A significant cash injection to health and care services and funding to help prepare Scotland's economy for Brexit are at the heart of the Scottish Government’s spending plans for the year ahead. The 2019/20 Scottish Budget, published today, proposes an increase of almost £730 million in health and care services.
Budget sets out plans to protect low and middle income taxpayers. Fairness and investment in public services will continue to be ‘front and centre' of the Scottish Government's tax policies in the year ahead, Finance Secretary Derek Mackay has said.
The Highland Council has today (Tuesday 11 December 2018) announced significant progress in the quality of collection and reporting on the performance of it's town centres through the release of new Town Centre Health Check "Story Maps". The maps contain a huge amount of data on many aspects.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (December, 11th) sold 35 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (6) averaged 207.9p (+14.6p) and sold to 217.0p per kg and £1,432.80 gross.
First Minister commits to Bonn Challenge. A global ambition to restore landscapes and forests has been supported by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
Brexit crowding out vital debate on Scottish taxes, public spending and growing the economy Based upon the latest data for 2018, the Scottish economy is on track to grow by its fastest rate since 2014. However, the Institute argues the outlook for 2019 and beyond is subject to unprecedented uncertainty and will hinge upon a series of crucial decisions taken in the UK Parliament over the next few weeks.
More disabled parents will be helped into work following an additional £6 million aimed at reducing both the disability employment gap and child poverty. With only around 40% of working age disabled adults in employment, compared with more than 80% of non-disabled adults, the new funding is part of an action plan outlining how this gap can be at least halved over the next 20 years.
More students are choosing teaching as a profession, as latest statistics reveal there were nearly 4,000 new student teachers in Scotland this year. Permanent full and part time vacancies in primary schools fell from 309 in 2017 to 204 this year and from 507 to 402 in secondary schools.
80,000 affordable homes delivered since 2007. Latest figures show a 21 percent rise in the number of affordable homes delivered in Scotland during the last year.
Businesses across the Highlands and Islands are being asked for their views on investment to develop tourism ‘destinations' and the benefit this brings to their area. Tourism is a major sector for the Highlands and Islands.
The chief executive of High Life Highland, Ian Murray, has recently been appointed chair for the Scottish arm of Community Leisure UK, the national members' association representing leisure and culture charitable trusts and social enterprises across the UK. As chair of Community Leisure UK in Scotland, Mr Murray will lead the recognised voice of leisure and culture trusts in raising awareness of the social impact and importance of their work.
Scottish budget will prioritise health and education spending. Investing in public services and growing the economy will be prioritised in spending plans to help protect Scotland's prosperity as far as is possible in the face of continued uncertainty over Brexit.
Hi-Scot Credit Union has its Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 12th December 2018 at 4.00pm. The office of the credit union is based in Stornoway and due to the geography of Highland and Islands has moved more and more online.
Weeks commencing 26th November and 3rd December 2018 UKVL Sutherland: I was delighted to take part in a discussion this week in Thurso with Trudy Morris of Caithness Chamber, the HIE team taking forward the UKVL project and UK/ US representatives from Lockheed Martin. As I have previously highlighted here, Lockheed Martin are one of the two industry partners involved in the project, and their vast experience of launch and satellite technology was clear as we discussed opportunities for the local supply chain as well as exciting opportunities to bring a long-term Lockheed Martin presence into Caithness and North Sutherland.
At General Questions yesterday (6/12/18) in the Scottish Parliament, Highlands & Islands Regional MSP Rhoda Grant questioned the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Michael Matheson, in relation to the centralisation programme being proposed for Air Traffic Control. Rhoda Said " I asked the Cabinet Secretary if the proposal to centralise Air Traffic Control was island proofed, if an impact assessment had been carried out and if he would reverse this decision, which was to base the HIAL Central Air Traffic Control System in Inverness.
A Highland Council employee, nominated by the tenants she works with, has scooped a national award. Lorna Simpson from Wick has been a Tenant Participation Officer with The Highland Council for the past ten years, covering Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross.
Highland Council's work to continuously improve Tenant Participation in the region has been recognised by the Scottish Housing Regulator and the Tenant Participation Advisory Service. Members of the Council's Care, Learning and Housing Committee have welcomed the recognition received by Housing Staff and commended their ongoing engagement activities.
Members of The Highland Council's Care, Learning and Housing Committee have approved the first draft ‘Highland Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan' for 2019 - 2024 which will be submitted to the Scottish Government by the end of this year. The plan provides an analysis of homelessness in the region and the capacity to deliver rapid rehousing within the current patterns of housing need and demand.
As we transition to a lower carbon economy, we need to make sure our energy supply is safe, secure and in our own hands says GMB GMB, the energy union, has called on the Government to heed ‘nightmarish' blackout warnings from the Institute of Engineering and Shipbuilding in Scotland The new paper - Engineering for Energy - says coal and gas power stations are needed to make sure the country can get back online quickly after a system crash. [1] The report says restoring Scotland's power supply will take days - rather than hours - leading to ‘nightmarish’ consequences.
Welfare staff within Highland Council's UK Award winning Benefits and Welfare Reform Team have decided to forego their office Secret Santa tradition and instead donate to Blythswood's Highland Foodbank this Christmas. Sheila McKandie, Highland Council's Benefits and Welfare Manager explained:"On a daily basis we work with the dedicated team at Blythswood Highland Foodbank directing people to them who are in urgent need.
