News Archive

7/2/2024

 
Disclosure Scotland's Post Office Scandal - BBC One Tonight 8.00pm

As time moves on the Sub postmaster scandal gets more exposed.   The BBC programme Disclosure at 8.00pm highlights Scottish sub postmaster examples of miscarriages.  

7/2/2024

The UK And Other Ageing Populations Will Have To Increase Their State Pension Age To 71 By 2050 To Maintain The Number Of Workers Per Retiree

The International Longevity Centre's Healthy Ageing and Prevention Index ranks 121 countries against six indicators: life span, health span, work span, income, environmental performance, and happiness.   However, most of those countries ranked at the top of the Index have rapidly ageing populations making it increasingly important for these governments to act to support healthy ageing.  

7/2/2024

 
Venues With An Inclusive Approach To Hospitality Will Have Better Innings

Getting diversity, equity and inclusion right leads to better customer experience and increased visitor numbers.   The International Longevity Centre (ILC), the UK's leading authority on demographic change, has launched an inspiring short film sharing best practice in hospitality.  

7/2/2024

Soaring Caesarean Rate In Far North Exposes Maternity Failings, Says MSP Edward Mountain

The number of women having caesarean births in the far north has rocketed in the past five years as maternity services have been cut, says Highlands and Islands MSP Edward Mountain.   New figures have shown 43.4 per cent of Highland births in 2022/23 were caesareans, compared to 33.4 per cent in 2017/18.  

7/2/2024

Scottish Budget Implies Real-terms Cuts To Health Spending - A Fact Not Revealed In Official Documentation

The Scottish Government is raising taxes on the 5% highest-income Scots, but health funding is, on current plans, set to fall in real terms next year.   New analysis shows that funding for the Scottish Government's NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care portfolio is currently set to fall by 0.7% in real terms in 2024-25 compared with this financial year, despite official Budget documentation showing a 1.3% real-terms year-on-year increase.  

7/2/2024

Last Day To Have Your Say On Council Services Before Budget Cuts Hit

Several council services that have been suggested for cuts or reduction are the subject of the Highland council survey.   The budget for highland will be decided later in February and many difficult decisions will be taken.  

7/2/2024

 
Scottish Budget - Tax And Spending In 2024-25

A report from The Institute for Fiscal Studies The Scottish Government is raising taxes on the 5% highest-income Scots, but health funding is, on current plans, set to fall in real terms next year.   This chapter of our second annual Budget Report looks at Scottish tax policy and revenue, the overall amount of funding available for Scottish public services, and planned spending on different individual services in the coming financial year, 2024-25.  

7/2/2024

 
Know Your Worth - Check Your Apprentice Pay Rates

During National Apprenticeship Week HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is encouraging apprentices to claim the money that is rightfully theirs.  Whether that's making sure you're being paid the correct hourly rate to claiming the savings in your Child Trust Fund, this is how to do it.  

7/2/2024

Scottish Budget - The Medium-term Outlook And Choices

A report from The Institute for fiscal Studies.   Devolved income tax revenues are forecast to boost the Scottish Government's funding over the next five years, but many services could still see cuts.  

7/2/2024

 
Is The Mortgage War Over Already? - UK House Price Crash 2024

Why are BANKS suddenly INCREASING mortgage interest RATES and withdrawing some mortgage offers entirely? And what impact will this have on UK house prices in 2024? The UK housing market is in big trouble and a fall in mortgage rates was about the only thing that could have prevented a full blown UK housing market crash.   During the first few weeks of 2024, a so called "mortgage war" broke out amongst UK mortage providers.  

7/2/2024

The Government's Handover Of The Post Office To Its Managers Would Be A Poisoned Chalice

The Government is meeting with Post Office stakeholders today to explore handing over its ownership to branch managers.  However, the home delivery expert ParcelHero says the plans are a knee-jerk reaction to the Horizon scandal and the Post Office needs urgent modernisation.  

7/2/2024

 
Business Demography, Quarterly, UK - October To December 2023

The number of businesses added to the Inter-Departmental Business Register (IDBR) (business creations) in the UK in Quarter 4 (Oct to Dec) 2023 was 2.6% higher than in Quarter 4 2022.   There was an increase in creations in 14 out of 16 main industrial groups in Quarter 4 2023 compared with Quarter 4 2022, with the most significant increase coming from the accommodation and food service industries.  

6/2/2024 : Auctioneers

Dingwall And Highlands Marts Ltd - Store Sheep Sale All Classes

Dingwall and Highlands Marts Ltd., (February 6th) sold 1404 store sheep of all classes.   Lambs (1,239) averaged £90.98 and sold to £146 gross for a Blue Faced Leicester from DB Farms.  

6/2/2024

Information Commissioner To Investigate Scottish Government Over Whatsapp Use

The Scottish Information Commissioner has launched an Intervention into the Scottish ministers' practices in relation to use and retention of WhatsApp and other informal communication messages.   Scottish Information Commissioner David Hamilton said: "My office has launched an Intervention into the Scottish ministers’ practices in relation to the retention of informal communications.  

6/2/2024 : Auctioneers

Dingwall And Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 6 February 2024

DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (February 6th) sold 7 Prime Cattle.   Prime Heifers (7) averaged 283.3p per kg (-4.8p) and sold to 293.0 per kg and £1,941.800 gross.  

6/2/2024

Douglas J. Cusine - What Ails The Crown Office?

Now that the dust has not settled on the Horizon scandal in Scotland as it relates to convictions of sub-postmasters, it is useful to recall what the lord advocate said in the Scottish Parliament on 16 January, writes former sheriff Douglas J.  Cusine.  

6/2/2024

Co-op Calls For Greater Industry Collaboration To Tap Into Millions Of Pounds Worth Of Unspent Apprenticeship Levy Funds

Over £96m returned to HM Treasury in the last year from employers, which could have funded over 9,000 apprenticeships.   Co-op sources £23m funding for apprenticeships through its unique Co-op Levy Share service, matching over 2,000 apprenticeships across 140 different types of roles.  

6/2/2024

Britain Has A Bigger, But Sicker, Workforce Than Previously Thought

New Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates of the size and shape of the UK labour market show that it has a bigger workforce, with employment up 170,000 compared to previous estimates, but also a sicker one, with the number not working because of long-term sickness reaching a new record high of 2.8 million, the Resolution Foundation said on Monday 5 February 2024.   ONS' reweighting of the labour force survey - its principal survey of the workforce - to reflect the UK population growing faster than previously thought, shows that the labour market is bigger but weaker than previous estimates.  

5/2/2024 : Other Services

 
Exciting New Post In Caithness To Highlight Opportunities

The Chamber is looking to recruit a Talent Attraction/Recruitment Specialist for its Recruit North Highlands initiative.  This is a new and exciting post which will see the successful candidate play a unique and pivotal role in attracting talent to the region.  

5/2/2024

Amazon Prime Video Ads Spark Customer Backlash, But Will ‘free' Deliveries Stop A Mass Cancellation?

Amazon's Prime Video channel imposes adverts from today - and users have taken to social media to vent their fury.  Many are threatening to ditch their subscriptions, but the home delivery expert ParcelHero says the lure of Amazon Prime’s ‘free’ next-day deliveries means most Brits won’t click ‘Cancel’.