How the relationship between UK public sector monthly income and expenditure leads to changes in deficit and debt. Public sector net borrowing (PSNB ex) in April 2023 was £25.6 billion, £11.9 billion more than in April 2022 and the second-highest April borrowing since monthly records began in 1993, with the growth in receipts being exceeded by the additional costs of the energy support schemes, increases in benefit payments and higher debt interest payable.
Scotland's increasingly valuable rural land is only available to a limited few as high demand from forestry, natural capital investment, and corporate estate buyers continues to drive high prices, according to a new report by the Scottish Land Commission. The Rural Land Market Insights Report 2023 underlines the need for action to ensure that communities, family farms, local businesses, and individuals are not priced out of the rural land market due to sustained high land prices driven by large-scale forestry and natural capital investments.
A report published by Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce points up worries that investment is now moving to other parts of the world. Government needs to urgently create the conditions which will encourage investment in the energy sector or risk Aberdeen losing its global energy capital status, according to a new report.
New report sets out how integrating data, science and innovation can help make better use of UK land. New Geospatial Commission report recommends establishment of new Land Use Analysis Taskforce.
The Tenant Farming Commissioner, Bob McIntosh, explores upcoming changes to the standards for agricultural housing in his latest blog. Scottish Ministers have clearly signalled that they would like a whole-sector approach to standards for rented housing - aligning not only the private and social rented sectors but also housing included in farm tenancies.
The government is definitely worried about what the immigration figures will say when released tomorrow. This release of actions regarding international students smacks of the horse already bolted.
Around 100 marines from 45 Commando conducted an exercise to stage an amphibious raid at a beach in Estonia, as part of a major NATO exercise. Members of 45 Commando deployed from the Royal Navy amphibious assault ship, HMS Albion, under the cover of darkness on Saturday.
UK to host 92nd Interpol General Assembly from 4 to 7 November 2024 at the Scottish Event Campus in Glasgow. Glasgow will host the 92nd Interpol General Assembly from 4 to 7 November 2024 at the Scottish Event Campus previously used as the location for COP 26, the UN Climate Change Conference.
NatWest is a step closer to being returned to full private ownership as the government sells c. £1.26billion in shares back to NatWest via a Directed Buyback. Government sells c.
Plans to strip out retained EU red tape to give our wine industry the freedom to flourish. Wine producers and importers will be freed from unnecessary red tape thanks to proposed changes to retained EU laws on the production and marketing of wine, providing a £180m boost to our wine industry, opening the market to new products, and growing the economy.
Key threats and challenges to European security was the focus of meeting of ministers from 12 European countries today (22 May 2023). Ministers and representatives from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden and the UK met in Warsaw, Poland today for the Northern Group Ministers meeting.
Junior doctors across Scotland have been offered a 14.5% pay uplift over the two year period 2022-24, following negotiations with BMA Scotland. What are junior doctors' pay demands? The BMA is asking for a 35 per cent pay rise.
Cornwall Insight has announced its final forecast for the Q3 2023 Default Tariff Cap (price cap) following the closure of the observation window1 on 18 May. Based on our analysis, we predict the cap for a typical household2 to be £2,053 equivalent per year for the period July to September 2023 inclusive.
There has been shock around the world at the rapid rate of progress with ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence created with what's known as large language models (LLMs). These systems can produce text that seems to display thought, understanding and even creativity.
The pandemic forced many educational institutions to move to online learning. Could the rise of chatbots, including OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Bard, now further improve the accessibility of learning and make education more obtainable for everyone? Chatbots are computer programmes that use artificial intelligence to simulate conversation with human users.
Cost-saving measures are key in today's economic climate. But they can also have a positive impact on minimising your environmental footprint.
A new satellite that uses advanced UK technology to switch coverage between different places on Earth up to 1,000 times per second has launched into space. Nicknamed "JoeySat" (after a baby kangaroo) for its ability to beam-hop, the satellite will help improve broadband internet connectivity from space by adapting rapidly to changing demand from users, supporting OneWeb's next generation satellite constellation in low Earth orbit.
AI has the potential to assist rural communities in a variety of ways. For example, it can help farmers with predictive analytics for crop yields, weather predictions, and pest control.
The Leader of The Highland Council Cllr Raymond Bremner has highlighted important investment opportunities of the area during the UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum which was held in Leeds from 16 - 18 May 2023. The event brought together over 7,500 national and international investors, developers and contractors.
Prime Minister Sunak has redoubled the UK's commitment to mobilising billions in finance to help get the Sustainable Development Goals back on track. British Investment Partnerships to mobilise $40 billion by the end of 2027 for global infrastructure and economic development.
