Scottish policing has reached a significant new milestone with the successful delivery of the first-ever End Point Assessment (EPA) for probationary officers. The landmark assessment was held at Dounreay and Garlogie and represents a major step forward in how new officers are professionally validated and confirmed in rank.
Marine Recovery Fund to get nature thriving and accelerate offshore wind development. Enough electricity to power two cities the size of London will be unlocked through the Marine Recovery Fund to safeguard Britain's marine biodiversity and energy security, the Government has announced today (Wednesday 17 December 2025).
Vital chemical production at Grangemouth protected as Government provides over £120m support package in £150m joint investment. UK Government provides over £120m support package as part of £150m joint investment with INEOS to protect vital chemical production and 500 jobs at Grangemouth, plus hundreds more in the supply chain.
The Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers' housing costs (CPIH) rose by 3.5% in the 12 months to November 2025, down from 3.8% in the 12 months to October. On a monthly basis, CPIH fell by 0.1% in November 2025, compared with a rise of 0.2% in November 2024.
Young people using alcohol or drugs will receive improved access to support through new national standards. Developed in conjunction with young people across Scotland, the standards set out what under-25s should expect when seeking help.
Five new fisheries management plans published to maintain or restore valuable fish stocks at or to sustainable levels. The UK's valuable fish stocks will be restored to sustainable levels alongside action to protect the marine environment and support jobs in coastal communities, as set out in five Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) published by the government today (16 December).
The government is consulting on a new licensing scheme designed to save lives by blocking illegal knife sales and imports. A new licensing scheme is being proposed by the government to block illegal knife sales and imports - helping save lives and keep dangerous weapons out of young hands.
The UK and EU have agreed that the UK will join the Erasmus+ scheme in 2027, along with further progress in other areas of the UK-EU reset. The UK has successfully agreed terms to join the Erasmus+ programme in 2027, widening opportunities for young people from all backgrounds, learners, educational, youth and sport staff to study and train abroad.
In the 12 months ending September 2025, there were 18,347 all sector homes built and 14,846 all sector new builds started. There was a 5% decrease in all sector housebuilding starts and an 8% decrease in completions between the year to the end of September 2024 and the year to the end of September 2025.
In Scotland there are 20,927 second homes, 44,453 properties empty for more than 6 months and liable for Council Tax and 44,989 properties with unoccupied exemptions from Council Tax. The latest council tax data (in September 2025) shows there were 20,927 second homes.
Former Heath Secretary Alan Milburn has today launched his groundbreaking investigation into the causes of record unemployment and inactivity among 16 to 24 year olds with a call for young people and a range of experts to come forward with their views. DWP's Youth Guarantee Advisory Panel and experts spanning health, business and government to support Alan Milburn’s investigation into the root causes of youth inactivity.
Top Benefits for the UK-South Korea Free Trade Deal. 1.
First lets look at the government announcement then look deeper a the pros and cons. Cryptoassets firms will be backed to innovate and grow under plans to make the UK a global destination for digital assets and attract more investment.
The energy consumption of cryptocurrencies and blockchain networks has been a topic of growing concern due to the environmental impact associated with the energy-intensive processes required to maintain these systems. In particular, the proof-of-work (PoW) consensus mechanism, used by major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, has been widely criticized for its high energy usage.
UK lands momentous trade deal with South Korea to boost jobs and exports. UK services firms eye £400 million boost thanks to deal that also locks in tariff-free access across 98% of tariff lines.
Estimates for payrolled employees in the UK fell by 149,000 (0.5%) between October 2024 and October 2025 and decreased by 22,000 (0.1%) between September 2025 and October 2025. When looking at August to October 2025, the period comparable with our Labour Force Survey (LFS) estimates, the number of payrolled employees fell by 113,000 (0.4%) over the year, and by 24,000 (0.1%) over the quarter.
The Scottish whisky industry has faced a period of reduced sales in recent years, much of it linked to tariffs and wider global economic pressures. The key question is whether the sector can recover from these setbacks, and what the most recent figures suggest about its current health.
The Scottish Government has abandoned its proposals to reduce driving speed limits (specifically cutting the national speed limit on single-carriageway roads from 60 mph to 50 mph). Public Consultation Feedback Was Overwhelmingly Opposed.
The Scottish NHS is not involved in the current doctors' dispute in England because the NHS is devolved, and pay, contracts and workforce negotiations are handled separately in Scotland and England. Since devolution, health policy is the responsibility of the Scottish Government, not the UK Government.
Nissan have launched their next-generation LEAF in Sunderland, marking a major boost for the UK's automotive industry. UK's largest car plant transformed with launch of new generation EV, supporting 6,000 jobs and boosting economic growth.