The Low Pay Commission has updated its projections for the National Living Wage in 2026. The Government has today published the Low Pay Commission's remit for the rates of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and National Living Wage (NLW) that will apply from April 2026.
The number of 18-year-olds from Scotland's most deprived areas securing places at university has increased by 100 to 1,960, a new record high, officials figures have shown. The number of young Scots who have secured a place at university this year has also increased to a new high.
A four-year Embedded Engineering Resource Framework has been renewed with seven companies. The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) has renewed its multimillion-pound Embedded Engineering Resource Framework ("the Framework") with seven companies.
The Government's manifesto commitment to deliver a genuine living wage for working people took a step closer today as it set out new considerations for the Low Pay Commission when recommending next year's National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage. Discriminatory age bands to be removed as new Low Pay Commission remit delivers progress towards a single wage rate for adults.
The Electric Car Grant will make owning an electric car cheaper, easier and a reality for thousands more people across the UK. the price of 4 Citroën models will be slashed by £1,500 - putting money in people's pockets as part of the Plan for Change.
HMRC encourages parents to register for Tax-Free Childcare to help towards the cost of their childcare bills. This Playday (6 August 2025), working families are encouraged to sign up for Tax-Free Childcare to save on their childcare bills.
There has been an increase in planned operations across NHS Scotland, as recent statistics reveal that the number of hip and knee arthroplasty operations reached an all-time high in 2024. The statistics from The Scottish Arthroplasty Project reported that 17,399 first (primary) hip or knee replacements performed in NHS Scotland hospitals in 2024 compared to 15,908 in 2019.
A historic reactor complex has been demolished, creating a new skyline at Harwell site - the birthplace of pioneering nuclear research and innovation. The complex originally housed the UK's first fast fission reactor Zephyr, followed by Dimple - a multi-purpose, zero power, water moderated reactor.
An article in The Lowdown web site 1 August 2025. The government's recently unveiled 10-Year Health Plan wants to set up to 300 "neighbourhood health hubs." - local one-stop centres to offer diagnostics, outpatient treatment, mental health support, and preventive services, to relieve pressure on hospitals.
New Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer published. Clinicians will be able to refer patients with symptoms which might indicate cancer for tests more quickly following the introduction of new revised guidelines.
The paradox in US economy that company profits are soaring. The stock market has been going up, but elsewhere the economy is in difficulty.
Are the wealthy essential to our economy - or are they holding it back?. In this 10th video of the series, I examine whether we need their land, their taxes, their consumption, or their ideas.
Two public organisations have signed a partnership agreement committing them to work together to accelerate the UK's transition to clean energy. Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and Aberdeen based Great British Energy (GBE) signed the agreement in Inverness on Thursday 31 July during a GBE visit to the region.
Companies House are phasing in identity verification over 12 months to make things simpler for companies and business owners. Companies House confirms that from Tuesday 18 November 2025, legal requirements for directors and people with significant control (PSCs) of companies to verify their identities will begin.
Doctors are being urged to share their views about how best to shape and sustain Scotland's medical workforce over the next 15-20 years. The Future Medical Workforce project will gather feedback from doctors, residents and senior clinicians to help shape future reforms in training, recruitment and workforce planning.
NHS and local authorities begin rollout of world-first gonorrhoea vaccination programme across the country. Vaccination against gonorrhoea now available in sexual health clinics in England for those at greatest risk of infection.
It is widely reported that most analysts forecast the Monetary Policy Committee will cut the Bank Rate by 25 basis points to 4.00% at its meeting on Thursday, 7 August 2025. Financial markets assign an 80-94% probability to this move, which would be the fifth reduction since August 2024 and bring rates to their lowest level since March 2023.
Approximately 147,000 students across Scotland are receiving results today covering National 5, Higher, and Advanced Higher qualifications. Digital results (via MySQA text, email, and online) begin arriving as early as 8 AM BST, with paper certificates sent by first-class post throughout the day.
ScotRail is advising customers that some disruption from Storm Floris will continue into Tuesday. Storm Floris is continuing to have a significant impact on Scotland's Railway, including damage to overhead lines and trees falling on tracks across the country.
Following the high winds forecast and experienced due to Storm Floris, The Highland Council is encouraging landowners to check trees and vegetation near to public roads which may have been damaged. Landowners are also asked to check the drainage from their property that it is not blocked and overflowing onto public roads.