Secure Care Statistics for the year 2024-25 have been published today. Key findings include: During 2024-25, 70 beds were available across four secure accommodation services in Scotland for those under the age of 18.
New figures show waiting lists in Scotland continue to fall with waits of over a year decreasing for 8 consecutive months. Data from Public Health Scotland shows, at 31 January 2026, new outpatient waits of more than 52 weeks have more than halved since July 2025 - with the total waits decreasing by 52.6% in that period.
Government response to the Post Office Green Paper published today by Ministers, confirming that the minimum branch requirement will be maintained. Post Office network protected for the future, with the Government maintaining the minimum requirement of 11,500 branches.
Attainment at Highland schools is improving, shaped by strategic changes and a targeted plan of action. Today (Wednesday 25 February) Highland Council's education committee discussed the latest attainment update, which showed the progress being made in meeting the crucial targets of raising attainment and reducing the poverty related attainment gap.
Two of the Royal Navy's powerful new Type 31 frigates have reached key milestones. Steel cut for Royal Navy frigate HMS Bulldog and HMS Active ‘rolled out' at Rosyth, marking key production milestones.
If you've used motor finance to buy a car, motorbike or van, it's very likely that the lender paid the broker (the person that arranges your loan, usually your car dealer) commission for arranging the loan. We've found that many firms broke our rules and didn't properly tell customers about commission arrangements.
People may be missing out on social security support they are entitled to due to stigma around social security, new research shows. Independent research commissioned by Social Security Scotland found that while nine in ten (91%) people agree anyone could need financial support when their circumstances change.
Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging (pEPR) is a UK-wide environmental policy requiring producers (e.g., manufacturers, importers and brand owners) to pay the full cost of managing packaging waste at end-of-life rather than taxpayers and councils. It's designed to encourage better packaging design and higher recycling rates.
Ukrainians fleeing Russia's invasion will now have 3 times as long to renew their stay. Ukrainians offered sanctuary in the UK will gain greater certainty about their ability to remain as Russia's illegal war continues into its fifth year.
As the threats to Iran and the U.S. build up of naval task forces continues the question of the oil price looms large.
Scotland's onshore GDP grew by 0.1% in the three months to December (2025 Quarter 4) compared with growth of 0.4% in the three months to November and growth of 0.3% in October according to statistics announced by the Chief Statistician. This follows growth of 0.3% in 2025 Quarter 3 (July to September).
Energy regulator Ofgem has today (Wednesday 25 February) announced a 7% (or £117) reduction of the energy price cap for the period covering 1 April to 30 June 2026. This change amounts to a reduction of around £10 a month for the average household using both electricity and gas.
As of late February 2026, The Highland Council hasn't yet officially announced a specific council tax increase level for the 2026-27 financial year, and there's no widely reported draft percentage figure like some other Scottish councils have published. However, there are indications and discussions that give a sense of the thinking ahead of the formal budget decision.
The Scottish Parliament's Public Audit Committee has released its latest report on the Cairngorm Funicular Railway, offering one of the most detailed examinations yet of the project's troubled history, escalating costs, and long‑term prospects. The funicular, which has become both a symbol of Highland tourism and a lightning rod for criticism, is once again under scrutiny and not only for its engineering failures but for the governance and financial decisions that shaped its past and will determine its future.
For anyone thinking about buying a home today, the financial landscape can feel unusually complex. Global headlines talk about tariffs and inflation.
NDA publishes latest strategy setting out long term roadmap for the safe and secure decommissioning of the UK's legacy nuclear sites. The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has published its latest strategy, setting out its long term roadmap for the safe and secure decommissioning of the UK's legacy nuclear sites.
The UK has announced a landmark sanctions package, cutting off critical oil revenues and further degrading the Kremlin's ability to wage its illegal war. Nearly 300 new sanctions announced as UK cracks down on critical Russian energy revenues, including oil exports, and key suppliers of military equipment fuelling war efforts. Russian Oil revenues are now at their lowest since 2020 as the UK and international partners continue to ratchet up pressure on Putin's flailing war machine.
From robots to real business impact: April Conroy, HIE development manager for life sciences and the blue economy, reflects on WAICF and what human centred AI means for businesses. ust over a week ago, I was at the World AI Cannes Festival (WAICF) alongside a delegation of 25 Scottish business leaders, as part of the Scottish Government's National AI Adoption Programme.
On 23 February 2026, the UK Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard MP hosted the Minister for Defence Industry of Australia, the Hon. Pat Conroy MP, for the Australia-UK Defence Industry Dialogue (AUKDID).
Royal Navy submarine HMS ANSON arrives in Western Australia for maintenance with AUKUS partners. Royal Navy submarine HMS ANSON arrived in Western Australia today, a major milestone in the AUKUS partnership which supports security and stability in the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic and delivers good jobs and growth in the UK, Australia and the US.
