It's true that our 16th-century ancestors drank much more than Irish people do today. But why they did so and what their beer was like are questions shrouded in myth.
Senior Leadership Staffing Update - Nicky Grant, ECO Education and Learning will be leaving Highland Council to pursue other interests with immediate effect. Nicky has been employed by the Council since December 2018 initially as the Head Teacher at Alness Academy, then appointed to Head of Education Services in October 2019 before being appointed ECO in July 2021.
As intimated in Highland Council's budget plan, a new senior management structure is to be implemented following approval by Council 14th March. It reconfigures the senior management team into two layers, rather than three and brings Highland Council into line with other benchmarked authorities.
A new strategy will expand access to genomic testing to improve diagnoses and outcomes for patients. With a focus on cancer and rare and inherited conditions, the new five-year strategy sets out how genomics - the use of genetic information to diagnose disease and guide treatment – can be best used in the NHS.
The husband of former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has been charged in connection with the embezzlement of funds from the Scottish National Party. Peter Murrell was previously arrested as a suspect on 5 April last year before being released without charge.
With the UK the only G7 economy yet to return to pre-pandemic employment levels, the Prime Minister is right to make reducing long-term sickness a top economic priority. But his latest announcement is a problem statement not a plan, the Resolution Foundation said on Friday.
Whilst abandoning the 2030 Net Zero target the Scottish Government is stepping up action to tackle climate change with a suite of new policies on transport, including increasing the number of electric vehicle chargers, and land use. The increase in charging points comes as part of a wider climate package that also includes an integrated ticketing system which can be used across all public transport.
Refugees and people seeking asylum who live in Scotland will be supported to settle into local communities through new funding for Scottish Refugee Council. Scottish Government funding of £3.6 million will support Scottish Refugee Council's Refugee Support Service, which helps people access health, housing, welfare and employment support.
The Chief Statistician for Scotland has released figures for Wildlife Crime in Scotland 2022. The statistics show that recorded wildlife crime was down by 7% from 308 offences in 2020-21 to 286 offences in 2021-22.
The Prime Minister has outlined a package of sweeping reforms to put work at the heart of welfare and deliver on his "moral mission" to give everyone who is able to work, the best possible chance of staying in, or returning to work. Government to consult on proposed reforms to disability benefits system to ensure benefits targeted at those who need it most.
In a major speech on Friday 19 April 2024, the Prime Minister unveiled a package of welfare reform measures to tackle the unprecedented rise in economic inactivity and ensure our benefits system is better targeted at those who need it most. PM to announce plans to overhaul benefits system to ensure people who are fit to work aren't left behind on benefits.
Parliament to consider tax to raise more funding to fix unsafe cladding. A tax on developers to raise funds to help fix building safety issues will be considered in Scotland under powers secured from the UK Government.
More than one million faster broadband connections have been delivered to homes and businesses across Scotland, backed by £1 billion of publicly-driven investment. The £463 million Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) programme launched in 2014 and connected more than 950,600 premises to fibre-based broadband - over 150,000 more than originally anticipated.
British Army soldiers are a step closer to getting their hands on one of Europe's most lethal tanks - the Challenger 3 - the Defence Secretary has announced. Latest Challenger 3 tanks finalising production.
The latest figures released today in the government's annual State of the Estate report, highlight the significant progress being made to make the public estate more sustainable and efficient. Over £163 million in savings was secured last year due to reduced overall energy consumption across government buildings.
The UK sanctioned a further 7 individuals and 6 entities that enabled Iran's destabilising activity in the Middle East, including its direct attack on Israel. On Thursday 18 April 2024 the UK has sanctioned a further 7 individuals and 6 entities who have enabled Iran to conduct destabilising regional activity, including its direct attack on Israel.
Every part of Scotland is hit by the freeze on capital spending by Scottish Government. The Shetland Times has highlighted the issue in the long running campaign to renew the Gilbert Bain hospital.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd, (April, 17th) sold 1,101 store cattle and 63 OTM cattle. Bullocks (553) averaged 312.0pp per kg and sold to 383.1p per kg for a 355kg Limousin cross from Wester Tomloan, Nairn, and £1,680 gross for a pen of 588kg Limousin crosses from 2 Hallum, Forss.
The video is almost 53 minutes but well worth watching if you really want to understand wealth, taxes and debt. This month marks the start of a new tax year, during which we will inevitably have a new government.
A proposal for a Local Authority controlled Land Tax with projected revenue for each Local Authority in Scotland. Land is possibly the greatest immovable asset and store of wealth in Scotland that is not currently taxed.
