Peter Murrell charged with embezzlement

19 April 2024
Peter Murrell charged with embezzlement
Nicola Sturgeon's husband Peter Murrell has been charged with embezzlement in an investigation into SNP finances.
He was re-arrested yesterday in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party and charged later in the day.
BBC Scotland has reported that he has resigned his SNP membership.
He resigned as chief executive of the SNP last year.
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Scotland changes net zero measures

19 April 2024
Scotland changes net zero measures
The Scottish Government has announced a new suite of climate action measures aimed at tackling climate change.
Measures include increasing the number of electric vehicle chargers and an integrated ticketing system which can be used across all public transport.
There will be a new carbon tax on large estates to incentivise peatland restoration and tree planting and renewable energy generation will be consulted on.
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New Scottish disability benefit for pensioners

18 April 2024
New Scottish disability benefit for pensioners
Pensioners in five Scottish local authorities will be the first to be eligible for a new disability benefit (subject to parliamentary approval of regulations).
From 21 October, Pension Age Disability Payment will be piloted in Argyll & Bute, Highland, Aberdeen City, Orkney and Shetland. The new benefit is a replacement for Attendance Allowance.
It will then become available in 13 more local authority areas on 24 March 2025 before becoming available across Scotland by 22 April 2025.
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A piggy bank with coins falling in it.

Results in from Welsh digital deposit return scheme

18 April 2024
Results in from Welsh digital deposit return scheme
Residents and visitors to Brecon in Wales recently took part in the world's first full-town digital deposit return scheme.
The results from the DDRS Scan|Recycle|Reward trial are now in and show high levels of engagement. 18,794 rewards were claimed, the equivalent of more than four per household.
The trial was led by DDRS Alliance with support from Welsh Government, Powys County Council, WRAP’s Collaborative Change Programme and local retailers.
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Government funding for innovative transport projects

17 April 2024
Government funding for innovative transport projects
Applications have opened for a £1.3 million competition to 'transform the transport sector, grow the economy and inspire innovation'.
The latest round of the Transport Research and Innovation Grant (TRIG) is now open and organisations and academics are able to win up to £45,000 in funding.
The TRIG scheme is delivered by Connected Places Catapult and aims to support businesses and academics working on innovative ideas in the early stages of their research and at the same time, improve transport across the country and support skilled UK jobs.
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Funding made available for Scottish social care

16 April 2024
Funding made available for Scottish social care
The Scottish Government has announced that more than £9 million will be made available over the next three years to support social care.
The funding will be used to give people who access social care more choice and control over decisions relating to their care.
The money will build on an additional £2 billion investment in social care and integration, as part of the Scottish Budget for 2024-25.
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All Scottish local authorities freeze council tax

16 April 2024
All Scottish local authorities freeze council tax
Council tax will be frozen across all of Scotland after Argyll & Bute became the final council to accept Scottish Government funding to keep rates at last year’s levels.
This means people in all but one of Scotland's council areas will not pay any more council tax than in 2023-24. Those in Inverclyde will receive a planned one-off rebate in May to reverse the impact of their 8.2 per cent increase in council tax.
The Scottish Government has allocated £147 million for local authorities who agreed a council tax freeze.
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Crown Commercial Service celebrates 10th anniversary

16 April 2024
Crown Commercial Service celebrates 10th anniversary
Crown Commercial Service has announced that it has saved over £3.8 billion of taxpayer money over the last year, as the organisation celebrates its tenth anniversary.
More than 21,000 public sector organisations are now supported by CCS, including schools, hospitals and prisons.
Over the last decade, 10,000 suppliers have been brought onto agreements - 7,500 of them are SMEs.
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AI and misinformation

15 April 2024
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Professor Harith Alani, director of the Knowledge Management Institute at the Open University explains how AI can be used for good and bad.