The families of more than 329,000 children under 16 are benefitting from Scottish Child Payment, latest statistics show. The weekly payment of £26.70, which is unique to Scotland, is helping families with the cost of living crisis, with over £677 million paid since the payment launched.
Should technocratic bodies like the OBR have a greater role in guiding UK fiscal policy?. In a new opinion piece, Ben Zaranko argues not.
The Type 45 destroyer sailed from Portsmouth today to relieve her sister ship, HMS Diamond. Royal Navy warship HMS Duncan has deployed from Portsmouth today to the Red Sea.
New figures published by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and NielsenIQ show the rate of shop inflation has declined to its lowest pace in nearly three years. Prices have risen just 0.2% over the last month, down from 0.3% in April.
National theatre scheduling software to increase procedures. Software to reduce hospital waiting times and enhance operating theatre efficiency will be rolled out in NHS boards across Scotland over the next year.
Long-term net migration (the number of people immigrating minus the number emigrating) was provisionally estimated to be 685,000 in the year ending (YE) December 2023, compared with our updated estimate of 764,000 for the YE December 2022. While it is too early to say if this is the start of a new downward trend, emigration increased in 2023, while new Home Office data show visa applications have fallen in recent months.
The boss of a British supermarket has claimed that the "era of cheap food is over". But what he calls cheap, many people still find expensive.
The UK has experienced high levels of immigration in recent years. Last year resulted in over 95,000 people immigrating to the UK through our various schemes for those seeking sanctuary.
Labour Force Survey (LFS) estimates have been reweighted for periods from July to September 2022 onwards; a discontinuity has been introduced at this point, so comparisons before this point are not possible. Increased volatility of LFS estimates, resulting from smaller achieved sample sizes, means that estimates of quarterly change should be treated with additional caution.
A Nationwide housing report shows rural areas had the biggest price increases in the last 5 years and Scotland overall saw large increases. House prices in predominantly rural areas have risen by 22% over the last five years, compared to 17% in predominately urban areas Rural semi-detached properties have seen the strongest rate of price growth, urban flats the weakest.
The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act has became law on Friday 24 May 2024. The change made it under the wire before parliament broke up for the election.
Inflation in the UK has fallen to 2.3% in the year to April - the lowest figure for almost three years. Before this, prices at UK tills were relatively low and stable for many years.
Sandra Skinner is a candidate for election for the Reform UK party. She is an engineer and came north to join Highlands Fabricators in 1998 where she met her husband Hugh.
Have you considered a rewarding job working with young children within your community? The Highland Council is recruiting for permanent and fixed term posts commencing in August 2024. Our Early Learning Centre (ELC) settings are varied in size due to the rural and urban settings.
Highland Energy Expert Steve Chisholm Joins Alba Party to Lead Economic Policy Initiative. Steve Chisholm, a senior director with one of the North's leading energy service companies, has announced his departure from the Scottish National Party to join the Alba Party.
At the upcoming UK Parliament General Election on Thursday 4 July 2024, you will need to have photo ID to vote. You do NOT need Photo ID if you have a postal vote.
The Institute for Government has published a guide to what happens once an election has been called. Some legislation already in process is pushed through if the parties agree but many bill are lost and will not become law such as the limit on selling tobacco to young people and gradually phasing sales out.
Polls ahead of the UK election not only point towards defeat for the government, but a veritable trouncing. With some showing below 20% support, the Conservatives have never polled worse.
The announcement of July 4 for the UK general election took many by surprise. A key question is why it was called then when it did not have to be? The decision to call an election is always a gamble - there is perhaps no right time - and many factors feed into that call.
This article is from the conversation web site published on 24 May 2024 and already the numbers resigning have increased with for example Michael Gove adding to the list. They include veterans such as Graham Brady, chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee, former prime minister Theresa May, and former cabinet ministers Dominic Raab and Ben Wallace.
