News Archive

Train Operators In Public Ownership To Keep Customers Moving During Disruption - Scotrail Unaffected

LNER, Northern and TransPennine Express will allow customers to travel on each other's services during any short-notice or on-the-day cancellations.   Rail passengers in the north of England will benefit from a new customer initiative launching on 15 December 2024.  

Car Practical Driving Test Waiting Times

New measures to tackle long waiting times for tests, including recruiting 450 driving examiners and increasing notice periods for cancellations.   I am pleased to announce today (18 December 2024) that this government is taking decisive steps to address long waiting times for car practical driving tests.  

Another Privatisation Scandal Revealed By The Guardian

Billionaire Guy Hands' property firm sells military homes to MoD for £6bn.   Terra Firma's sale of 36,000 properties ends legal fight with government over recent housing reforms.  

Boosting Reuse And Recycling

Actions aimed at ensuring households and businesses in Scotland boost reuse and recycling rates and cut waste have been published.   The Circular Economy and Waste Route Map sets out 11 priority areas where efforts and resources will be concentrated to support a transition to a circular economy - where resources are kept in use for as long as possible.  

Monthly Scottish GDP Estimates For October

Scotland's onshore GDP is estimated to have contracted by 0.2% in October.  This follows unrevised 0.3% growth in September.  

Winter Health Preparedness

Health Secretary Neil Gray visited the Scottish Ambulance Service's (SAS) Edinburgh City Station ahead of the busy festive period to express gratitude for the hard work and dedication to delivering vital services during challenging times.   He encouraged people to use healthcare services appropriately this Christmas and New Year and only dial 999 for genuine emergencies.  

Scottish Secretary Reacts To Gdp Figures For October 2024

Ian Murray says while the stats are disappointing, long-term growth remains a priority, with UK Government's Plan for Change delivering vital reform.   Scotland's latest GDP figures have been published on 28 December 2024.  

How Is Tax Damaging The Housing Market? | Ifs Zooms In

The UK's housing market has long been a source of frustration for renters and homeowners alike, with issues of affordability and availability topping the agenda.   The new government has identified housing market failures as a major barrier to economic growth—but what role does the tax system play in these challenges? In this episode, we'll dig into how taxes impact the housing market, from the cost of buying and renting to the incentives—or disincentives—they create for landlords, developers, and homeowners.  

IBM, STFC and UKAEA collaborate on fusion energy design

UKAEA, STFC's Hartree Centre and IBM have partnered to collaborate on designing future experimental fusion powerplants.   Public sector entities, the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and the Science and Technology Facilities Council's (STFC) Hartree Centre, have partnered with technology pioneer, IBM, to work on designing future experimental fusion powerplants.  

Consumer price inflation, UK: November 2024 2.6%

The Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers' housing costs (CPIH) rose by 3.5% in the 12 months to November 2024, up from 3.2% in the 12 months to October.   On a monthly basis, CPIH rose by 0.2% in November 2024, compared with a fall of 0.1% in November 2023.