Professor Alexis Jay to chair statutory Inquiry. Professor Alexis Jay has agreed to chair a statutory Public Inquiry to examine Scotland's response to group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation (CSAE).
Turnover of the UK's low carbon and renewable energy economy (LCREE) was an estimated £77.0 billion in 2024 in current prices, an increase of £8.1 billion (11.8%) since 2023. UK LCREE employment in 2024 was estimated at 304,000 full-time equivalents (FTEs), down by 13,000 FTEs (4.1%) since 2023.
Highland Opportunity (Investments) Limited (HOIL) has recently provided loan assistance to JS Seafood to enable the acquisition and development of an established seafood delivery business serving Skye and Lochalsh in the West Highlands. HOIL, The Highland Council's business loan company, offers flexible financial support to Highland-based businesses and community organisations, delivering straightforward loan conditions and tailored packages designed to help businesses and organisations realise their ambitions.
Consultation on further improving justice system. Further protections for women and girls from violence and abuse are being considered as part of a consultation that has been launched, including consideration of a new law on the creation of deepfake intimate images.
Patients seeking access to GP-led care without an appointment are to benefit from a total of 16 planned centres across Scotland, the First Minister has announced. Twelve new sites - from Stranraer to Shetland - have been confirmed, building on the opening of the first walk-in centre in Edinburgh on 11 February.
From 25 February 2026, the UK is enforcing a new travel-permission regime (including ETAs Electronic Travel Authorisations) for everyone entering the UK, with no exceptions for carriers. British dual nationals who do not present a valid British passport may be denied boarding or entry because carriers must confirm a traveller's right to enter before departure.
Attainment at Highland schools is improving, shaped by strategic changes and a targeted plan of action. Today (Wednesday 25 February) Highland Council's education committee discussed the latest attainment update, which showed the progress being made in meeting the crucial targets of raising attainment and reducing the poverty related attainment gap.
Work is progressing on ambitions to deliver flexible, high-quality early learning and childcare for remote and rural communities in Highland. Today (Wednesday 25 February 2026) members of the council's education committee were given an update on the Early Learning & Childcare Project, which forms part of the council’s wider delivery plan.
The international delivery expert Parcelhero says President Trump's new global 10% tariff means all nations now have the same basic rate on many products as the UK's hard-fought trade deal. However, Trump’s threatened 15% tariff would mean the UK potentially faces the largest - 2.1 percentage point - increase in its average tariff rate, according to Global Trade Alert.
Driving a bus is a rewarding career offering fast progression, competitive salaries, good benefits, travel concessions and a sense of purpose. bus drivers across the country come together to promote the benefits of their career, whether entering the world of work or looking at a career change.
Positive destinations second highest on record. The proportion of young people leaving school with five or more passes at National Courses and Highers, as well as their equivalent vocational and technical qualifications, has increased over the past year.
Regular rail freight traffic through the Channel Tunnel will help reduce pollution, potholes and congestion while providing new jobs across the UK. British businesses set to gain direct rail freight links to Europe thanks to government-backed deal supports government's goal to grow rail freight, unlocking around £15 million of private investment restarting regular rail freight traffic through Channel Tunnel would reduce pollution, potholes and congestion and deliver new jobs.
Director disqualification for council convener. Shetland Islands Council's convener Andrea Manson has been banned as a company director for three-and-a-half years.
Secure Care Statistics for the year 2024-25 have been published today. Key findings include: During 2024-25, 70 beds were available across four secure accommodation services in Scotland for those under the age of 18.
New figures show waiting lists in Scotland continue to fall with waits of over a year decreasing for 8 consecutive months. Data from Public Health Scotland shows, at 31 January 2026, new outpatient waits of more than 52 weeks have more than halved since July 2025 - with the total waits decreasing by 52.6% in that period.
If you've used motor finance to buy a car, motorbike or van, it's very likely that the lender paid the broker (the person that arranges your loan, usually your car dealer) commission for arranging the loan. We've found that many firms broke our rules and didn't properly tell customers about commission arrangements.
Two of the Royal Navy's powerful new Type 31 frigates have reached key milestones. Steel cut for Royal Navy frigate HMS Bulldog and HMS Active ‘rolled out' at Rosyth, marking key production milestones.
Government response to the Post Office Green Paper published today by Ministers, confirming that the minimum branch requirement will be maintained. Post Office network protected for the future, with the Government maintaining the minimum requirement of 11,500 branches.
Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging (pEPR) is a UK-wide environmental policy requiring producers (e.g., manufacturers, importers and brand owners) to pay the full cost of managing packaging waste at end-of-life rather than taxpayers and councils. It's designed to encourage better packaging design and higher recycling rates.
Scotland's onshore GDP grew by 0.1% in the three months to December (2025 Quarter 4) compared with growth of 0.4% in the three months to November and growth of 0.3% in October according to statistics announced by the Chief Statistician. This follows growth of 0.3% in 2025 Quarter 3 (July to September).