Category: News & Trending

VisitScotland has today (22 March) announced a responsible tourism campaign to raise awareness of the importance of exploring the outdoors responsibly with the focus on asking people to leave no trace of their visit and protect Scotland’s stunning countryside.  The £124,000 campaign, which looks to counteract some of the issues seen as a result of...

Dr Julian Lewis MP asked, with reference to the Written Statement of 8 March 2021 on Strengthening Police Powers to Tackle Unauthorised Encampments, HCWS826, what criteria the courts will be required to apply to determine whether the (a) damage, (b) disruption and (c) distress which a person (i) has or (ii) is deemed likely to...

Conor Murphy, the Minister of Finance in the Northern Ireland Assembly, has made a statement update the House on further schemes that his Department will deliver to provide financial support to businesses that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Executive has now agreed to a number of support schemes, which “will be implemented rapidly to make...

The Welsh Government has announced a relaxation of lockdown, with stay-local guidance replacing “stay home”. Non-essential shops remain closed until 12 April, although garden centres can reopen from 22 March. First Minister Mark Drakeford also said self-contained accommodation would be allowed to reopen from 27 March, as long as cases remained low, thus providing a...

Rapid coronavirus testing kits are being rolled out to employers in four key sectors in Northern Ireland (NI). They will be made available to those working in agri-food, manufacturing, essential retail and construction. The tests will give results within half an hour, said the Department of Health.

£20m fund Ending the sale of petrol and diesel cars Secretary of State Grant Shapps has announced a fund to help make innovation ideas towards zero-emission vehicles a reality. “The government is launching a research and development competition, open to some of the most promising electric vehicle technology innovations. This could include zero emission emergency vehicles,...

Workplace testing is now available to all businesses, including those with fewer than 50 employees/ Business encouraged to register interest by 31 March to access free workplace testing Regular testing will be “a vital part of the government’s roadmap to cautiously ease restrictions” Businesses of all sizes, including those with fewer than 50 employees, can...

The Budget on 3 March contained an announcement regarding an increase in corporation tax on company profits to 25% from April 2023.  The small profits rate is maintained at the current level of 19% – around 70 percent of companies will be completely unaffected.  There will be a taper above £50,000, so only businesses with...

A fund worth £1 million was launched on 4 March to provide support to campervan and motorhome operators in Scotland who are facing financial hardship due to the impact of COVID-19. The Campervan and Motorhome Rental Operators Fund is being delivered by VisitScotland, on behalf of the Scottish Government, with support from the Campervan and...

The Northern Ireland Executive has outlined its pathway to ease restrictions.  The plan consists of 9 pathways, each of which has five phases.  By the end of Phase 3, it is anticipated that caravan parks will open, although shared facilities will remain closed.  It is also expected that non-essential retail will open, although dates have...