News Archive

14/9/2024

 
Easement Of Import Checks On Medium-risk Fruit And Veg Extended

The products will not be subject to import checks at the GB border until next year.   The UK government has on 13 September 2024 extended the easement of import checks on medium-risk fruit and vegetables imported from the EU from January 2025 to 1 July 2025.  

14/9/2024

 
Understanding Quantitative Easing - QE - Richard Murphy

QE was and always will be, a sham to disguise the fact that a central bank is lending money to the government that owns it.   In this video, I explain the ins and outs and costs of this ridiculous denial of the truth.  

14/9/2024

 
DWP Warning Big Changes Coming To Tackle Out Of Work

The plans hopes to overturn the escalating levels of economic inactivity as the UK is still the only G7 country where employment rates have not returned to pre-pandemic levels.  According to the Department of Work and Pensions data, roughly 22 percent of people are not currently working which equates to around 9.4 million people.  

14/9/2024

Not Only Pensioners Lose Heating Allowance - So Do 1.5 Million Disabled People

The Big Issue has highlighted other changes not just heating allowance in an article.   Since the election of the Labour government in July there has been something of a change in tone when it comes to social security and disability.  

13/9/2024 : Local Authority

Highland Council Education Committee Supports Recommendation For Youth Work And Adult Learning Transfer And The Financial Position Of Highlife Highland

At the Education Committee today (Thursday 12 September 2024) Members agreed to the recommendation to transfer Youth Work and Adult Learning to the Council from High Life Highland.  The final contract review report will come to the Committee in November 2024 for consideration.  

13/9/2024

 
Royal Navy and RAF shadow Russian ships and intercept Russian aircraft to protect UK national security

HMS Iron Duke and HMS Tyne shadowed four Russian vessels in UK waters and RAF jets intercepted a Russian Bear aircraft approaching the UK area of interest.   Royal Navy warships have spent the past week closely shadowing the Russian Navy as four of its vessels sailed through the Channel and the North Sea, helping to protect UK national security.  

13/9/2024

Raising Revenue From Reforms To Pensions Taxation

Recent weeks have seen speculation that the new Chancellor will make changes to pensions taxation to raise revenue in the upcoming inaugural Budget.  The current system of pensions tax provides overly generous tax breaks to those with the biggest pensions, those with high retirement incomes and those receiving big employer pension contributions, and there is a strong case for reform.  

13/9/2024

 
Yet Another Delay For The Glen Sannox Ferry Saga

A letter to Edward Mountain MSP on 12 September 2024 with another reason why the ferry Glen Sannox will not be delivered in September.   I am writing to you to provide an interim update to our quarterly report, specifically for MV Glen Sannox.  

13/9/2024

Building Blocks - Assessing The Role Of Planning Reform In Meeting The Government's Housing Targets

The UK Government has prioritised planning reform as its key policy lever to deliver an ambitious target of 1.5 million additional homes by the end of this Parliament.  This note explores the extent to which the proposed reforms to the planning system will help reach this target, while also highlighting other constraints on housing supply that the Government should consider as part of its broader strategy to kickstart housing delivery.  

13/9/2024

 
NDA Publishes First Ever Nuclear Heritage Strategy

NDA publishes first ever nuclear heritage vision and strategy, to safeguard and celebrate the history of the nuclear industry.   Today the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has published the first ever nuclear heritage vision and strategy, to safeguard and celebrate the history and cultural heritage of the nuclear industry.  

13/9/2024

Private Pensions For The Self-employed - Challenges And Options For Reform

How well prepared for retirement are self-employed workers and what options do policymakers have to encourage more pension saving?.   There have been widespread concerns about the patterns of retirement saving amongst self-employed workers, who now make up just over one in eight of the whole labour force.  

13/9/2024

 
Student Visas Down By A Sixth Will Cause Challenges For Some Universities

Home Office statistics released today show there were 17.1% (25,200) fewer applications for visas to study in the UK in August than in the same month last year.  This continues the trend seen over recent months, with 16.6% (55,500) fewer total applications in the year to date than at the same point in 2023.  

13/9/2024

Government Won't Hit Ambitious Housing Targets Without Direct Public Investment In New Homes

The Government's welcome planning reforms could deliver a step change in housebuilding over the parliament.  But it will need to bolster these reforms with direct investment if it is to meet its target of creating 1.5 million more homes over the parliament, according to new Resolution Foundation research published Thursday 12 September 2024.  

13/9/2024 : Auctioneers

Dingwall and Highland Marts Ltd - For William - Sale11 September 2024

FORT WILLIAM, Dingwall and Highland Marts Ltd., (September 11th) sold 512 spring born calves and store cattle.   Bullocks (313) averaged 345.2p (+43.8p) and sold 444.0p per kg for a pen of stabiliser crosses from Daliea, Acharacle and £1,420 gross for a Beef Shorthorn cross from Tigh Na Feidh, Strontian.  

13/9/2024

 
The Big Challenges Facing The Benefits System

We're looking at the working age benefits system and answering the questions likely being asked by government ministers: how can the rising costs of benefits be managed, and what changes could improve the system?.   With disability and incapacity benefit caseloads rising and the Universal Credit rollout still ongoing, what options does the government have to address these challenges?.  

13/9/2024

Dingwall and Highlands Marts Ltd - Lewis - Sale 12 September 2024

DINGWALL., Dingwall and Highlands Marts Ltd., (September 12th) sold 5,617 sheep of all classes including Lewis's livestock producers.   Lambs (3,686) averaged £70.34 and sold to £121 twice for a Texel cross from 3 Kinbeachie, Culbokie and for a Beltex cross from Glenurquhart Farm, Cromarty.  

13/9/2024

 
bp And Iberdrola Announce Final Investment Decision For Largest Green Hydrogen Plant In Spain

bp and Iberdrola have given the green light for construction of a 25 MW green hydrogen project at bp's Castellón refinery which is expected to be operational in second half of 2026.  This is the first hydrogen project jointly undertaken by bp and Iberdrola through Castellón Green Hydrogen S.L a joint venture equally owned by both companies.  

12/9/2024

 
PwC Report - Store Openings And Closures H1 2024

According to PwC, in 2023, there were 14,081 store closures in Great Britain, which is an average of 39 closures per day.  This is higher than the 11,530 store closures in 2022, but lower than the years between 2017 and 2021.  

12/9/2024

Pensioners And Everyone Else Will See 10% Energy Price Rise From October

So most Pensioners have now lost the Winter Heating Allowance and to add to the pain we will all see energy prices rise from 1st October.   Every 3 months Ofgem reviews and sets a level for how much an energy supplier can charge for each unit of energy and daily standing charge, under the price cap.  

12/9/2024

Rachel Reeves Needs To Learn Lessons From Her Handling Of The Winter Fuel Allowance Abolition

The chancellor did not construct a solid narrative for axing the winter fuel allowance.   It is possible that a month of bad headlines, criticism across a spectrum from Ed Balls to Robert Jenrick, the unsettling of a lot of Labour MPs and the alienation of a bunch of NGOs was all part of a Reeves-Starmer masterplan.