Right now, the UK government has not introduced an official fuel rationing system for motorists or for heating oil users. Ministers and officials have responded to media speculation by saying that there is no current plan to impose rationing and that the country is well stocked for various eventualities.
Five years on from COVID, Scotland's public services are still struggling to recover Five years on from the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, there are signs of improvements in key Scottish public services. But performance remains substantially poorer than before the pandemic in the health service, schools and courts.
Walk down any High Street in the Highlands today and you'll see the same story written in shuttered windows and empty doorways. Another charity shop closed.
For decades, NCP was as much a part of Britain's urban landscape as pigeons, Pret, and roadworks. With its yellow‑and‑black branding and sprawling network of car parks, the company felt almost indestructible - a quiet giant of everyday life.
Britain's welfare bill is set to surge by £18 billion in a single year, enough to fund a huge expansion of the armed forces, as ministers scramble to find money to strengthen the military Single year rise in welfare spending would pay for 15 warships or 250,000 extra soldiers. Britain now spending more on health benefits than defending the country.
1.4MW mission-focused supercomputer named ‘Sunrise', primed to be the world's most powerful AI supercomputer dedicated to fusion energy. The UK government is investing £45 million for a 1.4MW mission-focused supercomputer named ‘Sunrise', a key first step in establishing the country's first AI Growth Zone at the UK Atomic Energy Authority's (UKAEA) Culham Campus in Oxfordshire.
For two weeks the Strait of Hormuz — the world's most important oil chokepoint — has been effectively closed. Nearly 20% of global oil supply is disrupted.
Government sets out its vision for developing a commercial fusion industry in the UK that will deliver skilled jobs, investment and growth. Britain becomes first country in the world with a clear path to commercial fusion that could ensure lasting energy security.
First local media strategy in a generation guarantees up to £12m funding for local media's digital innovation, for community radio and to fill ‘news deserts'. Campaigns to promote ‘Newspapers for Schools' and encourage young people into journalism careers West of England to pilot improving reporting on local decision-making and public services Communities across the UK will benefit as the government backs high quality and trustworthy local journalism with a new local media action plan.
Increased defence investment and dedication to Scottish defence industry directly supported £1.1bn in inward investment with defence firm Thales, securing and sustaining over 500 jobs. Certainty given to Scotland has boosted confidence to secure international work.
"Local journalism, when rooted in community and willing to innovate, can survive—and even thrive." In a time when newspapers across the UK are seeing print sales decline, small local titles like the John O'Groat Journal and Caithness Courier might seem vulnerable. Falling circulation, shifting reader habits, and the rise of free online news have created real challenges.
Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard, met his German counterpart in Berlin to discuss progress on jointly developing Deep Precision Strike missiles. Progress on bolstering national security for the UK and Germany made after Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard, meets German counterpart in Berlin to discuss progress on jointly developing Deep Precision Strike missiles.
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP speech announcing a further £1 billion investment in youth employment support and reforms to apprenticeships. Thank you, Tilly.
A flagship education fund aimed at helping young people from more deprived areas has helped broaden opportunities to learn beyond the classroom and improved outcomes in a range of areas, a new report has found. The Attainment Scotland Fund (ASF) has helped narrow the poverty related attainment gap for primary and secondary literacy and numeracy to record lows, the latest evaluation report shows.
Scotland's Chief Statistician today released the main findings of the 2024-25 Scottish Crime and Justice Survey (SCJS). The 2024-25 Scottish Crime and Justice Survey shows that most adults in Scotland (79.2%) were not victims of any crime measured by the survey.
Social Workers and Mental Health Officers in The Highland Council and NHS Highland gather today (17 March 2026) to celebrate World Social Work Day 2026 in a joint forum at The Barn Church, Culloden. Fiona Duncan Highland Council's Chief Social Work Officer and Chief Officer Health and Social Care is also Convenor of Social Work Scotland, the professional leadership body for the social work and social care professions.
Total levels of property and violent crime have fallen by 42% since 2008-09, according to the latest Scottish Crime and Justice Survey (SCJS). The SCJS is a national survey of almost 5,000 people across Scotland which allows people to share their experiences and perceptions of crime, including incidents not reported to police.
The UK and Ukraine are set to agree a new world-leading partnership to boost global defensive capability against the the proliferation of low cost, high tech military hardware, including drones. President Zelenskyy set to visit Downing Street today 17 March 2026 as leaders agree new military partnership and announce new AI Centre of Excellence in Kyiv.
Bradford man obtained two of the three maximum-value Bounce Back Loans he applied for, with one refused. Shohid Ahmed applied for three Bounce Back Loans worth £150,000 using his wife's name, receiving £100,000 his restaurant was not entitled to He filed false documents with Companies House to make an innocent woman appear to be the director of his company.
Families across UK to benefit from over £50 million to help people pay for the rising cost of heating oil. Chancellor confirms over £50 million with £4.6million in Scotland for low income families who heat their homes with oil to help tackle surging prices. The price of kerosene - the fuel used for heating oil - has been especially affected by the conflict in the Middle East and has risen faster than other fuels such as petrol and gas. Government announces intention to regulate heating oil sector to introduce new consumer protections, alongside securing agreement with industry to quickly improve customer experiences.