As we move into the depths of winter, energy costs remain close to the top of the political agenda. But one vulnerable group - the 4 million UK households who pay for energy via pre-payment meters (PPMs) - remains overlooked in the national debate.
The much-anticipated return of the funicular railway at Cairngorm Mountain will not take place in December, as had been hoped. Contractor Balfour Beatty has substantially completed an extensive remediation programme to strengthen the 1.8km viaduct, however detailed inspections have shown that further work is required in some areas.
First Minister John Swinney has pledged solidarity with Syrians in Scotland following the collapse of the al-Assad regime. In an open letter, the First Minister acknowledged the hope that many Syrians are feeling in addition to the concern and anxiety felt by others about the next steps for the Middle Eastern nation.
George Bernard Shaw once suggested all progress was dependent upon the existence of unreasonable - or awkward – people. St Stephen – the first Christian martyr – was definitely one of them.
The Service Centre will close at 5pm on Tuesday 24 December, re-opening on Friday 27 December (opening times 8am to 5pm). It will be closed on 1 and 2 January and open 8am to 5pm from Friday 3 January 2025.
The first Highland-wide virtual jobs fair held last month has proved to be a hit with participants and businesses. The week-long virtual event, which was delivered by the Local Employability Partnership for the West - The Highland Council, Skills Development Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Department for Work and Pensions, Developing the Young Workforce and UHI North West and Hebrides was timed to coincide with Scottish Careers Week 2024.
COVID emerged suddenly, spread rapidly and killed millions of people around the world. Since then, I think it's fair to say that most people have been nervous about the emergence of the next big infectious disease - be that a virus, bacterium, fungus or parasite.
Christmas Day is, in the Christian tradition, a day to mark the birth of Jesus - who was a radical economic reformer who died for social justice. Why have we forgotten that? .
Police Scotland is currently seeing an increase in thefts of touring caravans. Many of these are occurring in rural locations where caravans are stored over the winter months, away from the owner's home address.
Officers have been out in force across the UK to disrupt rogue employers who hire migrants illegally and exploit vulnerable people, and to address the promise of illegal jobs that are used by criminal smuggling gangs to sell spaces in small boats crossing the Channel. Particular focus has been on targeting car washes, nail bars, supermarkets and construction sites suspected of hiring illegal workers and subjecting them to squalid conditions and illegal working hours at below minimum wage.
Do you know the new vehicle tax rates that may apply to your vehicles from 1 April 2025. To help here are the links to check your existing vehicles or if you are considering a new car.
The National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) Bill is a government bill that was introduced in the House of Commons on 13 November 2024. The bill completed all its House of Commons stages on 17 December 2024.
An information campaign and increased recruitment of call handlers are among the initiatives NHS 24 has put in place to help protect vital front line health and care services over the festive period. First Minister John Swinney visited the NHS 24 call centre in Dundee to observe preparations ahead of the Christmas and New Year period and to express his gratitude to staff.
Seeking views on how to restore the 2030 phase out date for new purely petrol and diesel cars and make the transition to zero emission vehicles a success. consultation launched to shape the 2030 petrol and diesel car phase-out.
Around 3,800 offenders either released from prison or serving a community sentence will wear an alcohol tag over Christmas and New Year. Around 3,800 offenders forced to wear alcohol tags to keep streets safe over Christmas and New Year.
The underlying UK current account deficit excluding precious metals widened to £20.0 billion, or 2.8% of gross domestic product (GDP), in Quarter 3 (July to Sept) 2024; this is a change of £2.1 billion from the previous quarter. The UK current account deficit, when trade in precious metals is included, narrowed by £5.9 billion to £18.1 billion, or 2.5% of GDP in Quarter 3 2024.
The Defence Secretary visited British Army soldiers deployed in Estonia this Christmas to thank them for their service. The Defence Secretary visited UK Armed Forces personnel deployed to Estonia to thank them for their vital service at Christmas.
The average Brit is set to spend over 7 hours online on Christmas Day. We'll be spending an estimated £1.4bn, mostly buying all the things we wished for but didn’t get, says ParcelHero.
UK real gross domestic product (GDP) is estimated to have shown no growth in Quarter 3 (July to Sept) 2024, revised down from the first estimate increase of 0.1%. The quarterly path of real GDP at an aggregate level is unchanged from Quarter 1 (Jan to Mar) 2023 to Quarter 1 2024, however, there have been downward revisions of 0.1 percentage points in Quarter 2 (Apr to June) and Quarter 3 2024.
British soldiers have successful trialled for the first time a game-changing weapon that can take down a swarm of drones using radio waves for less than the cost of a pack of mince pies. Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapons (RFDEW) can take down a swarm of drones for less than the cost of a pack of mince pies.
