New annual funding of £100 million to help reduce inpatient and day-case waiting lists by an estimated 100,000 patients over three years has been announced by the First Minister. Subject to the outcome of the Scottish Budget process, the recurring annual revenue investment will run to the end of this Parliamentary session and help inform NHS Boards' multi-year planning to create capacity and accelerate treatment for patients.
Strategic investment to help create thousands of green jobs and deliver the full economic potential of offshore renewables projects is to be delivered over the next five years. Up to £500 million will leverage private investment in ports, manufacturing and assembly work to support major supply chain opportunities to Scotland, the First Minister has announced.
A COSLA Spokesperson said: "We have just heard the announcement made at the SNP Conference in relation to freezing council tax. We were unaware of it in advance.
Progress on getting inflation back down to target stalled in September as CPI inflation remained at 6.7 per cent, with a welcome monthly fall in food costs offset by rising petrol prices, the Resolution Foundation said today (Wednesday). CPI inflation remained unchanged in September, defying market expectations of a slight fall.
Continuing fall in employment and vacancy levels mean that a big question going into the autumn is how long Britain's mini pay recovery will last, the Resolution Foundation said on (Tuesday 17 October 2023). The latest pay, vacancies and employee jobs data from the ONS - crucial data on employment, unemployment and inactivity will be published next Tuesday - showed further evidence of labour market cooling.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd, (October 18th) sold 423 store cattle, and 107 OTM cattle. Bullocks (261) averaged 274.2p per kg and sold to 461.0p per kk for a 155kg British Blue cross from Shewglie Farm, Glenurquhart and £1,620 gross for a pair of 602kg Beef Shorthorn crosses from Ballone, Abriachan.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (October 17th) sold 1,356 Prime Sheep. New Season Lambs (683) averaged 237.6p per kg and £134 gross.
New Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) measures set out, which include a crisis plan in the event current PNT services are unavailable. New framework for Greater Position, Navigation and Timing Resilience to underpin Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) and bolster essential services like banking, defence and emergency services .
The annual percentage change for average UK house prices was 0.2% (provisional estimate) in the 12 months to August 2023, compared with 0.7% (revised estimate) in the 12 months to July 2023. The average UK house price was £291,000 in August 2023 (provisional estimate), which is little changed from 12 months ago, but £9,000 above the recent trough in March 2023.
Second National Infrastructure Assessment sets agenda for action over next 30 years. Improved infrastructure to boost economic growth across the UK and meet climate goals is both achievable and affordable if the right policy steps are taken now, according to the government's independent advisers on infrastructure strategy.
The report assesses the benefits of GNSS to a wide range of sectors of the UK economy and assesses the economic impact various levels of disruption to GNSS. This report is an update of a publication produced in 2017 examining the benefits of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) to the UK economy, the impact of a loss of GNSS for a 7 day period, the impact of a loss of GNSS for 24 hours and two more localised disruptions to GNSS.
Possession of nitrous oxide, also known as ‘laughing gas', will be illegal from 8 November 2023. Repeat serious users of nitrous oxide could face up to 2 years in prison and dealers up to 14 years, as the government delivers on its zero-tolerance approach to antisocial behaviour.
A podcast from the Washington Post may surprise you as yet another climate change disaster unfolds. For months, saltwater from the Gulf of Mexico has crept up the Mississippi River, contaminating the area's water supply and putting residents of Louisiana's Plaquemines Parish on the front lines of a slowly unfolding environmental disaster.
The latest Jonathon Pie from the BBC series. As it is the BBC he has had to curb his usual swearing.
A look at relative GDP per capita, average wages and other economic fundamentals. How the Irish economy is a relative success story overtaking UK per capita GDP/GNI.
The spectre of another interest rate rise by the Bank of England came into view this week with statement by Huw Pill of the Bank. Huw Pill raises possibility of interest rate rise, saying war between Israel and Hamas may affect oil price.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (October 13th) sold 6,910 store sheep of all classes. Lambs (5,141) averaged £67.09 and sold to £320 gross for a Texel tup lamb from Wester Raddery, Fortrose.
Portree, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (October 16h), sold 138 rams at the annual sale. Rams (138) sold to £850 gross twice for a Blackface 2 shear from Corriebheinn, Portree and a Blackface shearling from Newton of Crathie, Ballater.
Thistle Wind Partners (TWP), which is developing the 1GW Ayre Offshore Wind Farm, announces plans to host a series of events in Caithness to introduce the project to the local community. Located 33 km to the east of Orkney, the Ayre Offshore Wind Farm is expected to connect to the electricity transmission network in the Spittal area of Caithness, with the location of this connection to be confirmed by the Electricity System Operator, National Grid ESO, this winter.
Annual growth in regular pay (excluding bonuses) was 7.8% in June to August 2023, similar to recent periods and one of the highest regular annual growth rates since comparable records began in 2001. Annual growth in employees' average total pay (including bonuses) was 8.1% in June to August 2023; this total growth rate is affected by the NHS and civil service one-off payments made in June, July and August 2023.
