The minimum price per unit of alcohol will increase by 15 pence after the Scottish Parliament approved plans to continue with the public health measure. As part of a ‘sunset clause' when Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) legislation was introduced in 2018, it had been due to end on 30 April, however today's vote by MSPs ensures its continuation.
A friend of mine, on a recent trip to the gym, declined to use the machine for drying his trunks - that gym equivalent of a salad spinner which removes excess water from your swimming costume. His reason? The amount of "faecal excrement" it was likely to contain.
The Bank of England is determined to keep interest rates high, create a recession and keep unemployment high until inflation hits 2%. But no one knows why 2% is the right inflation target.
Pensioners in five Scottish local authorities will be the first in the country eligible for a new disability benefit, subject to parliamentary approval of regulations. From 21 October 2024, Pension Age Disability Payment - the replacement for Attendance Allowance - will be piloted in Argyll & Bute, Highland, Aberdeen City, Orkney and Shetland.
CPI inflation fell to 3.2 per cent in March - falling below the US inflation rate (CPI for All Urban Consumers) of 3.5 per cent for the first time since March 2022 (but still above the Eurozone rate of 2.4 per cent) – bringing an end to the UK's unwanted status as an outlier on inflation, the Resolution Foundation said on Wednesday in response to the latest ONS data. The latest fall was less than markets expected, but driven by a welcome fall in food inflation (down to 4 per cent, from 19.1 per cent last year).
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There are a number of new employment laws coming into effect this month that charities need to be aware of. Tracy Madgwick, lead HR consultant with Action Planning, rounds them up.
Changes in the prices of goods bought and sold by UK manufacturers including price indices of materials and fuels purchased (input prices) and factory gate prices (output prices). Also including quarterly estimates monitoring the changes in prices charged for services provided to UK-based customers for a range of industries.
New proposals to give consumers confidence to take up smart devices. Consultation part of wider action to modernise the energy system, proposals will reduce pressure on the electricity grid, support up to 24,000 jobs and save up to £50 billion new measures to help consumers benefit from the best energy deals via a smart, flexible electricity system to save money on bills strengthened protections will mean consumers can be confident their data will be handled securely and that they can access the best deals using any device.
The Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) has welcomed five new Highland members following the outcome of recent elections. Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYP) are elected every two years and become the voice of Scotland's young people.
The UK's wealthiest people get an average of more than £8,000 a year in total tax reliefs on their pension contributions - which is as much as some pensioners get from the state and vastly more than Universal Credit permits. Why do we have a tax system that so heavily subsidies the wealthy when so many live in poverty? ABOUT RICHARD MURPHY Richard Murphy is Professor of Accounting Practice at Sheffield University Management School.
The Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers' housing costs (CPIH) rose by 3.8% in the 12 months to March 2024, unchanged from February. On a monthly basis, CPIH rose by 0.6% in March 2024, compared with a rise of 0.7% in March 2023.
NHS Highland is seeking to recruit two independent members to the Highland Health and Social Care Committee. Gerry O'Brien, Chair of the committee, said: "The committee has a wide range of responsibilities for health and social care services across the Highland Council area and it is essential that we have the public's input to the decisions it makes.
Wick RNLI lifeboat the Roy Barker II was launched at 7:15pm on Sunday 14 April to go to the assistance of a round Britain rower. The rower had successfully passaged through the Pentland Firth and was making his way down the east coast towards Freswick when there was a change of wind direction which made getting around the headland against both wind and tide very difficult.
See poster 5 April to 28 September.
See poster.
18 years and ovr..
Thursday 25 April Friday 26 April Saturday 27 April 10.30am to 3.30pm each day.
See poster..
Come and join us for an afternoon of author talks! JD Kirk and Neil Lancaster will be talking about all things books and how they got to be where they are now. There will also be time to answer any questions you might have.
For beginners and music enthusiasts interested in exploring lyric writing and poetry, this workshop is an introduction to the basics of writing a song. Part 1 of a 4 part songwriting series, this workshop explores different techniques for putting pen to paper when writing a song.
Come and have a go at traditional printmaking with Katie Squires, use Katie's own pre made lino print stamps and blocks with colourful inks to make your own prints. ‘I am a self-taught printmaker based in Caithness.
A joint initiative between the Scottish Government and the Scottish Football Association is supporting low-income families. Launched by the First Minister with a £2million Scottish Government investment last year, the programme provides before-school, after-school and holiday activities for around 2,700 children each week.
Friday, 19th April 10 amâ2 pm. Saturday, 20th April 10 amâ2 pm.
Gates open to members of the public at 7.30am, the show normally runs until around 5pm. Friday 19th July â Equestrian Events from 10am and gates open at 4pm for the preview evening which normally runs to around 9pm..
Wick Gala Week 27 July to 3 August 2024. .
The Games is the premiere sporting event in the North of Scotland. The prize money of nearly £18,000 is one the best in Scotland and attracts the countryâs best amateur and professional competitors.
Another awesome free workshop for kids! This is going to be lots of fun! ðð If you have a budding artist in your home, book them on to come and have a go at some graffiti art at the Greenhouses gardens. ð» Places are limited - and booking is recommended early - as we think this is going to be popular.
We are inviting everyone who would like to learn how to grow their own food to grab this exciting opportunity! You will get a chance to learn from experienced growing experts, whilst helping the busy gardenersâ team at the Castle and Gardens of Mey with planting their vegetables. You will get pro tips on growing potatoes, leeks, cabbage, cauliflower, garlic, kale and other vegetables, specific to our climate and area! Booking is essential for this event.
"For the decades of pain that you have suffered, I offer today a sincere and heartfelt and unreserved apology. We were wrong." One year ago, on March 22 2023, the then first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, stood up at Holyrood and said sorry for the Scottish government's role in historic forced adoptions.
The newly relaunched Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) has announced a landmark collaboration with the renowned Edinburgh Festival Fringe which will open up the Film Festival programme in new venues across the city including non-traditional cinema spaces at Summerhall and the heart of the Fringe footprint. From August 15 to August 21 2024, the 77th edition of EIFF will see film embedded in the August festival ecosystem, allowing audiences to seamlessly experience the best of the Fringe along with the world-class programme of cinema at EIFF.
Gheibh na ceudan de dh'òigridh ann an coimhearsnachdan air feadh Alba cothrom a dhol an sàs ann am Fèisean a’ tachairt rè shaor-làithean na Càisge eadar Nis, Port Rìgh, Inbhir Nis, An t-Òban, Obar Dheathain agus Glaschu. Bidh iad a’ faighinn oideachadh luachmhor ann an ceòl traidiseanta, dràma, òrain Ghàidhlig, dannsa agus ealain bho luchd-teagaisg air leth comasach.
Chaidh ainmeachadh gun tèid 22mh Duaisean Ceòl Traidiseanta na h-Alba aig MG ALBA a chumail ann an Cathair-bhaile Inbhir Nis, a' toirt spionnadh mòr dhan eaconamaidh ionadail. Thug Mgr Thoumire, Stiùiriche Cruthachail Hands Up for Trad, seachad an deagh naidheachd do Bhuill aig Comataidh Gàidhlig na Comhairle.
Wick's Town and County Hospital's Garden took receipt of a replacement boat which was renovated and repaired by Wick Community Payback clients. The boat was donated to the hospital by Community Payback Supervisor Bob Miller and repaired and re-painted in the Community Payback workshop in Wick.
Caithness Voluntary Group has moved to a new home. Leaving Telford Street to go to Pulteney House.
Tuition in a variety of instruments : fiddle, guitar, chanter, drums and keyboard..
A chance to hear a discussion about rural health. Without a doubt, one of the most important discussions we will host in 2024.
UK artists will earn new royalties when their work is resold in Australia through the UK-Australia Free Trade Agreement. UK creative sector set for boost as new measures ensure British artists are paid fairly when their work is resold Down Under.
The Scottish Government is currently conducting a substantial review of permitted development rights (PDR) as part of its wider planning reform programme. The review is being taken forward on a phased basis, with each phase focusing on new and extended PDR for specific types of development.
As the number of adverts on digital platforms promoting illegal waste collection services hits an all-time high, Scotland's environmental regulator is tackling environmental criminality in the online world. The digital regulation pilot led by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has already identified that between 50 to 60% of businesses advertising on social media could be breaking the law by operating without holding the required waste carrier licence - and people handing over their waste may be contributing to flytipping and other waste crime.
The number of overdue invoices in Scotland reached a 16-month high in February, according to new research from R3, the UK's insolvency and restructuring trade body. R3's analysis of data provided by Creditsafe shows that business in Scotland had 428,824 unpaid invoices on their books last month - the highest monthly total since October 2022’s figure of 593,114.
Efforts are being made to find help for thousands of visually-impaired users of a charity that is being wound up. The board of Dingwall-based Sight Action Sensory Services says it is no longer viable due to funding cuts.
Residents joined local artists to celebrate completion of the community-led Wick Lanes Pocket Places project in the town this week. The project has seen the installation of a series of durable, long-lasting interventions in and around the lanes to bring life and colour back to the area.
Scotland's culture and creative sector will be helped to flourish on the world stage with the launch of Inspiring Connections: Scotland's International Culture Strategy 2024-30, according to Culture Secretary Angus Robertson. The strategy sets out the value of international activity to Scotland's culture and creative sector.
The Gaelic committee of Highland council met on 28th March 2024 and one of the papers for discussion was the Blas 2023 Festival Report. Cuts have already reduced the scale of the festival compared to previous years and future years will be no easier for the organisers unless it can become more commercial and run in the face of ever diminishing council and government funding.
Recently pupils and leaders from Step Forward Wick Youth had the opportunity to help out in our local community. Along with Wick Development Trust and The Countryside Rangers they managed to plant 300 trees along the Wick Riverside to help provide some woodland areas along the riverside, giving the local wildlife shelter and a food source too.
Orbex, the only UK owned orbital launch services and rocket manufacturing company, has successfully patented its REFLIGHT reusable rocket technology following patent approval in several European markets as well as the United States. This protection was based on the patent grant by the European Patent Office.
A new high-quality toilet facility to help alleviate pressures at Gairloch has now opened. The project was brought to fruition by a community partnership driven by Gairloch Area Development Ltd, supported by The Highland Council and Visit Scotland.
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