News Archive

NHS-dominated Spending Review leaves little to rebuild other public services

The NHS has again grabbed the lion's share (90 per cent) of the extra funding for day-to-day public services allocated at the Spending Review, with inflation-adjusted per-person spending flat or falling for most other departments, leaving little to rebuild other public services, the Resolution Foundation said.   After two fiscal events dominated by tax rises and welfare cuts, Spending Review 2025 was finally an opportunity for the Chancellor to deliver good news by allocating an additional £149 billion of day-to-day public service spending (RDEL) and £115 billion of capital spending (CDEL) relative to plans inherited from the last Government.  

Renewable energy training centre officially opened in Inverness

Deputy First Minister, Kate Forbes, has officially opened Aurora's pioneering Renewable Energy Training Centre in Inverness - the only facility of its kind serving the Highlands.   The £1.2m training centre has already demonstrated its importance to Scotland's net-zero ambitions, training to more than 1,000 people in its first year and gearing up to train more than 2,000 workers annually who will be central to the country's renewable energy future.  

Automated Vehicles Act 2024 implementation

An update on the work being done to implement the Automated Vehicles (AV) Act 2024.   I wish to provide the House with an update on steps the government is taking to implement the Automated Vehicles (AV) Act 2024 and kickstart economic growth, a top priority in the government's Plan for Change.  

Energy Minister asks NDA to explore clean energy at Moorside

Energy Minister Michael Shanks asks the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority to explore clean energy at Moorside.   Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and Cumberland Council to explore clean energy development in Cumbria - protecting billpayers and supporting new jobs as part of government's Plan for Chang.  

Scottish Crime and Justice Survey 2023/24

Scotland's Chief Statistician today (10 June 2025) released the main findings of the 2023/24 Scottish Crime and Justice Survey (SCJS).   The Scottish Crime and Justice Survey shows that most adults in Scotland (80.1%) were not victims of any SCJS crime in 2023/24, including fraud and computer misuse for the first time.  

Exploring how an AI lab model could work for policing

The National Policing Capabilities Unit came to ACE to explore a high-level operating model for how an in-house AI lab could enable greater innovation.   Artificial intelligence (AI) will play a significant role in shaping the police service of the future, bolstering capabilities by making investigations more sophisticated and efficient as well as freeing up officers' time.  

Scotland to host UK's national supercomputer as Chancellor confirms £750 million investment

Scotland will become home to the UK's most powerful supercomputer, with up to £750 million for the project confirmed in the Spending Review.   Up to £750 million for a new supercomputer in Edinburgh will be confirmed by the Chancellor at Spending Review - giving scientists across the UK access to compute power found in only a handful of other nations.  

Scottish Government Workforce Statistics March 2025

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 2025.  

UK Schools invited to apply for ‘Taskmaster Club 100' initiative

Intellectual Property Office (IPO) partners with Taskmaster Education to offer new skills building opportunity for secondary schools.   The main developments are: the Intellectual Property Office has partnered with Taskmaster Education to launch a new creative skills opportunity for UK secondary school students aged 11 to 16 ‘Taskmaster Club 100' applications open on 10 June 2025 and close on 15 August 2025.  

Property and violent crime 37% lower than in 2008

Total levels of property and violent crime have fallen by more than a third since 2008-09, according to the latest Scottish Crime and Justice Survey (SCJS).   The 2023-24 official statistics also show that people feel safer in their communities.