Latest News

The Government's £13bn Warm Homes Plan must focus spending on bill-cutting measures to save £230 for the poorest households

The Government must use the £13 billion assigned to its Warm Homes Plan to deliver energy bill savings - worth £230 per year on average for the poorest households in leaky homes.  At the same time using other tools, such as regulations, to keep the decarbonisation of home heating on track, new research published today (Thursday 7 August 2025) by the Resolution Foundation finds.  

Despite ambitious language, the Government is continuing its cautious approach to uprating the minimum wage

The Government has chosen to raise the adult minimum wage (the National Living Wage) in line with average earnings growth in 2026, in a repeat of last year's cautious approach, although it has signalled it may adopt a more ambitious approach later in the parliament, the Resolution Foundation said on Tuesday.   The Government published the new remit for the Low Pay Commission (LPC), which will determine how minimum wage rates are set in April 2026.  

Base rate cuts prove to be a double-edged sword

The Bank of England Base Rate cuts are a double-edged sword, causing misery among savers.   But lowering mortgage costs, according to Moneyfactscompare.co.uk analysis.  

Crackdown on unsafe cosmetic procedures to protect the public

New measures to crack down on cowboy cosmetic procedures will be introduced by the government.  Only suitably qualified healthcare professionals will be able to deliver high-risk procedures such as Brazilian Butt Lifts.   Clinics administering fillers and Botox will need to meet strict standards to obtain a licence.  

Brand Scotland partners with Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society

Scottish Secretary keynote speech on the value of Scotland's cultural offer.   Scotland's most internationally recognised cultural brands will work alongside the Scotland Office to promote Brand Scotland, in a landmark partnership selling the best of Scotland overseas and encouraging investment and growth.  

Lord Vallance calls on tech experts to design ways to help reduce electricity bills

Science Minister Lord Vallance calls on businesses and researchers to develop cutting edge tech, that could cut energy costs in the long-term.   Businesses and researchers to turbocharge AI and digital tech to cut peak demand for grid electricity by 2 gigawatts - equivalent to powering over 1.5 million homes.  

UK Hydrographic Office 2024-2025 Annual Report released

The UKHO's Annual Report and Accounts for 2024 to 2025 is available to view and download.   The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) has published its Annual Report and Accounts for 2024 to 2025.  

Government moves to end discriminatory age bands and unfair pay for young workers

The Government's manifesto commitment to deliver a genuine living wage for working people took a step closer today as it set out new considerations for the Low Pay Commission when recommending next year's National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage.   Discriminatory age bands to be removed as new Low Pay Commission remit delivers progress towards a single wage rate for adults.  

Tick Bites - Alpha-gal syndrome - is it found in UK?

Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), a red meat allergy caused by tick bites, is emerging in the UK.  It's a type of food allergy triggered by a carbohydrate called alpha-gal, found in mammals, which is introduced into the body through tick saliva after a bite.  

Attainment rises across the board - 147,000 young people receive their SQA results

The number of students achieving passes at National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher level, as well as in vocational and technical courses, has increased across Scotland this year.     The poverty-related attainment gap has also narrowed at National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher level over the 2024-25 academic year, according to the results data published by the Scottish Qualifications Authority.