HIE has published a new report into the impacts of COVID-19 on the Highlands and Islands. The report shows a disproportionate impact on the region compared with other parts of the country, including a forecast decline in GDP of between £1.5bn and £2.6bn.
Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant has said the Scottish and U.K. Government's must now "sit up and pay attention" to the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the region and has called for an economic "shot in the arm" to support local jobs and businesses following the publication of a report from Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
The number of furloughed workers has almost halved from its early May peak of 8.9 million to 4.8 million in late July, but hard-hit sectors like hospitality and leisure are still hugely reliant on the Job Retention Scheme (JRS) that is due to end in just six weeks' time, the Resolution Foundation said today (Friday) in the response to the latest HMRC data. The data shows that 4.8 million workers were furloughed on 31 July - the eve of employer contributions commencing - including 3.5 million workers who were fully furloughed and 950,000 who returned to work part-time.
A report by the Fraser of Allender Institute published today. This week we received new headline labour market data as well as a new analysis of the ONS's Business Impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) Survey (BICS) undertaken by the Scottish Government - the aim of this analysis was to weight these survey data to reflect the characteristics of the Scottish business base.
Unemployment rose sharply even before the start of the winding down of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (JRS) from August, with young people at the centre of Britain's mounting jobs crisis, the Resolution Foundation said today (Tuesday) in response to the latest ONS data. The headline unemployment picked up in the three months to July - from 3.9 to 4.1 per cent - driven by a sharp increase in the monthly rate of 0.6 percentage points in July.
From 28 September 2020, the car theory test will include 3 multiple-choice questions based on a short video you'll watch. The way the theory test works in England, Scotland and Wales will change from 28 September 2020.
The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) sets monetary policy to meet the 2% inflation target, and in a way that helps to sustain growth and employment. In that context, its challenge at present is to respond to the economic and financial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
A short guide to the legal issues surrounding landlords and tenants can be found at https://www.pinsentmasons.com/out-law/guides/coronavirus-landlord-advice. The Scottish Government has this under review and changes may be made in coming weeks.
Commercial tenants will be protected from the risk of eviction until the end of 2020 helping businesses to protect jobs. The government has extended support to prevent business evictions until the end of 2020.
Finance Ministers from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have met to discuss a range of fiscal matters and voiced their collective concerns about the financial implications the UK Internal Market Bill will have on devolved governments. Kate Forbes, Rebecca Evans and Conor Murphy expressed their joint concerns on the spending powers set out in the Bill which override the existing devolution settlement.
Scottish Secretary responds to latest Scottish GDP publication for Q2 2020. Commenting on the publication of Scottish Q2 2020 GDP figures, Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said:These figures continue to show the impact coronavirus and lockdown has had on our economy.
Dounreay has awarded a major contract as the world's deepest nuclear clean-up job gets underway. Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd (DSRL), on behalf of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, awarded the £7.5 million contract for "advanced transition works" at the 65 metre deep shaft and silo to Nuvia and its partner Graham Construction, through the site's decommissioning framework following a competitive tendering process.
Highlands and Islands MSP, Rhoda Grant, is becoming increasing frustrated at the lack of transparency on the future of Migdale Hospital's Strathy ward in Bonar Bridge. When the Sutherland hospital opened in 2011 it had 22 beds with two units - the Strathy ward, for older people with mental health problems, and another offering a range of in-patient services, such as palliative care, general medicine and rehabilitation services.
A project to create accommodation facilities at Kishorn dry dock in Wester Ross has secured investment of up to £94,675 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). Having on-site accommodation will enhance the dock's capacity and help it attract more high-end contracts in offshore renewables and oil and gas decommissioning.
PORTREE, Dingwall and Highland Marts Ltd., (September, 16th) sold 1,415 weaned calves and store cattle at their annual district ballot sale. Bullocks (834) averaged 285.5p (+64.6p on the year), and sold to 448.3p per kg for a 145kg Limousin cross from 1 & 2 Conon, Uig, and £1,110 gross for a 615kg Aberdeen Angus cross from 3 Kilmuir, Dunvegan.
On September 15, 2020, the UK High Court largely decided in favour of the position of policyholders in the test case brought forward by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regarding the interpretation of a sample of business interruption (BI) policies used by several insurance companies in the British market. In May, the FCA announced that it would seek legal clarity on the interpretation of a number of BI insurance policies to resolve concerns from small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs), whose claims due to BI losses during the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic were initially denied or disputed.
The Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers' housing costs (CPIH) 12-month inflation rate was 0.5% in August 2020, down from 1.1% in July 2020. The largest contribution to the CPIH 12-month inflation rate in August 2020 came from recreation and culture (0.35 percentage points).
Grocery sales rose by 10.8% during the 12 weeks to 6 September 2020, but growth slowed as some aspects of pre-Covid life resumed, new research finds. The latest grocery market share figures from Kantar show in the most recent four weeks year-on-year sales growth decelerated to 8.0%, the slowest rate since April 2020.
Scottish Government funding for youth work is being increased by more than 30% to recognise the vital role the sector will play in making up any ground lost in learning during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. A newly created £3 million Youth Work Education Recovery Fund will be targeted at those communities and young people who need the most support, bringing Government spending in the youth work sector this year to at least £12.5 million.
Despite COVID-19 and related travel restrictions mid-August saw another milestone towards the modernisation and renewal of the Orkney Island Council (OIC) tug fleet that provides towage and marine services in Scapa Flow, Orkney. The vessels set off 17 days ago from the shipyard where they were built and today completed a non-stop voyage of 3,500 nautical miles.