We set out issues with the inheritance tax system and examine options for reform and the distributional impacts of reforming or abolishing the tax. Inheritance tax is arguably the UK's most disliked tax.
The Scottish Government no longer expects to have enough money to deliver all its planned £26 billion investment in public sector infrastructure. Growing the economy and delivering high quality public services relies on infrastructure like roads, railways, hospitals and other buildings.
Latest report from the Office for Budget Responsibility. Borrowing in the first five months of 2023-24 totalled £69.6 billion, £19.3 billion above the same period last year but £11.3 billion below the monthly profile consistent with our March forecast.
The Defence Secretary Grant Shapps met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his counterpart Rustem Umerov and promised further military support from the UK. The UK will continue to support Ukraine to defend its sovereign territory, the Defence Secretary vowed during a meeting in Kyiv with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The UK is considered one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. This is not surprising given its history of early industrialisation and agricultural intensification.
Since 2010, Chancellors have not responded symmetrically to good and bad economic news. Since 2010, when the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has presented the government with a windfall - i.e.
Questioning why higher death rates in the vaccinated are higher than unvaccinated. The results are unexpected.
A new strategy will help Ukrainians living in Scotland to settle into communities and gain longer term housing. Developed by the Scottish Government in collaboration with the Scottish Refugee Council and COSLA, the Warm Scots Future paper sets out priorities for the next phase of Scotland's Ukraine response to support those fleeing the conflict to rebuild their lives here.
Project is one of four major bids in Scotland receiving total of £1m from UK Government's Community Ownership Fund. A new aerospace discovery centre is one of four Scottish projects set to receive thousands in government funding following a successful bidding round.
Moneyfacts UK Unsecured Lending Trends Treasury Report data, which studies the UK personal finance market (Credit Cards, Personal Loans and Overdrafts), reveals the cost to borrow on credit cards and unsecured loans has risen during Q3 2023. Between the start of June and the start of September 2023 (Q3 2023), the average purchase APR (which includes card fees) rose to an all-time high of 31.8% APR, according to our records, which go back to June 2006.
Organisations that support victims of crime will be able to bid for support from a fund financed by penalties imposed on all offenders who receive a court fine. Successful applicants will be able to use their share of the £350,000 Victim Surcharge Fund, which is now in its fourth year, to provide direct, practical help to victims.
Scotland's onshore GDP grew by 0.1% in July, according to statistics announced by the Chief Statistician. This follows 0.0% growth in June 2023.
An independent review is recommending wider regulation of social care staff to better protect and help people receiving social care and support. The Independent Review of Inspection, Scrutiny and Regulation in Scotland makes 38 recommendations including updating legislation, Health and Social Care Standards and the powers of intervention and enforcement that regulatory bodies have.
Life expectancy in Scotland was 76.5 years for males and 80.7 years for females in the years 2020-2022, according to new provisional figures released by National Records of Scotland. Figures show life expectancy was highest in East Renfrewshire for females and East Dunbartonshire for males, and lowest in Glasgow city for both males and females in the years 2020-2022.
Following a successful on-line briefing session, The Highland Council is reminding businesses that there is still time to apply for funding to develop their green skills. At the start of September The Highland Council, with support from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, launched the Highland Skills Challenge Fund to support businesses with the costs of green skills training for their workforce.
The deal is set to boost pandemic preparedness against influenza. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has agreed a deal for millions of life-saving vaccines to be produced in the UK if a future influenza pandemic is ever declared.
How have employment, earnings and incomes performed in Scotland compared with the rest of the UK? What drives geographic inequalities within Scotland?. Reductions in poverty - particularly among children - and inequalities in incomes and opportunities across people and places are key aims of the Scottish Government's National Strategy for Economic Transformation.
With so many of us running on empty, it has never been more important to put the brakes on excessive stress and restore some balance into our lives. Melissa Day, Talking Therapist & Suicide First Aid Tutor at Niroshini 360, outlines eight steps to take if you feel that you're on the verge of an emotional or mental break down.
Town Centre everywhere are suffering decline. This article look sat what is happening in American cities but it all to easy to see the parallels with us in Scotland and the rest of the UK.
More than 38,000 payments have been paid to families to help with the costs of early learning and starting school. Families who qualify for Scottish Child Payment are now automatically awarded Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment and School Age Payment when their child becomes eligible, without them having to apply separately.