THE early arrival of winter in the strath has caused real problems for many.
The temporary blockage on the A9 last Friday morning prevented me from attending my surgery in Nairn, although thanks to the heroic efforts of many to keep the roads open, closures on the main routes have been kept to a minimum.
The temperatures cause problems for many, not least the elderly and infirm. One of the decisions the Government took in the Spending Review was permanently to uprate the Cold Weather Payment to £25 per week.
The previous government had lifted the payment temporarily before the election - but given the severity of the problems, it would not have been right to return to the previous level of £8.50.
This payment is made to vulnerable people if the temperature at the local weather station is below freezing for seven days.
Last week, people covered by the Aviemore weather station were the first in the country to receive the new permanently higher payments this year. With more cold weather forecast, it will not be the last such payment this winter.
The early snow is good news for the local ski industry. Let's hope for another good season this year, and for the new arrangements to keep the ski road open more than last year, so that fewer people go home disappointed.
Delivery charges
ON Monday, the Office for Budget Responsibility published its autumn forecast for the British economy.
This body is completely independent of government, so it is no longer possible for ministers to interfere with economic forecasts, as it was in the past.
While many critics of the Government have been forecasting a 'double-dip' recession, the OBR expects to see steady growth over the next four years, with rising employment, so that by 2014-15 there will be an extra 1.1 million people in jobs across the UK, even after accounting for the impact of the necessary public spending cuts.
The spending reductions are unavoidable because we simply have to deal with the country's enormous budget deficit and restore confidence in our economy.
But we must also do all we can to support economic growth. That is why we are investing more in transport infrastructure over the next four years than in the last four.
The Scottish Government decision to set out a budget for only one year is a real problem for many organisations locally.
Given that they know how much money they will have for the next four years, it is deeply irresponsible of the Scottish Government not to give local public organisations the ability to plan ahead. I suspect this will lead to deeper and less well planned cuts.
We also still need to see some new action from the Scottish Government on our local transport links.
They came to office with big plans to dual the A9, but so far there is not a single planned improvement that was not set out by the previous government.
Borrowing powers
YESTERDAY, the UK Government set out substantial new borrowing powers for the Scottish Parliament.
This will help the Scottish Government to spread payments for the new Forth Road Bridge - I hope that one of the beneficiaries will be transport investment elsewhere in Scotland.
On a smaller scale, the unfair extra charges imposed by many retailers for delivering goods in the Highlands are an unnecessary extra cost.
This is a problem for everyone, but while for most of us it is an unfairness that hits every so often, for local small businesses this is an extra cost that has an effect on the bottom line day after day.
This is a matter on which I have long campaigned locally. Last week's decision by Asda to abandon their delivery surcharge was very welcome.
It will bring real benefit to their customers, and no doubt a wider benefit to the firm, which is looking to become established here in the Highlands.
Other firms have already ended unfair surcharging where they can. But for many others, the extra costs are imposed on them by major national and international courier companies.
I have to say that I see no more justification for a delivery surcharge to an address in the strath by the likes of DHL or UPS than by any other firm.
What people locally want is a level playing field and an end to unfair surcharging, which has a particular impact in the run-up to Christmas.
I hope very much that others will follow the example set by Asda.
