Of all the groups in society anyone expected Labour to pick on when it came into office, pensioners were the least likely excepting perhaps, children in poverty. Now it turns out they are the two groups Labour thinks should pay the price for the mess that Labour claims it has inherited from the Tories.
Specialist expertise will be utilised to help boost development and green energy opportunities in Scotland. The Planning Hub will support planning authorities to improve their resourcing, skills and capacity to deliver planning determinations promptly.
DINGWALL., Dingwall and Highlands Marts Ltd., (September 9th) sold 3,075 ewe lambs and gimmers at the Highland Mule Breeders Association annual sale. Highland Mule gimmers (671) averaged £223.08 and sold to £265 gross from Ballindalloch Home Farm.
Reforms to Inheritance Tax (IHT), Capital Gains Tax (CGT) and employer National Insurance (NI) could raise over £20 billion a year, and still pass a 'Triple tax test' of improving tax efficiency. This ensures that tax rises fall on those with the broadest shoulders and not break manifesto commitments, according to new Resolution Foundation research published today Tuesday 10 September 2024.
On the face of it the abolition of the Winter Heating allowance mainly hits pensioners What few seem to have realised is that pensioners who spend most of their income will have to save up to £300 to put towards their energy bills. This will affect other spending from pensioners who often shop locally.
Ahead of Autumn Budget 2024, this report explores some of the tax policy choices that may face the new Chancellor, and sets out what reforms could best raise revenue while also improving the design of the tax system. There are many good reasons to expect a range of tax policy changes at this Budget.
Spiralling economic inactivity to be addressed as new Labour Market Advisory Board launched to advise Government on getting Britain working again. Hundreds of thousands more people out of work due to long-term sickness since the pandemic.
The Bank of England, and most especially its Monetary Policy Committee, have imposed misery on the UK over the past couple of years for absolutely no reason. If ever there was a reason for the Bank to be independent of the government, it has long gone.
Although the winter Heating Allowance may be cancelled in the parliament today Scottish Government has already said it will follow the same path) there are still several places to check for anyone on a low income for more help. Forms and be long and seem complicated or daunting but with a little effort you can get through them.
Annual growth in employees' average regular earnings (excluding bonuses) was 5.1%; growth was last lower than this in April to June 2022, when it was 4.7%. Annual growth in total earnings (including bonuses) was 4.0%; this total growth rate is affected by the NHS and civil service one-off payments made in June and July 2023.
Unit prices for gas will increase by 14% in October 2024 and electricity by 10%. Standing charges will increase very slightly.
Television is no longer the single main source of news for UK adults, as Ofcom research shows online sites and apps are now as popular as TV news for the first time. TV has been considered the leading source of UK news since the 1960s, when widespread set ownership saw it overtake radio and newspapers.
The estimated number of vacancies in the UK in June to August 2024 was 857,000, a decrease of 42,000 or 4.7% from March to May 2024. Vacancy numbers decreased on the quarter for the 26th consecutive period in June to August 2024, with vacancies decreasing in all 18 industry sectors.
With more firms looking to tighten their office attendance rules, People Management asks experts if this strategy will work in practice. Professional services giant PwC has informed its staff that it will begin tracking their working locations amid a change to its hybrid working policy that places greater emphasis on in-person work.
Early estimates for August 2024 indicate that the number of payrolled employees rose by 0.4% compared with August 2023, a rise of 122,000 employees. This annual increase was largest in the health and social work sector, a rise of 139,000 employees.
The Government is planning the largest set of workplace reforms in a generation, with plans to overhaul multiple areas of employment policy. These have the potential to make real inroads in the problem of insecurity at work, and would particularly benefit low-paid workers, who bear the brunt of labour market insecurity.
A repeating tone - blip, blip, blip - is the audible reminder that we are in one of the most hazardous nuclear sites in the world: Sellafield. That sound - pulsing from speakers inside the cavernous fuel-handling plant - is a signal that everything is functioning as it should.
Workers' rights are set for a significant upgrade. The new government was elected on a platform that included making the minimum wage a living wage, basic individual rights from day one and expanded family-friendly working.
In a pan-Defence collaboration, trials of hydrogen fuelled charging facilities to power the electric vehicle fleet have concluded. This marks a significant step forward in the use of sustainable energy sources in Defence.
Lambs (3,155) averaged £62.14 (+£11.79 on the year) and sold to £130 gross for a Cheviot from 53 Balallan, Lochs. Gimmers (66) sold to £144 gross for a pen of Cheviots from Ardview, Marig.
