Rates relief extended in Scotland for retail, hospitality and newspapers in pandemic budget boost

Kate Forbes revealed today she had struck an agreement with Green MSPs - meaning her Budget bill will pass when it goes to a vote on Tuesday.The Budget offers an £800 pay rise for public sector workers earning up to £25,000, and a two per cent increase for those earning over £25,000 up to £40,000.It will also provide pandemic support payments of £130 to households receiving Council Tax Reduction and two payments of £100 to families of children qualifying for free school meals.Free bus travel

shooting ranges next door – and claim the machine gun fire will destroy their calm haven.Monks at the Kagyu Samye Ling monastery say their “precious haven of peace and harmony” will be “caught in the noise of gunfire” and have asked the public to back their fight.The world-famous retreat, at Eskdalemuir in Dumfriesshire, has attracted thousands of visitors looking for ­spiritual guidance since it was founded in the 60s – including rock icon David Bowie.But leaders say two applications lodged

hotel quarantine with his dad on the stroke of midnight last night after their “nightmare” stay was extended at the eleventh hour.We told last month how Sami Caraballo had flown alone from Finland to be reunited with his dad after several months apart only to be escorted to an Edinburgh airport hotel on landing under Scotland’s strict new Covid-19 travel restrictions.Dad Antonio, 44, who believed his son would be allowed to isolate at home due to his age, was forced to stump up more than £2,000

pandemic.

Tory chancellor will boast that the fund is part of a £57 million investment in Scottish business growth in Wednesday’s Budget statement.Sunak is also expected to announce up to £2 million to support jobs as the oil and gas industry moves into cleaner energy sources and a further £5 million for the Global Underwater Hub in Aberdeen, building on last year’s £1.3 million commitment.Get all the top Scottish politics news sent straight to your Inbox by signing up to our Politics newsletter.We cover

Get the stories that matter to you sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter.A Johnstone community has emerged as one of the worst Covid-19 hotspots in Scotland, despite efforts to contain the virus.Johnstone South East, which flanks Elderslie, has seen the rate soar to the equivalent of nearly 500 cases per 100,000 people.It’s the only area in Renfrewshire that makes it into the highest outbreak level of above 400 cases.The cases were almost double the prevalence of number two on

coronavirus case number in all local authority areas in Scotland has been published by health officials.Public Health Scotland said that in the week between February 15 and 21, Scotland recorded a total of 5,736 positive cases of Covid-19 - which represents 5.0% of people tested for the virus.Scotland’s seven-day positivity rate per 100,000 population in those seven days stood at 105.0, according to the latest data.Falkirk recorded the highest number of cases per 100,000 population during this

Get the stories that matter to you sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter.Health bosses have conceded there will be no action on a new medical centre until after the election.It’s another bitter pill for the community of Bishopton, claims Tory candidate Julie Pirone.She spoke of being astounded at the perpetual stalling in giving the village a fit-for-purpose health centre.Jane Grant, the chief executive of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, confirmed it will be June before any light

Home Bargains store opened its doors this week - complete with a garden centre and a giant alcohol section. The new store opened its doors in Irvine's Riverway Retail Park - just four doors down from its previous home, but three times the size.

weather warning has been extended into Sunday.The Met Office have issued a fresh weather warning for freezing temperatures across the majority of Scotland.Blizzard like conditions are expected to hit the country, with the west coast being warned of Arctic winds.

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James McAvoy were left with a smile on their faces this morning as he posted a video on his Instagram page.The Scots star has teamed up with Comic Relief to help promote 'Red Nose Day' and in a new promotion video, McAvoy had fans left wanting more.The video, which was titled: "James McAvoy teaches us his fav TikTok dances with kittens", the actor can be seen wear a Red Nose Day t-shirt while speaking to the camera.He says: "Hello James McAvoy here!"I'm so excited that Red Nose Day is back this

over six foot of snow as the 'Beast from the East 2' continues to wreak havoc across Scotland.Ramage Contractors headed out in tractors to clear the roads following blizzards in Aberdeenshire.Dramatic footage shows workers from the family run firm driving through the white stuff at Cabrach in Moray yesterday.In a post on Facebook bosses at the firm posted the footage with the caption: "Not the best quality of pictures but you could say the same for the weather."Locals quickly hailed the group as

Met Office issued an amber snow warning for parts of Scotland on Saturday as a freezing blast sweeps across the country.

Scottish Government has published new data showing the latest coronavirus infection rates across Scotland. A total of 6,881 positive cases of Covid-19 were recorded in the week between January 27 to February 2 - which represents 6.3% of people tested.