News Archive

9/10/2023

Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill

Throughout the development of the Bill, the Scottish Government has gathered evidence from several sources, including Police Scotland, Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, pro-choice campaign groups, organisations that participate in anti-abortion activity, faith groups, and patient testimonials.   Alongside consultation analysis, the evidence gathered demonstrates that anti-abortion activities can have a significant negative impact on the wellbeing of those who experience anti-abortion activities while attempting to access or provide those services.  

9/10/2023

First Ever Hackathon In Education To Explore AI In England

Teachers and school leaders from across England are set to participate in an artificial intelligence (AI) hackathon as part a two-day event to experiment with technology and identify how AI could supercharge education.   Artificial intelligence is already having an impact on society, helping to grow the economy and deliver better public services.  

8/10/2023 : Libraries, Museums & Galleries

 
Families Were Crammed Together 'Like Herring In A Barrel' During Wick Fishing Boom

Wick's herring-fishing boom is considered to have been a time of great prosperity for the town - but those living in unsanitary conditions in the streets around the harbour faced a daily struggle with poverty, overcrowding and disease.   The hardships endured by families crammed "cheek by jowl" in the Lower Pulteneytown area have been highlighted by Caithness poet and playwright George Gunn in a new recording for Wick Voices, the oral history section of the Wick Society.  

8/10/2023

Scotrail Warns Of Ongoing Disruption - Update At 1.00pm Sunday

ScotRail is warning customers that services will remain disrupted through Sunday following extreme rainfall across much of Scotland, as flooding remains and the cleanup operation continues.   Repair works and safety inspections are underway across Scotland after some areas saw up to a month's worth of rain in a 24-hour period resulting in heavy flooding across much of the rail network.  

8/10/2023

We Should Not Focus On Public Sector Net Worth As A Fiscal Target

Ben Zaranko, Senior Research Economist considers the case for and against a fiscal target for public sector net worth.   There have been numerous calls for the UK to adapt its fiscal rules to place greater weight on improving public sector net worth, a measure that aims to summarise both sides of the government balance sheet: its assets (financial and non-financial) as well as its liabilities.  

8/10/2023

 
Space Sustainability - The Risk To Satellites In Orbit

Find answers to questions about space junk, the risk to satellites in orbit, and how space sustainability can help, as well as the UK Space Agency's work to address these issues.   Space plays an increasingly crucial role in our daily lives, and the issue of space debris looms large on the horizon.  

8/10/2023

 
Scottish Income Tax HMRC Annual Report 2023

The Scotland Act 2016 provides the Scottish Parliament with Scottish Income Tax (SIT) powers.  It enables the Scottish Parliament to set the Income Tax rates and thresholds that apply to the non-savings and non-dividend income of Scottish taxpayers.  

8/10/2023

 
UK Reinforcements Arrive In Kosovo For Nato Peacekeeping Mission

The first British soldiers of a two hundred-strong deployment arrived in Kosovo today to reinforce NATO's Kosovo Force (KFOR).   The first British soldiers of a two hundred-strong deployment arrived in Pristina today to reinforce NATO's Kosovo Force (KFOR) peacekeeping mission.  

7/10/2023

 
The Sycamore Gap - Four Other Significant Tree Destructions From History

The felling of a single sycamore tree prompted an outpouring of grief last week.  The tree - known as the Sycamore Gap - had been an iconic landmark and its location, Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland, is a protected Unesco world heritage site.  

7/10/2023

Britain's Record Tax Rise On Incomes Is Set To Raise £40 Billion A Year By The Middle Of The Next Parliament

A higher outlook for inflation since the Budget last March means that the Government's six-year freeze to Income Tax and National Insurance thresholds is set to raise £40 billion a year by the time it is fully rolled out in 2027-28, making it Britain's biggest tax rise on incomes in at least 50 years, new analysis from the Resolution Foundation showed on Friday 6 October 2023.   A four-year freeze in personal tax thresholds - the Personal Tax Allowance and Higher Rate Thresholds for Income Tax - was first announced in Budget 2021.  

7/10/2023

Disruption To Scotrail Services Due To Amber Weather Warning For Saturday 7 October

ScotRail is warning customers that there will be significant disruption to services following an amber weather warning by the Met Office for heavy rain for parts of Scotland, with up to 180mm of rainfall forecast in many areas tomorrow (Saturday, 7 October), including the Highlands and central Scotland, and in the Glasgow, Perth, and Stirling areas.   As a result, ScotRail services will be suspended on the following routes from 01:00 tomorrow until Sunday morning: West Highland line from Oban, Mallaig and Fort William.  

7/10/2023

Scotrail: Services To End Early Tonight 7 October And More Disruption On Sunday 8 October

ScotRail services remain disrupted and will stop operating earlier than planned tonight following extreme rainfall across much of Scotland.   The rail operator is also warning customers to expect significant disruption tomorrow (Sunday, 8 October).  

7/10/2023

More Businesses Encouraged To Use 5G Service

The Scotland 5G Centre (S5GC) a Scottish Government initiative, offers the region a new, free 5G Innovation Testbed service, hosted by the Highlands and Islands Enterprise's (HIE) Digital Demonstration Centre in Inverness.   S5GC's advice and its pop-up networks (provided by a range of technical partners including Celona, Attocore and Athonet) are available to organisations looking to explore how 5G solutions can significantly improve their business.  

7/10/2023

Full Expensing And The Corporation Tax Base

A report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies discusses the temporary full-expensing policy and whether it should be made a permanent part of the corporate tax base.   Economic growth is not well served by subsidising unproductive investments that would be unviable in the absence of tax.  

6/10/2023

 
Second 2023 To 2024 Cost Of Living Payment Dates

Millions of households across the UK will receive £300 directly from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) between 31 October and 19 November.   Millions of households to receive £300 from DWP between 31 October and 19 November 2023.  

6/10/2023

 
Why Did Lehman Brothers Fail? - 15th Anniversary - Should We Rally Care?

In the wake of recent bank failures in Switzerland and the United States, a retrospective on the 2008 fall of Lehman Brothers is timely.  To avoid another banking collapse, it's worth looking at what caused Lehman to fail and trigger the most severe financial crisis in history.  

6/10/2023

Emissions Scheme To Reduce Sale Of Carbon Allowances On Path To Net Zero

Tighter emission limits for industries under the UK Emissions Trading Scheme, as the 2024 carbon allowance auction calendar is published.   Power, aviation and energy-intensive industries given incentive to cut emissions.  

6/10/2023 : Auctioneers

Dingwall and Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 6 October 2023

DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (October 6th) sold 184 rams at its Annual Show and Sale of Blackface Rams kindly sponsored by HBS Ring Limited and PK Nutrition ably judged by Mr D.  Walton, Wamwood Hill.  

6/10/2023

Government Launches Intervention At Birmingham City Council

Five-year intervention launched at Birmingham City Council to fix serious problems.   Five-year intervention launched at Birmingham City Council to fix serious problems, Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove confirms Commissioners appointed to help return council to sustainable financial footing along with new political advisors.  

6/10/2023 : Local Authority

 
Council Look To External Funders To Help Tackle Fuel Poverty & Meet Energy Efficient Home Standards

Highland Council has been investigating ways in which it can harness external funding to help meet its statutory obligations around energy efficient social housing and at the same time tackle fuel poverty.   Members at yesterday's (5 October 2023) Climate Change Committee were asked to note opportunities to expand Energy Company Obligation funding to Council housing stock.