News Archive

9/9/2024

 
Low Pay Britain 2024 - Examining The Government's Proposed Employment Reforms

The Government is planning the largest set of workplace reforms in a generation, with plans to overhaul multiple areas of employment policy.  These have the potential to make real inroads in the problem of insecurity at work, and would particularly benefit low-paid workers, who bear the brunt of labour market insecurity.  

9/9/2024 : Other Public Services

Which Rural Area Will Take The UKs Nuclear Waste?

A repeating tone - blip, blip, blip - is the audible reminder that we are in one of the most hazardous nuclear sites in the world: Sellafield.   That sound - pulsing from speakers inside the cavernous fuel-handling plant - is a signal that everything is functioning as it should.  

9/9/2024

 
Making Employment Rights Work - A Five Point Plan For Effective Enforcement Of Employment Rights In The UK

Workers' rights are set for a significant upgrade.   The new government was elected on a platform that included making the minimum wage a living wage, basic individual rights from day one and expanded family-friendly working.  

9/9/2024

 
Supporting The Move To Electric Vehicles - Pan-defence Collaboration, Trials Of Hydrogen Fuelled Charging Facilities

In a pan-Defence collaboration, trials of hydrogen fuelled charging facilities to power the electric vehicle fleet have concluded.   This marks a significant step forward in the use of sustainable energy sources in Defence.  

9/9/2024 : Auctioneers

Stornoway., Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd September 4th Sold 4,197 Sheep Of All Classes

Lambs (3,155) averaged £62.14 (+£11.79 on the year) and sold to £130 gross for a Cheviot from 53 Balallan, Lochs.   Gimmers (66) sold to £144 gross for a pen of Cheviots from Ardview, Marig.  

9/9/2024

Fixed Mortgage Rates Fall Across The Spectrum

Moneyfacts UK Mortgage Trends Treasury Report data reveals fixed mortgage rates have fallen across the spectrum and the average shelf-life of a mortgage rose month-on-month.   Average mortgage rates on the overall two- and five-year fixed rate deals fell month-on-month by 0.21% and 0.18% respectively.  

9/9/2024

Over 8 In 10 Zero-hours Contract Workers Want Regular Hours - TUC Poll Reveals

Poll reveals that three-quarters of people on zero-hours contracts have experienced financial difficulty due to lack of work Survey shows "one-sided nature" of zero-hours contracts with shifts cancelled regularly and people feeling they have to work when unwell.   TUC says forthcoming Employment Rights Bill is "badly needed" to drive up employment standards and to make work pay.  

9/9/2024 : Auctioneers

Portree - Dingwall And Highland Marts Ltd., September 2nd Sold 2,702 Sheep Of All Classes

Lambs (2,476) averaged £63.87 (up £15.92 on the year) and sold to £134 gross for a texel lamb from 44 Borneskitaig, Kilmuir.   Feeding sheep (226) sold to £98 gross for a beltex cross ewe from 2B Penifiler, Foreland.  

9/9/2024

Workers Cheated Out Of £2bn Of Holiday Pay Last Year Under Tories

New analysis shows more than a million employees didn't get any of the paid holiday they were entitled to last year - with BME employees hardest hit.   Union body says Tory failures on labour market enforcement have allowed bad bosses to exploit staff .  

9/9/2024 : Auctioneers

Dingwall - Dingwall And Highlands Marts Ltd September 5th Sold 10,060 Store Lambs.

DINGWALL., Dingwall and Highlands Marts Ltd., (September 5th) sold 10,060 Store lambs.   Cheviot wedder lambs (7,229) averaged £69.28 (up £11.24) and sold to £113 gross from Little Cuiltburn, Braes of Balnabeen.  

9/9/2024 : Auctioneers

Dingwall - Dingwall And Highlands Marts Ltd September 6th Sold 6,479 Store Lambs.

Cheviot Lambs (583) averaged £68.98 (+£10.67 on the year) and sold to £98 gross from Midfearn Farms, Ardgay.   Texel and Texel Cross Lambs (1,891) averaged £86.50 (+£11.17 on the year) and sold to £127 gross Achnahaugh, East Langwell.  

9/9/2024

Business Advice Top 10 Security Tips From Police Scotland

A top 10 list of security tips for business to follow.   1 Conduct a risk assessment - This will look at the threats the organisation might face and how likely they are.  

8/9/2024

 
University Finances Are In A Perilous State - It's The Result Of Market Competition And Debt-based Expansion

The higher education sector in the UK is in financial crisis.  Over 60 institutions have announced severance or redundancy programmes, and around 40% expect to be in deficit in 2023-24.  

8/9/2024

 
Pawnbroker Profits In The UK Are Up - The Industry Has Been A Constant Through History For People In Poverty

For a clear signal that the cost of living is still biting for many, you just need to look at how business is booming at the UK's largest pawnbroker, H&T.  The company recently reported a 12.5% rise in pre-tax profits to £9.9 million for the first half of 2024.  

8/9/2024

 
Scotland, Wales And Northern Ireland Need Better Powers To Tax - Richard Murphy

The UK's devolved governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland need proper powers to tax or they will always be governing with one arm tied behind their backs.   Without such powers devolved government is a sham - and so too is the so-called United Kingdom.  

8/9/2024

Encouraging A Four-day Working Week Could Make Inequality Worse

The UK government has announced a proposal that would give workers the right to request a four-day working week.   On the surface, it appears to be a bold step.  

8/9/2024

 
Future Of UK House Prices - The Next Boom?

A look at prospects for UK house prices in both the short and long-term..  

7/9/2024

Addressing Racism As A Significant Public Health Issue

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Neil Gray has issued a statement identifying racism as a significant public health challenge, and a key cause of health inequalities.   Echoing the First Minister and other Scottish Government ministers' comments on racism in the wake of recent violence in other parts of the United Kingdom, the Health Secretary has outlined various measures, including asking health boards to develop and deliver their own anti-racism plans.  

7/9/2024

 
Firm And Director Guilty Of Illegal Catalytic Converter Trading

Platinum Group Metals Recycling Ltd and its only director, Edvars Stancik, have been found guilty of illegally trading in catalytic convertors in Lincolnshire.   Stancik formerly of St Thomas Court, Long Sutton, failed to attend a trial at Lincoln Crown Court on his own behalf or that of his company.  

7/9/2024

 
The Unfolding Disaster of The Privatised Royal Mail - First Class Stamp To Be £1.65 And Many Other Increases.

From the BBC highlighting the new charges from 7 October 2024.   Royal Mail has announced it will hike the price of first-class stamps by 30p due to "very real and urgent" financial challenges.