading research programmes against the financial impact of COVID-19.
The Scottish Police Authority (SPA) has today published a new independent survey which indicates strong levels of public confidence and consent for Police Scotland during the first phase of the COVID 19 emergency. The survey of 1,600 people across the country, commissioned by the Authority and carried out last week, is the first representative sample of public opinion in Scotland on the policing response since the emergency began.
Supporting businesses through the pandemic. Housebuilders will be able to apply for short-term loans of up to £1 million from the Scottish Government to support them through the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
The First Minster is to ask the Scottish Government Finance Secretary, Kate Forbes, to have direct discussion with the insurance sector about companies who are "wriggling out of their obligations" to Scottish businesses. Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, David Stewart, asked Nicola Sturgeon today at First Minister's Questions about the problems firms were having claiming their business interruption insurance.
Amazon's entire UK site has been placed on the US Government's ‘Notorious Markets List' of marketplaces known for counterfeit goods. The US deliveries specialist ParcelHero says the move is not only insulting to UK retailers, but could also have a significant impact on their future US sales.
The Highland Council's COVID helpline 0300 303 1362 which has been up and running since 25th March has now handled over 5000 calls. The helpline provides support for those needing urgent help including those shielding or otherwise vulnerable and anyone interested in volunteering.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts, (May, 6th) sold 822 sheep of all classes. Lambs (431) sold to £98 gross for a pen of Cheviots from 286 West Pittentrail, Rogart.
Farmers team up to tackle climate change and Covid-19. An island described as "Scotland in miniature" could help serve as a blueprint for Scottish agriculture to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.
A longer video but does it tell us we may not be doing things the right way on dealing with Covid19. With over one million views in a short time there is lot of interest in how Sweden is handling things differently.
Message From HIE To Businesses. Last week, we contacted you to make you aware of new COVID-19 business funds that had been made available, following the Scottish Government's announcement of an additional £100m support for businesses impacted by COVID-19.
At UnHerd, we've spoken to experts at both ends of the range of estimates, from Neil Ferguson (who believes the IFR to be just under 1%, perhaps 0.8-0.9%) to Johan Giesecke who maintains that it is nearer 0.1%. This may sound like splitting hairs - they are both under one percent after all – but in reality the difference between these estimates changes everything.
As he is careful to point out, Professor Michael Levitt is not an epidemiologist. He's Professor of Structural Biology at the Stanford School of Medicine, and winner of the 2013 Nobel Prize for Chemistry for "the development of multiscale models for complex chemical systems." With a purely statistical perspective, he has been playing close attention to the Covid-19 pandemic since January, when most of us were not even aware of it.
A £5 million fund will offer interest-free loans to landlords whose tenants are having difficulty paying rent during the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. The Private Rent Sector Landlord COVID-19 Loan Scheme will offer eligible landlords up to 100% of lost rental income for a single property.
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant has asked the Health Minister Jeane Freeman about the tragic outbreak of Covid-19 at Home Farm Care Home on Skye. During Topical Questions today she said:"I am deeply distressed for the residents and staff at Home Farm Care Home.
From the Daily Telegraph. Conspiracy theories, panic buying and scapegoating are all common trends during times of crisis.
Expert tech review announced as further business support opens to applications. The second phase of the Small Business Grant scheme - which extends grant support to all subsequent eligible properties - is now open for applications, Finance Secretary Kate Forbes has told the Scottish Parliament.
Agriculture (Retained EU Law and Data) (Scotland) Bill. Legislation which allows the Common Agricultural Policy to be simplified and improved post-Brexit has passed Stage 1, following a debate in the Scottish Parliament.
From today (Tuesday 5 May), the COVID-19 small business and self-catering grant scheme, set up by the Scottish Government to help companies stay in business during the coronavirus crisis, has been extended to ensure that, in addition to a 100% grant on the first property, small business rate payers will be eligible to a 75% grant on all subsequent properties. The scheme has also been extended to include certain properties who previously were ineligible due to the cumulative rateable value of their premises.
