Britain has a bigger inflation problem than either the US or the eurozone, according to Bank of England policymaker Catherine Mann. The latest official UK inflation figures show UK price rises have slowed from double digits to 8.7% for the 12 months to April 2023.
May saw a 0.1% month-on-month fall in house prices. Annual rate of house price growth slipped back to -3.4%, from -2.7% in April.
Following the announcement on 1 June 2023 that the Lochboisdale ferry service is to be withdrawn in June 2023, Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant asked Scottish Government about compensation for affected businesses for the third time. In the Holyrood chamber during questioning on depopulation, Mrs Grant told the minister for equalities, migration and refugees, Emma Roddick: "Depopulation is caused by people finding it too difficult to live in rural and island communities.
Emergency measures to protect tenants during the cost of living crisis, including the private rent cap and additional eviction protections, will be extended for a further six months if approved by Parliament. Tenants' Rights Minister Patrick Harvie has confirmed proposals to keep the Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) Act measures in place until 31 March 2024 at the latest.
Children and young people in the justice system will soon be able to benefit from coordinated, comprehensive support under one roof thanks to a £6 million investment in setting up Bairns' Hoose test sites. A key action from The Promise, the creation of Bairns' Hoose test sites will ensure a range of trauma-informed support is available to child victims and witnesses, aiming to improve their experience of the justice system and reduce stress when recounting their experiences.
More than £15 million has been awarded to a range of projects supporting people affected by problem substance use. These include residential rehabilitation services, support for those affected by addiction and homelessness and programmes working with children and families affected by a loved one's substance use.
Highland Council's Redesign Board members (31 May 2023) approved moves towards more investment in solar and battery storage. In a report to the meeting members were asked to consider a number of options for green investment, some of which would not only help the local authority tackle the climate emergency but also provide reduced energy bills for commercial tenants.
The Chief Statistician has released statistics showing that the economy grew by 0.4% during the first quarter of 2023, covering the period January to March. Monthly statistics also released today show that GDP is estimated to have remained flat (0.0% change) in March.
Football fans are being given the chance to buy a share of their club and help shape its future in a new initiative known as the Fan Bank. Falkirk Supporters Society has been awarded a £350,000 interest-free loan as the first beneficiary of the programme which allows communities to buy a share of their local sports clubs so they can have a bigger say in their running.
Getting your foot on the career ladder can be a challenging experience. Looking for the right role within the right organisation or sector is often competitive, uncertain and stressful.
The Scottish Government, councils and partners did well to increase early learning and childcare (ELC) provision to 1,140 hours a year per child, despite the challenge of the Covid-19 pandemic. But the sector remains fragile.
The Scottish Government is consulting on measures that will save businesses time and money by making it easier to install renewable energy equipment. Permitted Development Rights (PDR) grant permission for certain types of development through national legislation, meaning they can go ahead without a formal planning application.
A new national strategy to help cut violent crime further and reduce the harm it causes has been published. Backed by more than £2 million of Scottish Government investment this year, the Violence Prevention Framework is the first co-ordinated strategy for Scotland to tackle the issue.
Findings from the biggest listening exercise ever undertaken on Scottish education have been published. The National Discussion asked the public for their views and reached 38,000 people, including 26,000 pupils and students.
UK government debt prices have taken an unnerving journey south in the past few days. The closely watched ten-year bond has now hit a yield of 4.3%, taking it within a fraction of the level that caused a crisis in autumn 2022.
Wednesday, 31 May, saw the first deployment of a crane at Inverness Castle, which will be on-site to install structural steelwork and mechanical plant within the existing roof spaces of the former prison building, referred to as the North Tower. The crane was on site for one full day and will allow for the strengthening of the 175-year-old structure and the continued installation of new building services, which progresses internally.
Elon Musk doesn't like people working from home. A year ago he declared the end of remote work for employees at car maker Tesla.
A Highland Council project which aims to better support customers, who need supported the most, will now move to a second stage which includes focussing on the development of the Council's website with a £150,000 allocation of funding to appoint two dedicated web officers. The "My Council" programme is a review of the Council's customer contact experience, and part of this latest phase will prioritise the Council’s website and online customer offering over an 18-month period.
The Insolvency Service has issued a warning to investors and its customers regarding a recent increase in fraudulent activity. The Insolvency Service has issued a warning to investors and its customers regarding a recent increase in fraudulent activity, including recovery room scams, and fraudsters impersonating genuine Insolvency Service employees, in the form of emails, phone calls and letters.
Improving the lives of people with dementia is at the heart of a new 10 year strategy. The strategy, Everyone's Story, outlines a vision for dementia policy over the next decade and identifies a number of priorities which would improve the lives of people living with dementia, their families and carers.
