The Scottish Government’s provisional outturn for the financial year is £55.9 billion against a total fiscal budget of £56.3 billion. The underspend of £358 million, presented to Parliament this afternoon, represents 0.6% of the Scottish Government’s total budget.
Finance Secretary Shona Robison described this as evidence of careful financial management, and in one important respect that is true. Unlike the UK Government, Holyrood has strict legal limits on borrowing for day-to-day spending and must keep its finances within the budget approved by Parliament.
The latest quarterly Scottish Government Workforce Information statistics have been published today by Scotland’s Chief Statistician. These statistics cover the numbers of workers, staff sickness rates, and the diversity of staff up to the most recent quarter ending March 2026.
The Scottish Government’s March 2026 workforce statistics claim a leaner, more efficient government. But when you look past the headline, the picture becomes far murkier.
The third and final shipment of high level waste in the form of vitrified residues has been safely delivered to Germany. Seven flasks containing high level waste were transported from the Sellafield site to the port of Barrow-in-Furness, in Cumbria by rail.
A new improved section of the Great Glen Way is now open, offering walkers, wheelers and visitors a safer and more scenic way to experience this popular trail. The Highland Council has completed work on over 3km of the route, moving it away from the public road and onto a new off‑road path.
The BBC has announced one of its biggest rounds of cost-cutting in many years, with hundreds of jobs set to disappear, programmes being axed and television and radio services under review. For viewers and listeners, the immediate question is simple: what programmes will disappear? For Scotland, however, there is another question that may prove even more important: Will these cuts reduce Scotland's voice within the BBC? How Many Jobs Are Being Lost? The BBC has announced the first stage of a major restructuring.
At its meeting ending on 17 June 2026, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted by a majority of 7–2 to maintain Bank Rate at 3.75%. Two members voted to increase Bank Rate by 0.25 percentage points, to 4%.
Savers with closed accounts are urged to move their pots, to beat the Bank of England Base Rate (BBR). Loyalty does not pay.
The EU's abolition of duty-free relief on low-value parcels could spell significant new costs for UK retailers shipping to Europe, warns the international delivery expert Parcelhero The European Union will this summer scrap the longstanding Customs duty exemption on parcels valued at under €150, replacing it with a new flat-rate tariff of €3 per item. It’s a move the international delivery expert Parcelhero says will reshape cross-border e-commerce between the UK and the EU's 440 million consumers.
Some of the UK’s most prominent leisure and hospitality businesses have committed to passing on summer savings to families as they met the Chancellor today – ahead of the government’s Great British Summer Savings scheme going live. Cinemas, LEGOLAND owner Merlin Entertainments, Greene King-managed pubs and Nando’s among businesses to commit to passing on temporary VAT cut to help reduce the cost of days out.
For anyone who fills up a car, heats their home with oil, or worries about the cost of living, the recent fall in oil prices has been welcome news. Petrol and diesel prices have started to ease, and many people are hoping that heating oil will become more affordable before winter.
Action to protect families in the energy market and hold the retrofit industry to account. New service to provide stronger oversight of retrofit industry – giving families confidence to upgrade their homes and cut bills.
The latest UK House Price Index, published on 17 June, shows that house prices across the United Kingdom continue to rise despite higher interest rates and ongoing concerns about the cost of living. The headline figure reported by the UK Government is that the average UK home is now worth around £270,000, an increase of 3.8% over the past year.
Two new conduct requirements introduced on 17 June 2026 will ensure Google’s search rankings, including AI Overviews, are fair and that users can benefit from sharing their data. Requirements are designed to improve trust and confidence in Google’s search services Requirements will ensure fair ranking of search results for businesses and provide effective routes to raise concerns.
One in 5 young men do not consider controlling someone's spending as abuse, as the government and banks unite as part of the Enough campaign. Victims and survivors of economic abuse will benefit from a new partnership to tackle the issue, as new figures from a survey by Ipsos UK published by the Home Office and Surviving Economic Abuse today reveal significant gaps in recognising controlling behaviours as abuse.
The UK is scrapping its £135 de minimis duty relief for imported parcels — meaning by March 2029, every parcel, no matter how cheap, will face customs duties. This is a major shake‑up for online shoppers and small businesses who rely on low‑value imports.
Submit your views on the draft statement of safety principles for automated vehicles by 9 September 2026. the future rollout of self-driving vehicles across the UK moves a step closer (17 June 2026), as the government seeks views on the safety rules that will let people own and use them on British roads.
TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak yesterday responded to the announcement that around 2,000 facilities staff across government. Roles like cleaning, catering and security are set to be brought in-house after talks with PCS Union.
Scottish producers will be supported to maximise the use of locally produced food and drink in public sector settings including schools and hospitals, First Minister John Swinney has announced. In a speech to the Quality Meat Scotland breakfast at the Royal Highland Show, the First Minister announced the new Public Sector Food Procurement Taskforce, which will help identify and address barriers for the public sector to source more locally produced food.