Until recently, electricity demand in developed countries was relatively stable. Utilities built networks to serve homes, offices and factories, and costs were shared across all users.
On Monday, the UK Government will finally repeal the Vagrancy Act 1824 in England and Wales, ending more than two centuries of legislation that made rough sleeping a criminal offence. The announcement has been widely welcomed by homelessness charities and many police organisations, who have argued for years that homelessness should never have been treated as a crime.
The UK Government recently announced a major package of support centred on Ukraine’s economic recovery and wider global security. The headline figures — $1 billion in UK‑backed World Bank finance and £1 billion in additional defence spending sparked debate about how the UK can afford such commitments at a time when domestic services face intense financial strain.
There was a lot of Hype about how the world cup would help pubs and hospitality businesses but has it turned out to be true. The evidence so far suggests the answer is yes and no.
Ukraine’s resilience and recovery will receive a $1 billion boost through UK-backed funding. Government announces latest $1 billion tranche of UK fiscal support that, pooled with partners’ support, will provide more than $4 billion in additional financing for Ukraine.
The number of students learning an instrument has increased by almost 30,000 since the abolition of fees for music lessons in schools. A new report shows that annual investment of up to £12 million from the Scottish Government to fund free instrumental music tuition has seen participants increase to more than 70,000 since 2021.
Business failures across the UK have climbed since the pandemic, but the shape of the crisis differs between Scotland and England & Wales. Scotland has seen a steady rise in insolvencies since 2021, while England & Wales have experienced even sharper increases — and the sectoral pressures behind these trends are not identical.
The repeal of the Vagrancy Act in England and Wales has rightly been welcomed by many people. No one should become a criminal simply because they have nowhere to sleep.
Every major sporting event comes with familiar headlines. “The economy will get a boost.” “Pubs and restaurants will see record trade.” “Billions added to GDP.” The World Cup is no exception.
Every World Cup brings the same familiar narrative. The economy will benefit.
The Fraser of Allander Institute’s recent analysis argues that the Scottish and wider UK economies have shown remarkable resilience despite global uncertainty. That view is not an outlier.
A striking feature of the current economic landscape is how global conditions have shifted in the UK’s favour. After two years of intense inflationary pressure driven by energy shocks, supply‑chain disruption, and rising interest rates, the UK is now benefiting from a combination of external forces that are helping to stabilise the economy.
Major sporting events like the World Cup are usually discussed in glowing terms. They bring excitement.
For many people, interest rates are simply about mortgages or savings accounts. But there is another consequence that receives far less attention – the impact on public investment.
It does seem counterintuitive. Normally, renewed military exchanges between the US and Iran would push oil prices higher.
The Scottish Government has announced millions for NHS capital projects—but Caithness is missing from the list. This week the Scottish Government announced progress on a range of NHS capital projects across Scotland.
The most significant reform of Scotland’s curriculum in more than ten years is underway, as the first early samples of new curriculum materials have been shared with councils across the country. Planned updates to the curriculum, prepared by Education Scotland and co-designed with input from over 1,500 teachers, nursery practitioners, and partners through the Curriculum Improvement Cycle (CIC), will clarify knowledge and progression, making it clearer what children should know, understand and be able to do at every stage of school. Discussions are taking place with the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) for two additional in-service days to be offered during the 2026-27 academic year, to help schools prepare for change.
Up to 40,000 disabled people and people with health conditions will benefit from expanded access to personalised support, as the government rolls out Support Conversations across a further 27 Jobcentres taking the total number of sites to 33. Support Conversations expanding to a further 27 Jobcentres across Great Britain, bringing the total to 33 sites.
The Highland Council has agreed plans to establish a Highland Wealth Fund to create a lasting legacy from renewable energy development and support long-term benefits for communities across the region. Inspired by the principles of the Norwegian Sovereign Wealth Fund, the new partnership-led fund will support strategic, regional, area and local priority projects, helping to ensure that the opportunities created by the energy transition deliver lasting value for current and future generations.