UK Government announces plans for new environmental guidance for oil and gas firms as the North Sea transitions to its clean energy future. The government has today announced plans for new environmental guidance for oil and gas firms to provide stability for industry, support investment, protect jobs, deliver economic growth, and meet its climate obligations, as the North Sea transitions to its clean energy future.
38% of those surveyed had experienced a scam related to energy saving measures. In most cases, this involved a cold caller providing misleading information about the availability of grants or funding for products such as insulation, boilers and double glazing.
Yes, there are sand batteries in the UK. In January 2024, Polar Night Energy, a Finnish company, partnered with Ilmatar, a Nordic energy company, to pilot their sand battery technology in the UK.
Hundreds of rogue employers across the UK have been targeted by the Home Office during a nationwide weeklong intensive operation into illegal working. The Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, announced last month that the government would crack down on unscrupulous employers who are hiring migrants illegally and exploiting vulnerable people, alongside extensive work to disrupt the criminal networks who bring the workers to the UK.
A new communications network connecting 163 remote radio sites is now operational, ensuring HM Coastguard's effective emergency response continues across the UK. As part of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency's Radio Network Infrastructure Replacement Programme (RNIR), the upgraded network, combining full-fibre and microwave technology, will provide improved bandwidth and security across 11,000 miles of coastline.
Small firms' confidence back in negative territory following a more positive start to the year. The headline confidence reading fell back by over 16 points, to -10.8 points in the second quarter of 2024 (April to June).
Four innovative organisations have been awarded funding to develop cutting edge remote sensing innovations for defence, security and nuclear decommissioning applications. £2 million in funding has been allocated between four innovative organisations to develop remote site sensing and monitoring technologies.
Two benefits providing extra money to families with the cost of healthy food and starting school, are turning five years old. Best Start Grant School Age Payment supports families with a one-off payment of £314.45 to help cover the cost of starting primary school, and has provided £33.5 million to over 100,000 parents and carers.
Scotland's Chief Statistician today released Recorded Crime in Scotland, year ending June 2024. In the year ending June 2024, police in Scotland recorded 300,070 crimes.
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) is looking for organisations to come forward with innovations to enable the remote monitoring of its legacy nuclear sites. The Remote Monitoring of Sensitive Sites: Phase 2 competition is managed by DASA The NDA is making up to £1.5 million of funding available Submissions must be received by midday (GMT) on 5 March 2024.
Scotland's small firms have experienced a significant rise in late payments, as business confidence fell in the run up to the General Election, new research from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) reveals. FSB’s Small Business Index (SBI) for Q2 2024 found more than three-fifths of Scottish small businesses (62.5%) experienced issues with late payments, significantly more than in the previous quarter (57%), while nearly a third of firms (32.29%) reported the problem was getting worse.
The Chief Statistician has released figures on Community Payback Orders (CPOs) - unpaid work and other activity requirements today. The publication covers the changes in rates of progression during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, information on number of hours imposed by the courts for this requirement and the number of unpaid work hours to be progressed.
£10.5 million to prepare the Port of Dover, Eurostar and Eurotunnel for the upcoming EU digital border system. new £10.5 million funding to help prepare for new EU checks at the border in autumn.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (August 27th) sold 6 Prime Cattle. Prime Bullocks (3) averaged 303.0p per kg and sold to 304.0p per kg Twice and £1,956.50 gross.
This Fiscal Update sets out the economic and fiscal developments since December 2023 and the effects of Scottish and UK Government announcements on the 2024‑25 and 2025‑26 Scottish Budgets. The following are extracts from the report and a link to the full report is at the bottom of this page.
I argue that taxpayers are only legally entitled to their income after taxes, not before. Taxes are seen as a precondition for earning gross income, meaning that the amount paid in taxes never truly belongs to the taxpayer but is held in trust for the government.
Scotland's onshore GDP contracted by 0.3% in June 2024, according to statistics announced by the Chief Statistician. This follows growth of 0.2% in May 2024.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) today looks at how to raise more taxes. Over the summer we're bringing you a series of briefings on the key challenges and policy options facing the new set of government ministers.
Communication improvements within the housing service has helped to reduce the time taken to complete repairs over the past two years. A performance report to the Council's Housing and Property Committee presented quarterly data which charted its continued improvement from 2022/23.
The dire warnings keep coming from the Scottish and UK governments. Today the Prime minister warned a hard budget coming in October.
