Reform has pledged to do everything it can to block green energy, but doing so will increase energy prices. Why do they want to do that? .
Health Secretary Neil Gray visited Gartnavel General Hospital today to see first-hand how Scottish Government investment is supporting increased capacity in orthopaedic services to deliver faster care for patients. The visit follows the Programme for Government announced by the First Minister last week, which committed to the delivery of more than 150,000 additional NHS appointments and procedures, including in surgical procedures such as hip and knee replacements compared to last year.
Plutonium treatment plant moves a step closer to completion. The Sellafield Product and Residue Store Retreatment Plant (SRP) is one of our largest and most complex construction projects.
Highland Council's Environmental Health team have identified raised levels of naturally occurring bivalve shellfish biotoxins following routine monitoring at Loch Portree. Eating bivalve shellfish such as cockles, mussels, oysters or razor fish from the area of Loch Portree may pose a health risk arising from the consumption of these biotoxins.
As with all products, the MHRA will keep its safety under close review. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has today (15 May 2025) approved a vaccine (Capvaxive) for people aged 18 years and older to help protect against illnesses caused by bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae or pneumococcus.
A range of measures have been taken by the Scottish Government to increase investment in housebuilding. Additionally to help reduce the number of households in temporary accommodation since declaring a housing emergency last year.
Highland Councillors have considered £756m investment across Highland communities over the next 5 years when they discussed an updated report on the consolidated Highland Investment Plan (HIP) at a meeting of The Highland Council on Thursday 15 May 2025. Convener of the Council, Cllr Bill Lobban said: "The consolidated programme which was presented to Members is part of a longer-term strategy for the Highland Investment Plan which creates a potential £2.1bn of capital investment over a twenty-year period.
A bespoke plan to help Scottish companies export to the United States will be drawn up as part of new measures aimed at boosting trade. It is one of six actions announced in the First Minister's Programme for Government to assist exporters and address global trade challenges.
First Minister John Swinney has announced new funding to support groups and schools across Scotland to learn more about climate change and nature loss, and take climate action where they can. The Scottish Government supports the Eco-Schools programme to help embed climate environmental and outdoor learning as a meaningful part of daily learning and teaching.
A new dedicated taskforce has been launched to transform the way in which the police respond to organised immigration crime gangs operating from the UK. A new dedicated taskforce has been launched to transform the way in which the police respond to organised immigration crime gangs operating from the UK, facilitating people-smuggling across the Channel.
The UK needs a migration policy that serves the needs of the country, everyone in it, and people who want to come here. Is that too much to ask for? Or would our politicians prefer to dig-whistle instead?.
The river catchments of the Nith, Dee (Galloway), Cree, Doon, Irvine and Ayr and the Clyde have been raised to Alert. The river catchments of the Shin, Naver, Conon, Spey, Deveron, Ythan, Don (Aberdeenshire), Dee (Aberdeenshire), Esk, Firth of Tay, Firth of Forth, Almond, Tyne (Lothian), Tweed, Esk (Dumfriesshire), Annan and Thurso remain at Alert.
After a successful three-week trial of thermal technology in 2024, Highland Council has appointed Thermal Road Repairs for a two-year patching repair contract worth a seven-figure sum. This will provide an additional resource for repairing surface defects such as potholes, cracking and deteriorating surfacing joints.
Following an unusually dry start to 2025, Scotland has been placed on an "early warning" for water scarcity by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA). Considering this warning, Highland Council's Environmental Health Team is recommending that consumers on private water supplies use water responsibly, to check the water system for any indications of leaks or contamination risks and think about other options if your water supply is potentially in shortage.
For six days Page 94 is covering the extraordinary stories of the investigative journalists shortlisted for this year's Paul Foot Award, before the winner's announcement next week. First up is Laura Hughes (The Financial Times) for her deep-dive about the abandoned mines leaching toxic lead into British soil, livestock and food, and why nobody is taking responsibility.
ScotRail is reminding customers that significant timetable improvements will come into effect from Sunday, 18 May, with a focus on enhancing rail connections for Fife and other parts of the country. The updated timetable will see more frequent services to and from Leven, improving links to Edinburgh and better connecting communities throughout Fife.
President Trump formally announced a range of tariffs on imports of goods to the United States on 2 April 2025, with imports from the UK subject to a blanket 10% tariff and imports of steel and aluminium, and cars and car parts subject to a higher 25% tariff. On 8 May 2025 the UK government announced the signing of a trade deal between the United States and the UK.
Monthly real gross domestic product (GDP) is estimated to have grown by 0.2% in March 2025, following unrevised growth of 0.5% in February 2025. Real GDP is estimated to have grown by 0.7% in the three months to March 2025, compared with the three months to December 2024; this is mainly because of widespread growth in the services sector in this period.
Travelling with loads of luggage can be very stressful. Worse still, if holidaymakers get their suitcase's weight or size wrong, excess charges can run into £100s.
Tidal stream energy sector calls for collaborative action to resolve consenting challenges and accelerate clean energy growth. A new report published today, Managing the Consenting Risk of Harbour Seal Collision in the Scottish Tidal Energy Industry, sets out key recommendations to underpin robust consenting to enable the growth of tidal stream energy in Scotland while addressing environmental concerns - particularly the potential impact on harbour seals.
