This year is set to be another record breaker for Scotland's seed potato exports. With over a month of the season still to go, exports of seed potatoes to non-EU countries have already hit an all-time high of 77,277 tonnes.
A package of reforms to modernise the tenant farming sector were today approved by the Scottish Parliament. The Agricultural Holdings (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill builds on previous reforms and aims to increase availability of agricultural land for let and encourage new and young farmer entrants into farming.
Right To Buy Consultation. The Scottish Government has today put forward proposals to further restrict the right to buy housing policy.
Next steps in a government drive to cut red tape for farmers were announced by Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead today. Speaking at Scotsheep 2012 in Ayrshire, Mr Lochhead said that Brian Pack had now completed the initial scoping phase of his review.
Scotland's prawn fishermen will significantly cut their level of fish discarding, following agreement reached for the use of new fishing gear designs. Marine Scotland has worked closely with the fishing industry to develop new trawl and net design solutions, which are highly selective and help avoid catching unwanted species that prawn vessels do not have the quota to land.
Leading youth charity The Prince's Trust will receive £750,000 of European Structural Funds (ESF) to help even more young people into the jobs market. The investment builds on last month's announcement by the Scottish Government that £25 million of ESF would be focused on projects designed to get young people into work.
Negotiations that will shape the future of Scotland's fishing industry for generations to come reach a vital stage in Europe next week. That will be the message Scotland's Fishing Secretary Richard Lochhead will give to MSPs during a debate on the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) in the Scottish Parliament tomorrow (Thursday, June 7).
A massive programme to transform Scotland's ageing houses into energy efficient homes has been announced today by Alex Neil. The Scottish Government hopes to work with energy companies to identify around £200 million a year to assist homes in areas of fuel poverty save money and become more energy efficient.
A fund that nurtures the next generation of entrepreneurial talent in Scotland is to receive a cash injection of £1 million to help more young people get businesses off the ground, First Minister Alex Salmond announced today. The Prince's Trust Youth Business Scotland (PTYBS) will receive the money to enhance its Revolving Loan Fund that offers grants of up to £5,000 to young people aged between 18 and 25 who wish to set up or grow their business.
Scottish taxes to be determined by the people of Scotland. Decisions about the future of Scotland's taxes should be made by the people of Scotland Finance Secretary John Swinney said today.
The latest round of grants under the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) will give support to 68 projects across the sea fisheries, aquaculture and fish processing sectors. Successful applications range from vessel modernisation - such as upgraded equipment to support more sustainable fishing - through to new technology developments for the aquaculture and processors sectors, to improve efficiency and support business diversification.
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Princess Royal installed as Chancellor of the University of the Highlands and Islands. HRH The Princess Royal has been installed as the first Chancellor of the University of the Highlands and Islands at a ceremony in Inverness on Thursday 7 June.
The Office of Fair Trading has published the findings of its consultation into markets in remote communities across the UK. Around half a million people live in remote areas in the UK.
Highlands & Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant asked the Scottish Executive what funding it would provide for improvements to the A9 at Berridale Braes and what timeframe it had set for such improvements to take place. In response the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Keith Brown MSP, intimated that the total cost of the works was around £250,000 and Transport Scotland had confirmed a £100,000 contribution towards the works following confirmation from other funding partners.
With business service companies actively recruiting across the region the Head of Inward Investment at Highlands and Islands Enterprise says that the skills and reputation of the region's workforce is attracting strong interest from global investors. Following last week's announcement of a further 30 jobs in Moray with Capita, Sensée, which is the leading UK-based provider of employed home-based advisers for contact centres, is hoping to fill 45 positions from across the region.
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, Michael Russell MSP was guest speaker at a "16+ Learning Choices Seminar" held, in the Highland Council's headquarters, Inverness today at which around 100 delegates attended. Delegates represented charities and the third sector, tourism, business and commerce, construction industries, energy and renewables and the public and education sectors.
Police urge drivers not to spoil the party by drinking and driving as summer of events approaches. Drivers in the Highlands and Islands are being urged not to spoil the party this summer by getting behind the wheel after drinking alcohol or taking drugs.
The Highland Council and Northern Constabulary joined ranks today (Thursday 7 June) to take part in a Litter Day of Action to highlight the blight littering has on the environment and to crack down on people caught discarding their rubbish irresponsibly. The day started with a visit to Millburn Academy in Inverness to talk to pupils about their views on littering and discuss ways of working together to promote the anti-litter message.
An alternative camping holiday site in Caithness is proving popular with tourists. James and Jenny Polson of Lower Thura Farm near Wick have 2 cosy wooden camping cabins known as Wigwams for hire on their land.
