Payments worth more than a third of a billion pounds have begun, Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing has announced. In the coming months, eligible farmers, crofters and land managers will receive their Common Agricultural Policy Pillar 1 2018 entitlement, with around 78% of eligible claimants having already received up to 90% of their entitlement through a government loan in October.
The Scottish economy grew by 0.3% during the fourth quarter of 2018, according to statistics announced today by Scotland's Chief Statistician. Change in gross domestic product (GDP) is the main indicator of economic growth in Scotland.
Planning Minister Kevin Stewart has said the significant increase in planning costs associated with the amendments made at the latest Parliamentary stage of the Planning (Scotland) Bill threaten the very aims of the legislation. Mr Stewart was speaking as the Financial Memorandum for the Bill was published.
Construction and the services sector boost the economy. The Scottish economy grew for the eighth consecutive quarter according to official statistics.
Reforming the law on setting the personal injury discount rate. Legislation to create a clearer, fairer and more credible way of setting of the personal injury discount rate for damages claims has been passed unanimously by the Scottish Parliament.
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant is extremely concerned for the future of remote GPs' practices after a prominent figure from the Rural GP Association of Scotland (RGPAS) resigned from a key working group. Dr David Hogg, Vice-Chair of RGPAS, says that the short life Remote and Rural General Practice Working Group, set up by the Scottish Government in the wake of the New GP Contract, appears to have "fallen by the wayside" when it comes to finding ways to ensure the contract is implemented successfully in rural areas.
The potential impact of Brexit on rural Scotland has been described as the ‘21st Century Clearances' in a new report published by Scottish Rural Action . The report summarises findings from a series of community conversations held across rural Scotland.
Housing Minister seeks meeting with UK Government. Concerns over the roll-out of the UK Government's Right to Rent scheme have once again been raised by Housing Minister Kevin Stewart in light of a recent High Court ruling.
Scotland's Tenant Farming Commissioner (TFC), Bob McIntosh, has issued a Code of Practice for Agreeing and Managing Agricultural Leases which is to be followed by landowners, tenant farmers and land agents. The Code of Practice for Agreeing and Managing Agricultural Leases is the sixth to be published by the Commissioner and is intended to ensure that there are robust procedures in place to avoid misunderstandings when a lease is being entered into, when changes are made throughout the term of the lease and when a fixed duration lease is being ended.
Retired clinicians supporting local services. Recently retired doctors are to return to work as part of a new collaboration to support health services in remote and rural areas.
Public Sector Employment Statistics for Scotland, released today by Scotland's Chief Statistician, show that there were 553,300 people employed in the public sector in Scotland in December 2018. As of December 2018, public sector employment accounted for 20.9 per cent of total employment in the country and private sector employment accounted for 79.1 per cent of total employment in Scotland.
Shetland. SSEN welcomes Ofgem's decision to provisionally approve its proposed 600MW Shetland transmission link, subject to sufficient connection of renewable electricity generation.
The latest quarterly Scottish Government Workforce Information statistics have been published today by Scotland's Chief Statistician. These statistics cover the number of workers, staff sickness rates, and the diversity of staff up to the most recent quarter ending December 2019.
Additional economic analysis of the latest UK labour market headline statistics and long-term trends for March 2019. The level of employment in the UK increased by 222,000 to a record high of 32.71 million in the three months to January 2019.
Scotland's unemployment rate fell to a new record low over the winter months, according to official figures. Between November and January, the jobless total fell by 9,000 to 94,000.
The Highland Council is raising awareness of the opportunity to help shape future growth and development across the Inner Moray Firth area, and is encouraging anyone living, working, investing and being educated in the area to get involved. The Council has announced its intention to review the Inner Moray Firth Local Development Plan.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts (March 16th) sold 1 adult head of cattle, 12 goats, 120 adult head of sheep and 443 lots of poultry, eggs & poultry equipment at their, rare & traditional breeds of livestock sale. Cattle (1) sold to £920 gross for a Highland young bull from Tordarroch Estate, Farr. Goats (12) sold to £70 gross for an Anglo Nubian from Bogallan, North Kessock.
Weeks commencing 4th & 11th March 2019. SpaceHub Sutherland: Further community engagement events have taken place this week - a drop-in event was held in Tongue on Wednesday, followed by a further drop-in event in Wick on Thursday.
A report that aims to demonstrate the continuing commitments of Highland Council, it's Education Authority and Highland Licensing Board, to advance and mainstream equality into day-to-day work was approved today by Councillors on the Care, Learning and Housing Committee. Local Authorities, Education Authorities and Licensing Boards are required by legislation to publish a report every 2 years on how they mainstream equality into their work.
Two farms have been selected to develop their food tourism business and encourage others to follow their example. Working with other farms, estates and crofts, the two new agri-tourism monitor farms located in East Lothian and Dunbartonshire will help to improve their profitability, productivity and sustainability through practical demonstrations and sharing of best practice.
