News Archive

11/12/2025

 
Scotland's Maternity Meltdown - A National Betrayal of Mothers and Families

Scotland is facing a maternity crisis that stretches from its largest cities to its most fragile rural communities.   What should be the most basic promise of a modern health service — safe, accessible care for mothers and newborns has been undermined by delays, downgrades, staffing shortages, and broken promises.  

11/12/2025

 
Great British Energy backs Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Great British Energy backs renewable schemes in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.   Additional £12 million funding for devolved governments from Great British Energy.  

11/12/2025

UK "All In" on AUKUS submarine and tech delivery as partnership powers full steam ahead

The Defence Secretary met with his US and Australian counterparts in the United States to discuss the progress on AUKUS.   AUKUS partnership "full steam ahead" as US review concludes and focus shifts to delivery.  

11/12/2025

Government to prioritise UK medical graduates for training places

The government will prioritise UK medical graduates for training places from 2026 as part of efforts to bring an end to industrial action by resident doctors.   Substantial offer put to BMA in bid to end resident doctors strikes once and for all.  

11/12/2025

Help for veterans - Combat Stress funded to provide mental health support

Veterans whose experiences in the armed forces have left them affected by trauma will be able to access mental health support thanks to Scottish Government funding.   Minister for Veterans Graeme Dey announced the funding of £645,000 on a visit to Combat Stress, the UK's leading veterans’ mental health charity, in Glasgow.  

11/12/2025

Increased support for carers - Changes to enhance offer for carers

People who care for more than one disabled person may be eligible for a new Scotland-only payment.   Carer Additional Person Payment, worth up to £520 a year, will be available from March 2026.  

11/12/2025

 
Going To The World Cup? - When Should You Buy Your Currency

If you're going to a US‑hosted World Cup when do you buy dollars or other currencies for Canada and Mexico.   Here are some of the trade‑offs and what to consider if deciding when to get USD for the trip.  

11/12/2025

Scotland's first helpline for women experiencing economic abuse - Purple Phone helpline launched

Scotland's first confidential helpline for victims and survivors of economic abuse has been launched by Financially Included, an organisation that supports women to recover from a controlling and often hidden form of gender-based violence.   As the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence campaign draws to a close, Housing Secretary Màiri McAllan visited East Renfrewshire to find out more about Financially Included’s Purple Phone Helpline, part of a new economic abuse pilot project supported by Scottish Government funding.  

11/12/2025

Caithness maternity campaigners fear promised review will be watered down

It follows assurances at Holyrood which were seen as a big victory for mums-to-be hoping for better local access without heading to Raigmore in Inverness to give birth.   Campaigners for better access to maternity services in Caithness fear the SNP Government is pulling back from a promised review.  

10/12/2025 : Advisory / Counseling Services

 
How Development and Innovation Have Been Supported in the Highlands & Islands Over the Past 60 Years

For 60 years, the Highlands and Islands have been the focus of one of the UK's most distinctive long-term regional development efforts.   Since the creation of the Highlands and Islands Development Board (HIDB) in 1965—and its evolution into Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) in 1991.  

10/12/2025

 
Scotland's Productivity Crossroads Strengths, Challenges and Comparisons with the UK

A summary of the 2025 Scottish Productivity Index (produced by CBI Scotland and Addleshaw Goddard, in collaboration with the Fraser of Allander Institute) published 10 December 2025.   Over the past few years, the "productivity puzzle" has loomed large over Scotland's economy.  

10/12/2025

 
Thousands to get free digital training so everyone has the chance to shop around for cheaper deals online

Free support to get people online is rolling out in communities in every region of the country.   80 innovative digital skills and support schemes receive government funding to help most vulnerable in communities get online with confidence.  

10/12/2025

Prison building boom to make streets safer - England and Scotland

A prison building boom is underway across the country as the Government presses ahead with the biggest jail expansion programme since the Victorian era.   5,000 new prison places under construction - part of biggest expansion in over a century Thousands of new jobs created nationwide, boosting local economies.  

10/12/2025

 
Community energy projects to benefit from £1.8 million - Supporting communities to generate their own power

Communities on the island of Mull, the V&A Dundee and King's Church in Aberdeen are amongst 23 local projects being awarded a share of £1.8 million to deliver renewable energy projects.   The funding will enable community groups to generate their own power through renewable energy projects such as wind turbines and solar, while giving successful applicants the ability to earn money from their projects by selling excess energy generated.  

10/12/2025

Could Soybeans And Democrat Women Decide The US Midterm Elections? - How Rural Economics, Tariffs, and a Wave of Winning Democratic Women Are Re-Shaping U.S. Politics

For decades, the politics of the American countryside looked predictable with deep red on the electoral map, steady Republican majorities, and a rural culture that often saw the Democratic Party as increasingly urban, coastal, and distant from farm life.   Yet in recent years, the ground beneath that political map has shifted—quietly, unevenly, but meaningfully.  

10/12/2025

Credit-Card Spending Is Falling - And It Might Be Warning Us About What Comes Next

In recent months, a clear message has been emerging from consumer-spending.  Data credit-card use is slipping, and it's doing so at a pace that economists and lenders haven’t seen in years.  

10/12/2025

 
Trading Standards - Roofing Scams

Over the last couple of weeks there have been reports from across Scotland of cold callers who tell householders that urgent work needs carried out on their roof.  In addition as well as rogue traders who have been contracted to carry out a small repair job to a roof, and then tell the homeowner that they have found further work that needs to be done immediately.  

10/12/2025

 
Trading Standards Scotland Launched an A To Z of Scams

Trading Standards have launched a new channel on TikTok as well as on Facebook, X, Instagram, Bluesky and Linkedin for information about the latest scams and consumer issues.   The A-Z of Scams: an A-Z list of common scams to be aware of this winter.  

10/12/2025

Government unveils ambitious plan to tackle youth isolation crisis in England

Government plans will offer young people somewhere to go, something meaningful to do, and someone who cares about their wellbeing in moves to strengthen their connections in real life.   Ambitious 10-year plan to give 500,000 more young people access to a trusted adult outside their home and equip them with skills to boost their resilience and stay safe online.  

10/12/2025

 
Government acts to strengthen fairness and transparency in combinable crops contracts

Consultation launched to review contract practices in the combinable crops sector, building on Fair Dealing reforms in dairy, pigs, eggs and fresh produce sectors.   Arable farmers are set for stronger protections under a new government review into unfair practices in the combinable crops supply chain, Farming Minister Dame Angela Eagle has announced.