News Archive

8/8/2025

 
The End of the London Housing Boom - Prices Falling

It's hard to imagine that back in 1976, an average London House price was just £14,000, just 25% more expensive than the average UK house price.   Since then of course, London house prices have soared to over half a million pounds making it by far the most expensive place in the UK.  

8/8/2025

One Month To Go - Nation urged to prepare for Emergency Alerts test

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster calls for the country to prepare for the second national test of the Emergency Alerts system on Sunday, September 7.   With one month to go, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Pat McFadden, is rallying the nation to get ready for the second ever national test of the UK's Emergency Alerts system.  

8/8/2025

First illegal immigrants detained under landmark UK-France deal

First illegal immigrants detained under the ground-breaking UK-France treaty.   Immigrants who arrived in the UK on a small boat have been detained under the UK-France treaty, which is now operational.  

7/8/2025 : Advisory / Counseling Services

Investment in Caithness and Sutherland helps HIE achieve targets

Investment by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) in Caithness and Sutherland during 2024-25 helped the organisation to meet or exceed 18 of its 20 key targets.   The figures compiled by the agency are subject to review by Audit Scotland before publication of HIE's annual report in November.  

7/8/2025

 
The Government's £13bn Warm Homes Plan must focus spending on bill-cutting measures to save £230 for the poorest households

The Government must use the £13 billion assigned to its Warm Homes Plan to deliver energy bill savings - worth £230 per year on average for the poorest households in leaky homes.  At the same time using other tools, such as regulations, to keep the decarbonisation of home heating on track, new research published today (Thursday 7 August 2025) by the Resolution Foundation finds.  

7/8/2025

 
UK Carrier Strike Group visit to Tokyo underlines UK-Japan Strategic Partnership and Indo-Pacific commitment

HMS Prince of Wales, flagship of the UK Carrier Strike Group (CSG), will make a port call to Tokyo from late August to early September.  This is part of Operation HIGHMAST, the Royal Navy's eight-month deployment to the Indo-Pacific region, including Japan.  

7/8/2025

Despite ambitious language, the Government is continuing its cautious approach to uprating the minimum wage

The Government has chosen to raise the adult minimum wage (the National Living Wage) in line with average earnings growth in 2026, in a repeat of last year's cautious approach, although it has signalled it may adopt a more ambitious approach later in the parliament, the Resolution Foundation said on Tuesday.   The Government published the new remit for the Low Pay Commission (LPC), which will determine how minimum wage rates are set in April 2026.  

7/8/2025

New review highlights untapped potential of the vaginal microbiome in women's health

The microscopic bacteria living in women's bodies could be a powerful tool for personalised, non-invasive treatment and earlier diagnosis.   The vaginal microbiome is a largely overlooked area of medicine that could dramatically improve outcomes for millions of women, concludes a new review co-authored by the Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) published today (7 August 2025).  

7/8/2025

 
Base rate cuts prove to be a double-edged sword

The Bank of England Base Rate cuts are a double-edged sword, causing misery among savers.   But lowering mortgage costs, according to Moneyfactscompare.co.uk analysis.  

7/8/2025

 
Lord Vallance calls on tech experts to design ways to help reduce electricity bills

Science Minister Lord Vallance calls on businesses and researchers to develop cutting edge tech, that could cut energy costs in the long-term.   Businesses and researchers to turbocharge AI and digital tech to cut peak demand for grid electricity by 2 gigawatts - equivalent to powering over 1.5 million homes.  

7/8/2025

 
UK Hydrographic Office 2024-2025 Annual Report released

The UKHO's Annual Report and Accounts for 2024 to 2025 is available to view and download.   The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) has published its Annual Report and Accounts for 2024 to 2025.  

7/8/2025

 
Decision Day Will They Wont They Reduce Interest Rates Today

The Bank of England (BoE) weighs a wide range of economic indicators and forecasts to decide whether to change interest rates.  Here's how the process works.  

7/8/2025

£143 million funding to secure over 130 disused coal tips

Chancellor Rachel Reeves will outline how £143 million of UK Government funding will secure over 130 disused coal tips in Wales on a visit to Port Talbot today, Thursday 7 August.   Chancellor to visit coal tip site in Wales to see the work being done to protect families and businesses from disused coal tips.  

7/8/2025

Crackdown on unsafe cosmetic procedures to protect the public

New measures to crack down on cowboy cosmetic procedures will be introduced by the government.  Only suitably qualified healthcare professionals will be able to deliver high-risk procedures such as Brazilian Butt Lifts.   Clinics administering fillers and Botox will need to meet strict standards to obtain a licence.  

7/8/2025

Brand Scotland partners with Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society

Scottish Secretary keynote speech on the value of Scotland's cultural offer.   Scotland's most internationally recognised cultural brands will work alongside the Scotland Office to promote Brand Scotland, in a landmark partnership selling the best of Scotland overseas and encouraging investment and growth.  

6/8/2025

Attainment rises across the board - 147,000 young people receive their SQA results

The number of students achieving passes at National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher level, as well as in vocational and technical courses, has increased across Scotland this year.     The poverty-related attainment gap has also narrowed at National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher level over the 2024-25 academic year, according to the results data published by the Scottish Qualifications Authority.  

6/8/2025 : Local Authority

 
Caledonia North Offshore Wind Farm Planning Application today 6 August

Caledonia North Offshore Wind Farm - construction and operation of an offshore wind farm comprising up to 77 turbines with a maximum blade tip height of 355m, subsea interconnector and export cabling and associated infrastructure.   The north planning committee of Highland council will decide today 6 August 2025.  

6/8/2025

 
Tick Bites - Alpha-gal syndrome - is it found in UK?

Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), a red meat allergy caused by tick bites, is emerging in the UK.  It's a type of food allergy triggered by a carbohydrate called alpha-gal, found in mammals, which is introduced into the body through tick saliva after a bite.  

6/8/2025

Further investment to prevent homelessness in Scotland

A fund for pilot projects to help people to stay in their homes has been launched by Housing Secretary Màiri McAllan.   Managed by Advice Direct Scotland, the £4 million fund will support organisations to pilot new 'ask and act' measures.  

6/8/2025

National Living Wage estimate update

The Low Pay Commission has updated its projections for the National Living Wage in 2026.   The Government has today published the Low Pay Commission's remit for the rates of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and National Living Wage (NLW) that will apply from April 2026.