Scottish Child Payment has supported more than 241,000 parents and carers since its launch five years ago, helping put over £1.3 billion into the pockets of low-income families. An increase to the payment for children under one will be introduced during 2027/28, estimated to benefit around 12,000 children and could be worth an extra £500 a year for each eligible child.
UK will bolster regional security by deploying a Carrier Strike Group to the North Atlantic and High North UK to deploy Carrier Strike Group to the North Atlantic and High North in 2026 in a major boost for regional security. Powerful show of force with Royal Navy warships, F-35 jets and helicopters to deter Russian aggression and protect vital undersea infrastructure.
Over the past few years there have been changes in respect of the legal aspects of private letting of properties. One rule some landlords advertising on this web site is forgetting to enter their landlord registration number - a legal requirement.
The sale and supply of wet wipes containing plastic in Scotland will be banned from 11 August 2027 under regulations published today. Wet wipes containing plastic are a common and persistent source of marine litter and can break down into microplastics over time, harming the natural environment.
A new package of support will help early years settings strengthen their workforce and improve outcomes for children from the very start. Early years staff across the country will be supported to upskill and qualify as teachers through new paid degree apprenticeships, as the government marks the close of National Apprenticeship Week and continues its work to raise the quality of early education and improve children's life chances.
For much of the past decade, the UK economy has been characterised by an unusual phenomenon. The prolonged survival of older, less productive firms that, in earlier eras, would likely have exited the market.
Unpaid carers, disabled people and people with lived experience of social care will have a say on local services after Scottish Parliament regulations come into force. Social Care Minister Tom Arthur tabled an order giving service users and third sector organisations a vote during integration joint board decision making.
A number of major parts of the UK's energy infrastructure (especially the wires and pipes that deliver electricity and gas) are owned or controlled by foreign companies, institutions or investors. That doesn't automatically mean they're doing anything illegal or hostile, but it does mean profits and dividends often flow overseas rather than staying entirely within the UK economy.
The Highland Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee has given support to progress to public consultation on two proposed Short Term Let Control Areas (STLCAs), reflecting the differing pressures on housing in Inverness City and across rural Highland communities. The decision to do so is based on growing numbers of residential dwellings being converted to short term lets, alongside Housing Market Area assessments that indicate market pressures, higher house prices, limited affordability, and higher proportions of sales to buyers from outwith the area.
Last year, the UK economy grew by just 1.3%, which continues a trend of disappointing performance. Growth was so slow, real GDP per capita actually fell in the last half of 2025.
The video explains how he tax system keeps on taking from you. Then listen to the explanation on how you might do better..
The Scotland tourism and hospitality sector—a dynamic part of the country's economy and identity—is at a crossroads. That's the central message of Serving the Future, a comprehensive research and action programme undertaken by the Fraser of Allander Institute and The Poverty Alliance between 2021 and 2025.
If you read Serving the Future carefully, the message isn't that hospitality is unimportant. It's that the sector currently offers weak security for many of its workers.
Suggestions that Peter Mandelson may have shared government information with Jeffrey Epstein amid the fallout of the global financial crisis are being investigated by police. Emails between Mandelson and the disgraced financier, released by the US Department of Justice, are said to include market-sensitive details.
The Ripple Effects of Work: Learning Disabilities Symposium" report from the Fraser of Allander Institute published 11 February 2026. The article summarises a workshop convened by the Strathclyde Learning Disabilities Research Network, chaired by Chirsty McFadyen (Fraser of Allander Institute), which brought together researchers from the University of Strathclyde to explore what work really means for autistic people and people with learning disabilities.
Supermarket shelves can look full despite the food systems underneath them being under strain. Fruit may be stacked neatly, chilled meat may be in place.
It's true that a significant share of energy bills goes to profits for energy companies and network operators, and a lot of that money doesn't stay in the UK economy. An analysis by trade union Unite reported that UK energy companies made around £30 billion in profits in 2024, with profit margins "around three times the UK national average." Much of this flowed to shareholders — including international investment firms and foreign states — rather than being reinvested into infrastructure or lowering bills.
For some people the end of the tax year coming means it is time to make important decisions. To help we are publishing some useful tips from Ann Bowes a personal finance expert with The Private Office.
For a long time, the deal for a wide range of careers has been simple enough. Entry-level workers carried out routine tasks in return for mentorship, skill development and a clear path towards expertise.
The Highland Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee has approved all recommendations relating to the 2026/27 Roads Capital Programme, confirming a total investment of £21.55 million to maintain and improve the region's road network. Members agreed the full package of measures set out in the report, including the breakdown of the Roads Capital Budget, specific contingency funded projects, future programme governance and indicative Area allocations.