2020 has not been the easiest of years and, for many people, saving has been the last thing on their minds - but there's never been a more prudent time to think about putting money aside for a rainy day. Or a global pandemic.
Highlands and Islands MSP, Rhoda Grant, is becoming increasing frustrated at the lack of transparency on the future of Migdale Hospital's Strathy ward in Bonar Bridge. When the Sutherland hospital opened in 2011 it had 22 beds with two units - the Strathy ward, for older people with mental health problems, and another offering a range of in-patient services, such as palliative care, general medicine and rehabilitation services.
The Scottish Government is leading a global push to ensure action is taken at all levels to protect biodiversity. A statement of intent, known as The Edinburgh Declaration, has been agreed between subnational, regional and local governments across the world and calls on the Convention on Biodiversity to take bold action to halt biodiversity loss.
The Scottish Government will lay legislation to enable delivery of the new Child Winter Heating Assistance later today. This is the first disability benefit to be introduced using new social security powers.
Education specialists from across the North-east, North and West of Scotland are to deliver a week-long series of digital professional learning events for teachers and practitioners from the end of September as part of a drive to increase awareness about child poverty in Scotland and the impact this has on learning. Led by the Northern Alliance (Regional lmprovement Collaborative for the area's eight local authorities) in collaboration with Education Scotland, Promoting Equity Week will run from Monday 28 September and will help schools across the region consider the barriers faced by young people living in poverty and investigate the pressures the pandemic has had on vulnerable and disadvantaged children.
Review of the Scottish tech ecosystem by Mark Logan, commissioned by the Scottish Government, with recommendations on how to develop a world-class tech sector. In May 2020, Cabinet Secretary of Finance Kate Forbes asked Mark Logan, tech entrepreneur and former Skyscanner COO, to conduct a short-life review into how Scotland's tech sector can contribute to Scotland's economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic.
From the Institute for Fiscal Studies - Authors Rowena and Crawford and Carl Emmerson. From tomorrow (1st September), the first 18-year-olds will be able to access Child Trust Funds (CTFs) set up over a decade ago by Tony Blair's Labour government.
Article published by the Institute for Fiscal Studies on 26 August 2020 - Author David Phillips. Summary Today's Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) figures show Scotland's implicit budget deficit increasing to 8.6% of GDP in 2019-20, around 6 percentage points higher than the UK as a whole, largely reflecting higher government spending.
Plans to establish a vertical launch site for satellites in the north of Scotland have taken another step forward. Development agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is applying to the Scottish Land Court for consent to build, operate and, ultimately, decommission Space Hub Sutherland on a crofting estate on the A'Mhoine peninsula.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will publish a Programme for Government next week focused on dealing with the economic, health, and social crisis caused by coronavirus (COVID-19). Protecting public health will remain the priority, and the Scottish Government will also set out plans to help people, businesses and communities recover from the pandemic by creating new jobs, promoting lifelong health and wellbeing and tackling inequalities.
The aquaculture industry contributes to the long-term viability of many communities, according to a new report. Commissioned by Marine Scotland, the report found the sector provides year-round, well-paid jobs and supports economic growth in rural, coastal and island areas.
£2.4 million of new funding to help households with money problems. More people will be able to benefit from free debt advice following investment from the Scottish Government.
The Highland confirms that its actions on the provision of Early Learning Childcare (ELC) provision are in line with Scottish Government Guidance and directions issued. With implications of COVID-19 the Scottish Government chose - following a Scottish Parliament decision - to remove the Statutory Duty for provision of 1140 hours from August 2020.
Caithness Chamber of Commerce's new Test and Protect service, #ProtectNorthHighlands, goes live today (26 August) across Caithness and Sutherland. Offering a simple, secure way for businesses to store customer data in line with Scottish Government's requirements for Test and Protect, the service is free to all businesses across the region thanks to the generous support of Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
People on low incomes who need to self-isolate and are unable to work from home in areas with high incidence of COVID-19 will benefit from a new payment scheme. Government to implement new payment for people on low incomes in areas with high rates of COVID-19, who need to self-isolate and can't work from home.
SCOTS YOUNGSTERS SECURE FUNDING FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND POVERTY EFFORTS. Secondary students have raised vital funds and awareness for charities in their communities addressing a range of social issues.
Highland Council has revealed new branding for its Comfort Scheme which its hoped will help people identify premises that have opened their toilets for public use. The Comfort Scheme also includes premises where a community has taken charge of ex-Council toilets for the public to use.
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, has discovered that in some remote areas of the region home-testing kits for Covid-19 are unviable due to the amount of time taken to get them to the laboratory. Moreover, there is a question mark over what is happening to mobile testing units in Highland locations after the end of August.
Changes to rules about previous criminal convictions which people need to disclose to prospective employers will take effect this year. The reforms will, from 30 November, reduce the length of time that many convictions need to be disclosed by most job applicants, or in other instances such as when applying for insurance.
NHS Highland is delighted to announce the appointment of Pam Dudek as its new Chief Executive. Professor Boyd Robertson, Chair of NHS Highland said: "Pam was chosen from a strong field of experienced executive leaders from across the UK and beyond.
