Statistics on annual average private sector rents to the end of September 2023 have been released today by Scotland's Chief Statistician. These statistics are based predominantly on advertised rents, and so reflect rents that landlords are charging when their properties become available for rent at the point of tenant turnover or when properties are new to the rental market.
Global corporate investment in artificial intelligence has risen greatly over the past decade. A Stanford University analysis estimates that total mergers and acquisitions, minority stake and private investments and public offerings amounted to $934.2 billion from 2013 to 2022.
Total spending on five family payments passes £596 million. The families of more than 323,000 under-16s were benefitting from Scottish Child Payment at the end of September, official statistics show.
Over 500 respondents contributed to the Department for Education's call for evidence on generative AI. Education professionals, Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology specialists, and ed-tech experts are embracing the opportunities offered by AI in the education sector, according to the results of the government's first ever Call for Evidence on Artificial Intelligence in Education, published today.
The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time. It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.
Thousands of head teachers, teachers and support staff have shared their views on pupil behaviour and relationships in Scotland's local authority schools. The fifth edition of the Behaviour in Scottish Schools Research (BISSR) report found staff perceived the majority of pupils to be behaving well.
When ChatGPT launched a year ago, headlines flooded the internet about fears of student cheating. A pair of essays in The Atlantic decried "the end of high-school English" and the death of the college essay." NPR informed readers that "everybody is cheating." Meanwhile, Teen Vogue ventured that the moral panic "may be overblown." The more measured tone in Teen Vogue tracks better with preliminary findings from our 2023 survey that examined attitudes and feelings about artificial intelligence among college faculty who teach writing.
Crime levels have dropped by more than half since 2008-09, according to the latest Scottish Crime and Justice Survey (SCJS). The 2021-22 official statistics show that people feel safer in their communities, with the proportion of those experiencing the types of crime covered in the survey at an historic low.
Plan includes delivery of national self-harm support services. A new strategy focused on supporting people who self-harm is being launched, backed by new investment from the Scottish Government of £1.5 million.
On 22 November, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, presented the government's Autumn Statement 2023. The Statement contained a variety of measures related to energy including: £600bn of planned public sector investment over the next five years to underpin future growth and support energy security, net zero, and public services.
Proposals to replace fossil fuel heating with clean heating and improve energy efficiency Clean heating systems will replace polluting heating systems in Scotland's homes and buildings by 2045 under proposals published today. Under legislation to be introduced in 2025 which will start taking effect later in the decade, those buying new homes or buildings would be asked to move to a "clean" heating system, such as a heat pump or connection to a heat network, within a fixed period of time following that purchase.
Royal Mail, the UK's oldest postal service, has received plenty of bad news in recent weeks. It has been fined for failing to achieve its delivery targets, lost an exclusive deal with the Post Office and recorded operating losses of £319 million - £100 million higher than for the same period last year.
A trial to research the economic opportunities and environmental impacts of electrofishing for razor clams has been extended for a further 12 months. The extension aims to strengthen the evidence-base and inform future decisions about capacity for a sustainable razor clam fishery in Scottish waters, including developing fisheries management measures.
Two contracts, worth collectively over £100 million, have been awarded to Babcock to support the development of the UK's future nuclear deterrent. Contracts awarded to Babcock for in-service support expertise and weapon handling.
ScotRail has confirmed that its services will be unaffected when members of the train drivers' union, ASLEF, take part in industrial action. Members of ASLEF at various train operating companies across the UK plan to take strike action on Saturday, 2 December and Sunday, 3 December, and again between Tuesday, 5 December and Friday, 8 December.
Scotland's onshore GDP grew by 0.1% in September, according to statistics announced today by the Chief Statistician. This follows 0.2% growth in August (revised up from 0.1%).
High Life Highland's Countryside Ranger's gave members of the public an exciting opportunity to ‘dive in' to the world of marine wildlife at the North Coast Visitor Centre recently. The ‘Whale and Dolphin Watching’ presentation took place on Wednesday 15th November at 11am, and was well attended by the local Caithness community.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd, sponsored by Camus Consulting and the Bissett Family amd supported by the Zwartbles Sheep Association, (November, 24th) sold 65 Pedigree, Pure and Cross Bred Zwartbles. Dingwall's Annual Highland Zwartbles Sale sold sheep up and down the country.
People in the UK are spending less time in natural environments since the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. An estimated 1.1 million fewer people across the UK gained health benefits from spending time in nature in 2022 compared with two years earlier.