Andy Burnham will arrive in Ukraine on Monday 24 August for his first overseas visit as Prime Minister. Prime Minister in Kyiv for first international visit to reiterate UK’s unwavering commitment to Ukraine.
Around 47,000 children starting Primary One in the next academic year, 2027-28, will be the first to receive a Welcome to School backpack in a variety of colours, to help them start school feeling excited, supported and ready to learn. Procurement of the first bags is now underway following engagement with children, families and teachers to ensure they provide the practical contents and equipment that will help cut the cost for families as children start school.
Budgets are what everthing runs on from a household to government and having a realistic picure of whatis happening can help us be in our expectations of whatis possible and coming down the line. There is an important distinction in the growing debate about Scotland's finances that can easily get lost in the headlines.
There is a question that deserves rather more attention after the extraordinary rise in heating-oil prices earlier this year. Are households using less oil because their homes have become more energy efficient, or are they simply using less because they cannot afford to use as much? For anyone who heats their home with oil, the difference is important.
For years, the message to young people has been remarkably consistent: get a degree, gain qualifications and you will improve your chances of building a good career. That advice has not suddenly become wrong.
There was a time when putting a letter in the post meant something fairly simple. it would be collected, transported and delivered within a reasonably predictable period.
Manufacturing order books saw a noticeable improvement in August according to the CBI’s latest Industrial Trends Survey (ITS), following a sharp deterioration over April-July. Total order books were reported as below “normal” to the least extent since November 2024, with export order books recovering to “normal” for the first time in over four years.
Harnessing opportunities of data centres. Planning authorities will be required to notify Scottish Ministers of new data centre applications within seven days of validation.
The impact of AI on health and care is already being felt. From supporting diagnosis to helping services manage growing demand, AI could transform health and care as we recognise it.
The low water level on the Rhine can affect UK businesses, even though the Rhine is thousands of miles away and Britain is not directly dependent on it. The important connection is through European supply chains.
For decades, the United States and Canada have been among the world's closest trading partners. Goods have crossed their 5,500-mile border almost unnoticed, factories on either side have depended upon components from the other country and millions of consumers have taken the relationship for granted.
Helping people with the cost of living, strengthening public services and growing the economy are the focus of policies delivered so far in the first 100 days of government, First Minister John Swinney has said. Since appointing the Cabinet on 20th May 2026, the Scottish Government’s action has included setting up the First Homes Fund to help first-time buyers with up to £10,000 support towards a deposit, investing in and expanding health and social care provision, and setting up initiatives to boost business.
Strong growth in the first half of the year has failed to deliver a public finances windfall for the Chancellor as the economic impact of the conflict in the Middle East takes its toll on borrowing costs, underlining the challenge he faces as he prepares for his first Budget, the Resolution Foundation said on Friday. With the Budget now less than ten weeks away, today’s release comes as the OBR begin preparations for their economic and fiscal forecast in earnest.
It seems energy prices get more complicated all the time so we take look a the latest issue addressed by the Scottish Government. There is a very simple question behind a surprisingly complicated Scottish Government energy policy.
The oil price has become one of those numbers that seems to move relentlessly in one direction. Brent crude is now around $94 a barrel, having risen by more than 7% over the past five days.
There is a tendency whenever artificial intelligence is discussed to imagine that a revolution is already happening. Jobs are supposedly disappearing, businesses are being transformed and computers are increasingly doing the work that people once did.
When comparing mortgages, it is very easy to be drawn towards the lowest interest rate. A mortgage advertised at 4.25% immediately looks better than one at 4.49%.
The Highland Heart and Lung MOT: A Checklist You Can Do Yourself The Scottish Government has just launched what it describes as a new “MOT” for the heart and lungs, designed to identify health risks earlier and give people the chance to do something about them before they become serious. There is, however, a rather obvious problem for people living in the Highlands.
There is something rather strange about the way we think about transport infrastructure. We spend millions of pounds building railway stations, bus terminals, airports, ferry terminals and roads.
Food and drink businesses will be able to boost production, create jobs and grow their companies thanks to almost £6 million of support from the Scottish Government. The Food and Drink Processing Scheme Scotland will award almost £6 million of capital funding to 28 businesses.