The Caithness Committee of the Highland Council met on 3 November 2025 to discuss a range of issues affecting residents across the region. From housing performance to community funding, the meeting offered insights into how local services are evolving and where public money is being invested.
What are the main Scottish political parties saying about the maternity-care situation in Caithness (and surrounding areas). An important factor is the long journeys women now face to give birth after the downgrade of the unit at Caithness General Hospital in Wick in 2016.
Number of illegal working arrests skyrocket by 63% as Immigration Enforcement carry out highest level of raids in British history. Arrests for illegal working have soared to their highest levels since records began, following an uplift in enforcement action.
The Bank of Canada reduced its key overnight interest rate to 2.25% on Wednesday 29 October 2025, as widely expected. This could mark an end to its cutting cycle unless the outlook for inflation and economy changed.
Rachel Reeves leads UK delegation to Riyadh, seeking to strengthen the UK-Gulf relationship to power growth here at home. First visit by a UK Chancellor to the Gulf in six years will focus on trade and investment opportunities that benefit British businesses and working people.
Homicide numbers in Scotland have fallen to their lowest level since comparable records began in 1976, according to official figures. Cases recorded by Police Scotland fell to 45 homicides in 2024-25, down 12 on the previous year.
There were at least 38,040 applications for a short-term licence as of end June 2025. 36,594 of these applications were validated.
If you have suffered abuse while in care, you could be entitled to a payment from the Scottish Government, as well as a formal apology. This is called redress, and a scheme has been set up to help you make a claim.
New figures show NHS waiting lists have fallen and waits of more than a year have reduced for the fourth month in a row. When compared with August 2025, September saw a 7.3% decrease in new outpatient waits longer than a year - this number has now fallen for four consecutive months.
The UK is stuck in a self-inflicted fiscal trap. Larry Elliott, former Guardian Economics Editor and my co-author in the Green New Deal, joins me to explain why Rachel Reeves' rulebook is economic guesswork, how the Bank of England is failing to control inflation and why capital controls could help rebuild Britain's productive economy.
Ahead of the Just Transition Commission Summit getting underway in Edinburgh today [Weds 29 Oct], First Minister John Swinney has highlighted the importance of supporting workers and livelihoods in the journey to net zero. The First Minister will speak at the summit and announce the Scottish Government's intention to renew the Just Transition Commission for the next Parliamentary term.
Rachel Reeves says the UK needs tax rises to balance her budget. That's simply wrong.
The Federal Reserve announced interest rate reduction of .25 percent on Wednesday 29 October 2025. Available indicators suggest that economic activity has been expanding at a moderate pace.
Next week, The Highland Council will be hosting members of the North Sea Commission Transport Group. As part of the visit, members will be taken on a site visit to the Port of Nigg before gathering the next day in Inverness for their meeting.
The Cameron Barracks in Inverness has been identified by the Home Office (UK Government) as one of two military sites where around 900 men will be temporarily housed (the other site in England). Of those 900, approximately 300 are expected to be placed at the Inverness site from a phased start in early December 2025, and for up to 12 months.
Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic, Kate Forbes MSP, has announced the appointment of Angus Campbell as Chair of the Board of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). The appointment is for three years from 1 November 2025 to 31 October 2028.
Eastern Airways has suspended all its flights with immediate effect and cancelled its entire scheduled network. The company filed a notice of intention to appoint an administrator under UK insolvency law, which gives the airline up to 10 business days of protection from creditors while rescue/ restructuring options are explored.
Scotland's council tax system has long been criticised as outdated, inequitable, and distorted. The recently published report "Revaluation and Reform of Council Tax in Scotland: design considerations and potential impacts" published on 27 October 2025 offers a thoughtful analysis of how to rework the system.
More than quarter of a million families to receive letters confirming they will get £150 off their energy bills this winter through the Warm Home Discount. More than 250,000 families to receive confirmation of £150 discount off their energy bill due to extra help from Government.
Several recent announcements and plans give a clear picture of how much is being committed to the UK's electricity grid infrastructure: The regulator Ofgem has provisionally approved around £24 billion of investment over the five-year period 2026-31 in energy networks (both electricity and gas). Of that, approximately £8.9 billion is earmarked for high-voltage electricity transmission networks right away, with a further £1.3 billion of ‘use-it or lose-it' funding available.
