News Archive

20/6/2018 : Local Authority

Highland toilets to remain open until review complete

The process of carrying out a review of public toilet provision in The Highland Council area is underway and is due for completion by the end of October this year.   Meanwhile, during the summer tourist season Highland Council toilets will remain open until the end of October.  

20/6/2018 : Auctioneers

Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 20 June 2018

DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (June, 20th) sold 161 store cattle and 6 adult head of breeding cattle.   Bullocks (87) averaged 233.4p and sold to 284.5p per kg for a pen of 362kg Aberdeen Angus crosses from Calrossie Mains, Nigg, and £1,190.00 gross for a 540kg Limousin cross from Muirton Mains, Urray.  

20/6/2018

Land Ownership - New register will improve transparency

The first steps are being taken to create a public register of people who ultimately make decisions about how land is used and managed.   The Scottish Government is publishing proposals that will, if agreed, reveal for the first time the controlling interests of land owned by trusts and overseas companies.  

20/6/2018

Convenience Of Debit Card Payments Puts Cash In Second Place

* At the end of 2017, UK consumers made 13.2 billion debit card payments compared to 13.1 billion cash payments.   * Almost two thirds of Britons now using contactless payments as the number of payments doubles in one year.  

20/6/2018

 
Retail Sales, Great Britain: May 2018

In May 2018, the quantity bought in the retail industry increased by 1.3% when compared with April 2018 with growth across all main sectors.   Feedback from retailers suggested that a sustained period of good weather and Royal Wedding celebrations encouraged spending in food and household goods stores in May.  

20/6/2018

Funding For Offshore Wind

Up to £2 million of funding to encourage innovation in the offshore wind sector and reduce development costs has been announced by the Scottish Government.   The funding is targeted at supporting innovation across the sector to reduce long-term costs, improving health and safety standards, and widening educational opportunities within the industry.  

20/6/2018

Scottish Crown Estate - Bill to give communities a stronger voice

The Scottish Parliament has approved in principle a bill that will give local authorities and communities the opportunity to directly manage Scottish Crown Estate assets.   The Scottish Crown Estate Bill will establish a framework for changes in the management of these assets to deliver wider benefits and new opportunities for local control, including giving local authorities and communities a stronger voice in the management of Scottish Crown Estate assets.  

20/6/2018

Scottish Annual Business Statistics 2016

A National Statistics Publication for Scotland.   Scotland's Chief Statistician today released Scottish Annual Business Statistics (SABS) 2016.  

20/6/2018

Stability, Certainty and Simplicity for Farming And Rural Support

Public consultation launched.   Proposals for a five year transition period for farming and rural support, should Scotland leave the EU, have been announced by Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing.  

20/6/2018

 
Fraser Of Allender Report Says Cautious optimism for growth in 2018/19 but..

Cautious optimism for growth in 2018/19 but lack of clarity on Brexit risks 'holding back Scotland's recovery'.   Uncertainties hampering business preparations - Scottish economic growth is set to recover this year but remain below trend, according to analysis by the University of Strathclyde's Fraser of Allander Institute.  

20/6/2018

New Social Housing Safety - Sprinkler systems to protect against fire

Legislation to make sprinkler systems compulsory in new social housing is to be taken forward.   Housing Minister Kevin Stewart confirmed that the Scottish Government will take forward David Stewart MSP's proposal for a Members' Bill to make it a legal requirement for all future new build social housing properties to be fitted with sprinkler systems.  

20/6/2018

Offensive Weapons Bill - Barriers on selling knives to under 18s online

Under 18s will face tough new barriers to buying knives online, following the introduction of the Offensive Weapons Bill.   The bill will mean online retailers cannot sell knives online without rigorous age-verification, and will no longer be able to deliver knives to residential addresses or drop-off points.  

20/6/2018

UNISON to strike in East Dunbartonshire Council

Unions have served formal notice on East Dunbartonshire Council and its offshoot East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture Trust of four days of strike action over proposed cuts to workers' terms and conditions.   UNISON members will take strike action on 21, 22, 25 and 26 June.  

19/6/2018

Expansion Of NHS Recruitment

New efforts to recruit doctors, nurses and specialist health staff from across the world will launch later this year.   Following the relaxation of UK visa rules, the Scottish Government will expand its activity to attract overseas medical and nursing staff who can bring their expertise and skills to work in health and care services.  

19/6/2018

Local Authority Provisional Outturn (2017-18) And Budget Estimates (2018-19)

An Official Statistics Publication for Scotland.   Scotland's Chief Statistician today published local authority Provisional Outturn (2017-18) and Budget Estimate (2018-19) Statistics.  

18/6/2018 : Advisory / Counseling Services

 
Global firm launches search for 100 new jobs for the region in Caithness and Sutherland

Up to 100 new homeworking jobs are set to be created in the Highlands and Islands.   The jobs will be for people with excellent customer care skills looking for the flexibility of working from home.  

17/6/2018 : Food & Drink Products

 
Broch Rose Gin Event on Wednesday 20th June

The launch of Broch Rose gin is on Wednesday 20th evening at the distillery tasting room of Dunnet Bat Distillery.   Tickets are £20 including a Rock Rose G&T, canapes, tutored tasting of Broch Rose gin and to finish a Broch Rose G&T.  

15/6/2018 : Other Public Services

 
Roc Technologies Awarded 5-year Strategic It Transformation And Managed Service Partnership By Dounreay

Roc Technologies today announced it has been awarded a 5-year contract to transform and manage IT services by Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd(Dounreay).   Dounreay is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Cavendish Dounreay Partnership Ltd, a consortium of Cavendish Nuclear, Jacobs and AECOM and funded by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) to deliver the site closure programme at Dounreay.  

15/6/2018

 
The Defence Nuclear Enterprise: A Landscape Review

At this crucial time in the programme, the Ministry of Defence (the Department) needs to ensure it manages its costs, people, contractors and schedule effectively to maintain the Defence Nuclear Enterprise, says the report published in May 2018 by the National Audit Office (NAO).   In Caithness there is one site - Vulcan next to the nuclear establishment at Dounreay.  

15/6/2018

 
Rolling Out Universal Credit - A National Audit Office Report

Universal Credit has taken significantly longer to roll-out than intended, may cost more than the benefits system it replaces, and the Department for Work and Pensions (the Department) will never be able to measure whether it has achieved its stated goal of increasing employment.  In today's report, the National Audit Office (NAO) concludes that Universal Credit has not delivered value for money and it is uncertain that it ever will.