From the Fraser of Allender Institue. In a week that saw the release of GERS - usually a big day in the calendar - it is perhaps surprising that neither of the two stories dominating the economic news in Scotland is related to it.
Fraser of Allender Institute Deputy Director Emma Congreve is joined by fellow Deputy Director Joao Sousa and Director Professor Mairi Spowage to discuss all the fiscal announcements over the last month and what they mean for Scotland. This is an audio discussion.
UK Export Finance helps smaller businesses like RAM Engineering to build relationships with lenders and fulfil their exporting ambitions. Based in Angus, Scotland, RAM Engineering has won a major contract thanks to collaboration between UK Export Finance (UKEF) and White Oak UK.
The Highland Council welcomes the positive Care Inspectorate Inspection report following a recent unannounced inspection visit to Pennyland ELC, Thurso. Following the inspection, Pennyland ELC received the following: How good is our care, play and learning? - 5 Very Good How good is our setting? - 5 Very Good How good is our leadership? - 5 Very Good How good is our staff team - 5 Very Good.
DINGWALL., Dingwall and Highlands Marts Ltd., (29th August) sold 2,475 breeding sheep also all classes of lambs and Lewis Livestock at its annual sale sponsored by Gow Transport. Gimmers 1st - W A & H V Stewart, 1 Newmore, Muir of Ord, £270.
The Highland Council's Climate Change Committee has approved this week a report outlining the Council's commitment to aligning its operations with the Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill. The report highlights the positive impact of the circular economy on reducing waste, promoting resource efficiency, and contributing to the Council’s ambitious net zero emissions targets.
The tax system this government inherited actively works against its ambition to rebalance the country with income from work taxed higher than income from wealth. IPPR's analysis found that those in London and the South East are more likely to benefit from favourable tax treatment due to lower taxes on income from wealth.
Real median household incomes are projected to grow by a healthy 3 per cent this year. But on current economic forecasts and policy assumptions, this recovery is set to peter out, with incomes forecast to grow by just 2 per cent in total over the next five years, highlighting why the Government needs to beat the forecasts by kickstarting growth, says Resolution Foundation research published on Thursday 29 August 2024.
DINGWALL., Dingwall and Highland Marts Ltd., (August 29th) sold 655 Lambs from Lewis livestock producers. Lewis Livestock Producers lambs (655) averaged £60.23 (up £6.85 on the year) and sold to £110 for a Cheviot from 8 South Shawbost, Barvas.
Overall, UK household costs, as measured by the Household Costs Index (HCI), rose 2.5% in the year to June 2024, slowing from the annual rate of 4.5% in March 2024. Over the past three years, the all-households inflation rate has followed the fifth income decile most closely; costs for these households rose 2.3% in the year to June 2024, compared with rises of 3.3% for high-income households (decile 9) and 1.7% for low-income households (decile 2).
Drivers across the UK are being warned to expect a rise in fuel duty in the Government's upcoming Autumn Budget. New Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer has already stated that there is a £22 billion ‘black hole' in public finances that needs to be filled.
Labour claims it has a "black hole" of £22 billion to fill in the government's finances. They should stop making a fuss.
Labour Force Survey (LFS) household estimates have been weighted to population estimates published in November 2023 for periods from October to December 2023 onwards; a discontinuity has been introduced at this point, so comparisons before this point are not possible. Increased volatility of the LFS estimates, resulting from smaller achieved sample sizes, means that estimates of quarterly change should be treated with additional caution.
The devolved nature of UK healthcare policy means that healthcare is run separately, and differently, across the four UK nations; each nation has developed its own standards for the treatment of cancer, and associated targets for these standards. All UK countries have a standard that a patient should wait no more than 62 days from their cancer referral being received (or the "point-of-suspicion" in Wales) to starting treatment; England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland also have a standard that a patient should wait no more than 31 days from the "decision-to-treat" the cancer to starting treatment.
This was an enjoyable exchange. Richard Murphy on Politics Joe Youtube clearly sets how Labour could solve many of the UK economic problems.
More than three quarters of students worried about cost of university life, a new poll from Nationwide shows. Average monthly income of £752.20 dwarfed by expected living costs of £2,197 - a threefold increase.
The Scottish Government and Scottish Grocer's Federation have today 29 August published an official Retailers Guide to MUP, ahead of the planned increase from 50p to 65p due to come into force next month. From 30th September, all Scottish businesses selling alcohol products to the public will be required to charge at least 65 pence per unit of alcohol.
UK house prices fell 0.2% month on month in August. Annual growth rate picked up to 2.4%, from 2.1% in July.
The RAC has this week issued an urgent appeal to the UK's biggest fuel retailers to do the right thing and cut fuel prices at the pumps to reflect a steady drop in wholesale costs, which began at the start of July and accelerated sharply last week. With retailers having been found by the Competition and Markets Authority to have overcharged drivers by £1.6bn in 2023, the RAC believes the recent fall in the price of oil and the strengthening of the pound.
Throughout June and July we ran the third annual Big Scottish Scam Survey, asking Scots about the scams they had experienced in the last year. Thank you to all those who responded.