The Scottish Government and councils must fundamentally rethink how they plan, fund and staff additional support for learning as part of core school education in Scotland. Since legislation in 2004 to make additional support for learning (ASL) more inclusive, there has been an eight-fold increase in pupils recorded as receiving ASL; currently 40 per cent of Scottish pupils - or 285,000 children - receive ASL.
At yesterday's Education Committee (Wednesday 26 February 2025), Members approved the draft Learning Estate Strategy (LES). The LES aligns with the local priorities set out within the Highland Investment Plan (HIP) vision for developing its learning estate.
DHL Group has announced a £230 million e-commerce hub investment in Coventry creating up to 600 local jobs. Major £230m investment in new state-of-the-art e-commerce hub in Coventry will create up to 600 local jobs.
New figures published today [Thursday 27 February 2025] show a significant spike in Pension Credit applications following a DWP campaign to boost uptake, the highest since comparisons began in 2020. Record high number of Pension Credit applications with updated online claim form taking an average 16 minutes to complete DWP processing record number of claims a week, bringing down outstanding applications and giving the poorest pensioners vital support.
£42 million of export finance deals brokered with Scottish businesses over the last six months. £42 million of export finance deals brokered with Scottish businesses since July.
Two Sellafield Ltd colleagues, Anouschka Van Mourik and Kiara Orchard, have been nominated as ‘Future List Game Changers' in the Northern Power Women Awards. The awards recognise and celebrate trailblazing individuals who are driving inclusion and innovation across the north of the UK.
People who have already had the virus this winter could be at risk again, as new data shows shift in circulating strains. The latest UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) data shows norovirus cases continue to rise across the country, with laboratory reports at the highest levels since reporting data this way began in 2014.
The UK has launched the ‘Visa Fraud Ton Bacho' campaign to help protect Indian citizens from the physical, financial, and emotional risks of visa fraud and irregular migrations. Campaign will raise awareness of visa scam tactics in Punjab, helping protect people from exploitation, financial loss, and emotional distress.
The Prime Minister has today (Tuesday 25 February) set out his commitment to increase spending on defence to 2.5% of GDP from April 2027. Defence spending to increase to 2.5% of GDP from April 2027, with an ambition to reach 3% in the next parliament.
The UK's foreign aid. budget has seen fluctuations in recent years.
The government will cut spending on development assistance from 0.5% to 0.3% in 2027 to fund the greater investment in defence. Starmer says it will spend £13.4bn more on defence every year from 2027.
Members of The Highland Council's Licensing Committee have agreed that the Council will undertake a public consultation before deciding whether to introduce knowledge testing for private hire car (PHC) drivers in The Highland Council area. Under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 and the Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2015, Highland Council has long imposed knowledge testing requirements on applicants for a taxi driver’s licence.
Amid rising tensions around the world, the UK government faces pressure to increase defence spending. External threats and uncertainty over the nature of peace talks with Russia over Ukraine have been in the spotlight.
Defence leaders from across the world recently gathered in Brussels when the UK convened a major Ukraine summit at NATO HQ. UK convened the 26th Ukraine Defence Contact Group in Brussels today - the first time the meeting has been chaired by a European nation - supporting UK and European security, a foundation of the Government's Plan for Change.
The US president, Donald Trump, is challenging official figures around the country's federal debt, suggesting possible fraud in its calculation. The president's remarks have added a controversial twist to an issue that is both complex and consequential for the United States.
Unless politicians mean what they say we get a world where nothing can be relied on and chaos rules. Trump's disdain for the truth is profoundly harmful in that case.
The 2025-26 Scottish Budget has been approved by Parliament, including £21.7 billion for health & social care and more than £15 billion for local councils, alongside social security measures supporting an estimated two million people. The Budget invests: £21.7 billion in health and social care services, including almost £200 million to cut waiting times and help reduce delayed discharge.
Statistics have been released today on the destinations and attainment of 2023-24 leavers from Scotland's publicly funded schools. Initial destinations 95.7 per cent of 2023-24 school leavers were in a positive destination three months after the end of the school year.
Government sets out first steps to break down barriers to digital inclusion affecting 1 in 4 Britons to help put more money into people's pockets. Tech Secretary: Improving digital skills essential to economic growth and success of Plan for Change.
Scotland's Chief Statistician today released Recorded Crime in Scotland, year ending December 2024. In the year ending December 2024: The police in Scotland recorded 298,308 crimes.
