News Archive

25/7/2020

 
Ride Free: New Online Motorcycle Training To Improve Road Safety

Ride Free is a free online training course that you should complete before taking your moped or motorcycle compulsory basic training (CBT).   The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has announced the launch of Ride Free - a free online training course that moped and motorcycle riders should complete before taking their https://www.gov.uk/motorcycle-cbt CBT course.  

25/7/2020

 
Scotland's Natural Economy Valued At Over £29 Billion Per Annum

A new report has defined and detailed for the first time the value of the ‘natural economy' to Scotland's overall economic output, finding it represents more than a fifth of the nation's economy.   The natural economy is defined as comprising six sub-sectors that either directly use, rely or contribute to conserving natural resources, namely: tourism, food and drink, fishing and aquaculture, agriculture, energy (including renewables), and forestry, logging and manufacture of wood.  

25/7/2020

Highland Council Calls On New Parents To Register Lockdown Births

From 29th June, Highland Council Registration Offices resumed birth registration.   As birth registrations were suspended since late March, The Highland Council's Registrars are now working through a backlog and it is important that they register births in date order wherever possible.  

25/7/2020

Her Majestys Passport Office Update On Passport Applications

Immediate changes to help those who urgently require a passport to travel.   The necessary public health measures taken to suppress the spread of COVID-19 have had an impact on provision of passport services.  

25/7/2020

Vital Support For Museums And Galleries -new Fund To Launch

A new funding stream for the independent museums sector to help bolster resilience following the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has been announced by Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop.   The £4 million Museums Resilience and Recovery Fund will provide support for Scotland's museums and galleries and will be administered by Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS).  

25/7/2020

Excess Weight Can Increase Risk Of Serious Illness And Death From Covid-19

Supporting people to move towards and maintain a healthier weight may reduce the serious effects of COVID-19 on the population, PHE report finds.   Being obese or excessively overweight increases the risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19, a new Public Health England (PHE) report confirms.  

25/7/2020

Quarantine Rules Lifted For Five Countries

Public health measures lifted for more travellers.   Travellers from an additional five countries will no longer need to quarantine for 14 days on arrival in Scotland.  

24/7/2020

Retail Sales Claw Back To Normal Levels, But Online Snatches Over 30%

Today's ONS retail statistics for June show retail sales up 1.5% YOY - but ParcelHero warns stores not to celebrate yet: 31.8% of those sales were made online.   The Office of National Statistics (ONS) retail sales figures for June showed sales soared by over 13% compared to May, to reach near-normal levels.  

24/7/2020

More Materials To Be Accepted At Household Waste Recycling Centres

The Highland Council announced on Thursday 23 July 2020 additional materials will start to be accepted at many of the Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC) across the region and some opening times extended as part of the planned phased reopening.   Wood and scrap metal have now been added to the range of items that are accepted at the majority of facilities where the layout and size of the site allows.  

24/7/2020

Tax Credits Deadline: Customers At Risk Of Losing Out

People whose circumstances have changed in the last year or who have received a letter to reconfirm their income details must contact HMRC before 31 July 2020.   Tax credits customers have just one week left to tell HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) about changes to their circumstances or income before the deadline on 31 July 2020.  

23/7/2020

Don't get petfished: vets And celebrities lead public warnings Against cruel And Opportunist Lockdown Pet Sellers 

Prospective puppy and kitten owners warned of risks of being ‘Petfished' when buying a pet online following lockdown demand surge.   Vets, charities and animal-loving celebrities have joined forces with a government campaign to warn against unknowingly buying puppies, kittens, cats and dogs from unscrupulous sellers amid a rise in demand for pets since lockdown.  

23/7/2020

 
£50million Additional Funding For 850 More Teachers In Scotland

Funding of £50 million will be ring-fenced for the recruitment of approximately 850 extra teachers and around 200 additional support staff as local authorities plan for the re-opening of schools.   Addressing Parliament, Education Secretary John Swinney also pledged that £20 million will be allocated to help councils with additional costs associated with new health protection measures, school transport, enhanced cleaning and other essential logistical issues.  

23/7/2020

Shielding To Be Paused In Scotland

People who have been advised to shield because of Covid-19, will no longer have to do so from 1 August.   Those affected will receive a letter from the Chief Medical Officer Dr Gregor Smith outlining updated guidance as well as the pause in shielding, which is possible due to the continuing low levels of Covid-19 infection in Scotland.  

22/7/2020

Budget Deficit Reaches £128 Billion In Just Three Months

From the Office For Budget Responsibility.   The budget deficit continues to rise sharply.  

22/7/2020

Why Sending A Small Parcel To The Usa Could Now Cost An Epacket

President Trump picked an international fight over cheap e-commerce imports into the USA last year.  For some companies using the US Postal Service for final delivery, this means the cost has gone up by over 100%.  

21/7/2020

 
Overdraft Changes 2020: What Fees Are Going Up? It May Be Time To Stop Or Reduce Using An Overdraft

Last year the FCA announced that overdraft fee regulations would change in April 2020.  Complex overdraft fees and the variance of fee structure amongst banks made it difficult for consumers to calculate the true cost of an overdraft and compare offers.  

21/7/2020

 
Why Sending A Small Parcel To The Usa Could Now Cost An Epacket

President Trump picked an international fight over cheap e-commerce imports into the USA last year.  For some companies using the US Postal Service for final delivery, this means the cost has gone up by over 100%.  

21/7/2020

Up To £10 Billion Of The Chancellor's plan For Jobs Will Be Funded By Underspends On Previously Planned Projects

David Phillips writing for the Institute for Fiscal Studies.   The UK Government is spending big on supporting public services and the economy through the COVID-19 recovery and beyond.  

21/7/2020

£17bn Pensions Blunder Illustrates The Cost Of Political Incompetence

Among the tens and hundreds of billions of pounds the government has been spending to support the economy in the midst of the current crisis, you might have missed the odd £17 billion that it is planning to shell out to rectify a major cock-up.  This particular cock-up relates to reforms to the pensions provided to public sector employees.  

20/7/2020

More Mental Health Support For Health And Social Care Staff

New helpline will provide round the clock service.   All health and social care workers in Scotland will now have access to mental health support 24 hours a day, seven days a week through a new national helpline.