News Archive

Unlocking The Potential Of Quantum: £45 Million Investment To Drive Breakthroughs In Brain Scanners, Navigation Systems, And Quantum Computing

The government is today investing a total of £45 million in the UK's quantum sector.  It comes as part of its commitment to transforming into a quantum-enabled economy by 2033 - seizing this technology's potential to overhaul healthcare, energy, transport and more.  

New Guidance To Enhance E-bike And E-scooter Safety

information issued for users, owners and transport operators guidance designed to ensure public safety and mitigate fire risk Information around how to safely purchase, charge and use e-bikes and e-scooters has been published by the government today (1 February 2024) to improve consumer safety.   Following extensive consultation with industry, guidance on battery safety for both e-scooters and e-bikes will raise awareness for owners on how to safely purchase an e-cycle or e-scooter.  

Nature Recovery To Be Accelerated As The Government Delivers On Measures To Protect Land And Sea

One year on since the publication of the Environmental Improvement Plan, the government launches new measures to halt and reverse nature's decline.   Puffins, porpoises, and pine martens are just some of the species set to benefit from new measures set out by the Government today (31 January) to boost nature recovery on land and at sea.  

Cyberflashing, Epilepsy-trolling And Fake News To Put Online Abusers Behind Bars From Today

New offences have been introduced to criminalise cyberflashing, fake news intended to cause non-trivial harm and other online abuse.   New offences introduced to criminalise cyberflashing, fake news intended to cause non-trivial harm and other online abuse.  

Sutherland Area Committee Admits Sutherland Roads Will Deteriorate Further As Budget Cannot Meet Needs

The Sutherland area committee at it meeting on 23 January admitted the roads funding would not meet requirements to keep up even the poor standard already in place.   The capital budget for 2023/24 benefitted from an additional funding allocation, the previous baseline allocation of £7.2m was increased to £20m, however, this increase is not anticipated for the 2024/25 capital budget allocation.  

Anti-drone No Fly Zones To Combat Prison Smuggling

Criminal gangs who try to fly phones, drugs and weapons into prisons using drones face finding themselves there instead under tough new restrictions coming into force on 25 January 2024.   New 400m drone ‘no-fly zones' around prisons come into force Ten-year maximum prison sentence for criminals who breach restrictions.  

Great British Nuclear Supports Leadership Role Gender Balance Initiative

Great British Nuclear (GBN) has signed up to support a ground-breaking scheme to give senior board level opportunities within the nuclear industry to women.   GBN is partnering Women in Nuclear UK's (WiN) scheme to create and match senior leadership roles for women at boardroom level, providing the experience needed to equip them for future director and Board roles.  

Community Regeneration Funding Awarded To Sutherland Organisations

A number of applications for community projects in Sutherland were awarded funding totalling £528.5K from the area's Community Regeneration Fund.   Community Regeneration Funding is an umbrella term for a number of funds that are available for communities/organisations to access in Highland.  

Roads Capital Programme Approved For Sutherland 2024/25

Members of the Sutherland Committee agreed a list of proposed prioritised roadworks which will be funded out of the Capital Budget allocation for 2024/25.   The local allocations capital budget for 2024/25 remains to be established which will be calculated from the approved capital budget allocation.  

Average Hours Worked And Economic Growth, UK - 1998 To 2022

Analysis of the longer-term trends in average hours worked in the UK, more recent changes since the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and the impact on economic growth.   Between 1998 and 2022, average weekly hours worked in the labour market fell by 1.3 hours, reflecting a significant fall for men aged 25 to 49 years who are full-time, and increases in women's hours worked have been insufficient to offset this; average hours have also fallen because of compositional changes in the labour market, with more women and older workers present.