News Archive

31/10/2025

 
Trading Standards - Free Electricity Scam Emails

There has been an increase in reports of scam emails offering grants or funding for solar panels.   Some say that having the panels installed will increase your property value and decrease your energy bills, while others mention 'free electricity'.  

31/10/2025

UK deploys additional emergency humanitarian funding

The UK Government is mobilising £5 million in additional emergency humanitarian funding to support the Caribbean region's recovery from the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa.   Financial support package of £5 million provided by UK Government to support the Caribbean region Follows on from immediate financial support package of £2.5 million announced earlier this week.  

31/10/2025

Vaccination crucial as meningitis cases increase

Infants and young adults most at risk from serious disease.   Children and young adults, particularly university students, remain at risk from meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia, which whilst rare, can be devastating, life changing and sometimes deadly.  

31/10/2025

 
Trading Standards - Energy Grant Scams

48% of respondents to the Big Scottish Scams Survey had experienced an energy scam in the last year.   In most cases, this involved a cold caller providing misleading information about the availability of grants or funding for products such as insulation, boilers, heating and double glazing.  

31/10/2025

Supporting families with school attendance

A national TV, radio and multi-media campaign that aims to improve school attendance by supporting parents, carers, and teachers to make school a positive experience for all children has been launched.   Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth joined pupils and teachers at Pathhead Primary in Kirkcaldy to launch the campaign, which deals with the root causes of absences.  

30/10/2025 : Educational Institutions

University (UHI) Staff Strike in Dispute Over Job Cuts Today - 10 Redundancy Notices already Handed Out

Staff at University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) have commenced a series of strike actions beginning 30 October 2025, in protest at proposed job cuts and the use of compulsory redundancies.   The walk-out is set for four days this month today 30 October and further dates on 5, 17 and 18 November.  

30/10/2025

Vietnamese migrants with no right to be here will be fast-tracked out of the UK under tough new migration agreement

The UK and Vietnam have agreed a landmark new agreement to crack down on illegal migration and fast-track the removals process.   The UK and Vietnam have agreed a landmark new agreement to crack down on illegal migration and fast-track the removals process.  

30/10/2025

 
£55 billion R&D funding boost to unlock UK breakthroughs from health to clean energy

Funding boost for science and tech breakthroughs that improve lives, create jobs and grow our economy.   Funding boost for science and tech breakthroughs that improve lives, create jobs and grow our economy £55 billion long-term backing for the UK's research agencies and bodies is a real-terms rise.  

30/10/2025

Ensuring safe maternity services by Scottish Government - New taskforce to strengthen oversight of provision

Following a highly adverse report on maternity at The Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh the Scottish Government has set up a task force.   Health Secretary Neil Gray has announced new measures to ensure the continued safety and quality of maternity and neonatal services, following the publication of Healthcare Improvement Scotland's (HIS) inspection report on Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.  

30/10/2025

Positive rise in house purchase activity in September

"The latest statistics paint a positive picture for house purchases in September, off the back of a weaker August.   However, it is worth noting that different times of the year can record seasonal dips or rises for house purchase.  

30/10/2025

Disabled people to shape Timms Review into Personal Independence Payment

Disabled people will be at the heart of the first ever full review of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) following the appointment of two co-chairs, and the launch of a recruitment process for its wider steering group.   First ever full review of Personal Independence Payment to be led by disabled people with appointment of two co-chairs.  

30/10/2025

Tracking Progress on Annual Health Checks for People with Learning Disabilities

Fraser of Allander Institute's report published on 28 October 2025 "Tracking Progress on Annual Health Checks for People with Learning Disabilities" highlights a range of issues.   The report examines how Scotland is doing at delivering annual health checks to adults (16+) with learning disabilities, based on the latest data for the 2024/25 reporting period.  

30/10/2025

Chancellor unlocks £6.4 billion of trade and investment deals on growth boosting Gulf visit

Chancellor helps unlock over £6.4 billion in two-way trade and investment deals with Saudi Arabia during Gulf visit with landmark business delegation.   New package includes £5 billion of export finance in major boost to British manufacturing and jobs, plus multi-million-pound investment deals with Aberdeen Investcorp, Barclays, HSBC and UK AI powerhouse Quantexa.  

30/10/2025

 
Help for UK businesses to fill £400bn AI skills gap

New report exposes major AI skills gap holding UK businesses back - but 3 new tools launched will help unlock up to £400bn growth potential by 2030.   Skills England unveils new AI Skills Framework, Adoption Pathway and Employer Checklist to support wider and more responsible AI use.  

30/10/2025

Transforming Deaf people's lives - Improving access to services

Deaf people will be able to access essential services more easily from today onwards with the launch of a free mobile app.   SignPort will enable Deaf people to book British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters in just a few steps, see who their interpreter will be and communicate with them securely.  

30/10/2025

More than 1.1m customers have used Sudent Loan Company's Digital Refund Service

SLC has received more than 1.1 million refund requests through its Digital Refund Service, which offers a self-serve route for customers to request Below Threshold refunds.   The figure has been announced today (29 October 2025) as SLC issues its annual Student loan repayments via PAYE eligible for refund - Tax Year 2024/25.  

30/10/2025

Monthly Scottish GDP Estimates for August

Scotland's onshore GDP grew by 0.7% in the three months to August 2025, up from the growth of 0.6% in the three months to July 2025, according to statistics announced by the Chief Statistician.   In the three months to August, the largest positive contribution to headline GDP growth was in Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services which contributed 0.4 percentage points towards headline growth.  

30/10/2025

Super battery projects that maximise renewable-generated power enter next phase

Ofgem confirmed the 77 projects entering the final assessment stage of a government-driven super battery support scheme designed to secure investment, promote growth and stop green energy going to waste.  Long Duration Electricity Storage (LDES) will play a key role in Great Britain's grid expansion.  It stores extra renewable energy when the weather conditions are producing more than we need, and use later when the wind is not blowing.  

30/10/2025

 
Government looks to slash red tape to make charging electric vehicles at home easier

Reforms will open up affordable home charging to thousands more households.   new proposed planning reforms to cut red tape giving renters and motorists without driveways greater access to cheaper charging at home.  

30/10/2025

 
Fair transition to net zero vital for Scotland's economy says John Swinney

Ahead of the Just Transition Commission Summit getting underway in Edinburgh today [Weds 29 Oct], First Minister John Swinney has highlighted the importance of supporting workers and livelihoods in the journey to net zero.   The First Minister will speak at the summit and announce the Scottish Government's intention to renew the Just Transition Commission for the next Parliamentary term.