First Minister John Swinney is set to announce £25 million of funding to local authorities to invest in the renewal of play parks across Scotland. All councils will receive a share of the funding to improve the standard of existing play parks - helping to ensure children have access to safe environments to play and socialise in.
Several price increases are expected in April due to government changes and other factors: Energy Bills: The energy price cap is set to rise by 6.4%, adding approximately £111 annually to the average household's energy costs. Water Bills: Water bills are expected to see their largest increase in decades, with an average rise of £123 annually.
The FCA has launched a market study into how well the distribution of pure protection insurance products - which support families with financial commitments if someone becomes critically ill or dies – is working for consumers. In 2023, around £4.85bn was paid out in claims on individual policies to support people suffering from bereavement, illness, and injury.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to deliver her Spring Statement on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. Here's what might be included: Spending Cuts: Reeves has hinted at significant spending cuts, including a reduction of 15% in civil service running costs by 2029-30, which could lead to around 10,000 job losses2.
As Chancellor looks to public spending cuts, the Treasury is set to give the Bank money that could instead be used to provide grant funding for over half a million social homes. The Treasury will be handing the Bank of England over £130bn by 2030 to help pay a stealth subsidy to bankers, money that could fund over half a million new social homes, the New Economics Foundation has warned.
Rachel Reeves thinks she is facing an economic crisis. She's wrong.
Reducing the gap between the basic and incapacity rates of universal credit could mean billions more in cuts for ill and disabled people. The government is downplaying the true scale of planned cuts to social security, according to analysis from the New Economics Foundation (NEF), out today.
NEF analysis reveals government's £5bn benefits savings conceals even bigger cut for ill and disabled people, Ill and disabled people are set to lose out on an additional £1.5bn from changes to universal credit (UC), on top of the cuts to Personal Independence Payments announced by the government this week, the New Economics Foundation (NEF) has found. NEF analysis of figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) suggests the government's £5bn of benefits savings conceals the true scale of the impact on ill and disabled people.
Cutting-edge research networks backed by government to tackle debilitating symptoms of dementia including memory loss and communication difficulties. People living with dementia are set to benefit from government-backed research designed to help them live more independently in their own homes.
New training will help deliver 1.5 million homes which will transform communities and drive growth through the Plan for Change. Up to 60,000 more engineers, brickies, sparkies, and chippies to be trained by 2029, as Chancellor outlines how the government will train more workers to tackle skills shortages and inspire the next generation into the construction sector.
More officers trained and funding provided as clampdown on illegal tobacco and vape trade accelerates. Tighter and tougher protections to protect children and communities from illicit tobacco and vapes have been unveiled today (Sunday 22 March) as the landmark Tobacco and Vapes Bill moves closer to creating a smokefree UK.
Paul Johnson writing for the Times and reproduced at Institute for Fiscal Studies. Rachel Reeves gives herself so little room for manoeuvre that she creates costly uncertainty when the choice is obvious: raise taxes or cut spending.
Early estimates for February 2025 indicate that the number of payrolled employees broadly stayed the same compared with February 2024, at 30.4 million; a small rise of 0.2% or 67,000 employees. This change was highest in the health and social work sector, a rise of 92,000 employees, and lowest in the accommodation and food service activities sector, a fall of 64,000 employees.
Sky, BT, IMG, ITV and BBC admitted to breaking the law after colluding on rates of pay for freelancers. An investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) found some of the largest sports broadcast and production companies in the UK shared sensitive information about fees for freelance workers such as camera operators and sound technicians.
Great British Energy's first project will put rooftop solar panels on 200 schools and 200 hospitals - cutting energy bills. First major project for Great British Energy is to put rooftop solar panels on around 200 schools and 200 NHS sites, saving hundreds of millions on their energy bills.
New figures released show the impact of UK sanctions on Russia. New data released on 21 March reveals the full effect of UK sanctions on Russia - with over £25 billion of Russian assets reported frozen since Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine.
Speech delivered by Martin Coleman, Inquiry Chair of the CMA's market investigation into veterinary services for household pets. I have owned dogs and cats for many years - I currently have a sprocker spaniel - and know from my own experience that veterinary professionals are caring, highly skilled.
The TRA has initiated a transition review into an anti-dumping measure on ammonium nitrate from Russia. The TRA will be reviewing the anti-dumping measure transitioned from the EU to determine whether it is still suitable for the UK's needs.
Leading figures across the food system have today joined the Government to advise on its food strategy (21 March). Britain is known for its top-tier restaurants, talented chefs, skilled farmers, and a remarkable mix of cultural and traditional dishes that are celebrated globally.
Access to higher education at university for Scottish students from the most deprived areas has increased to a near record high, official figures have shown. The latest Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) figures for 2023-24 show that 16.7% of full-time first degree entrants to Scottish universities came from the nation's 20% most deprived areas.
A Bill designed to create jobs and drive economic growth across Scotland by promoting investment in communities has been published today. The Community Wealth Building Bill is the first of its kind in the world and would require councils, National Health Service boards and other public bodies to take forward measures which boost their local economies.
The UK Pesticides National Action Plan sets out how the Government will work collaboratively with farmers to minimise the impacts of pesticides on people and the environment. It will support our farmers, growers, and other land managers to manage pests sustainably, safeguarding crops and boosting productivity The NAP, which follows the ban on neonic pesticides in England, includes a domestic target to reduce potential environmental harm from pesticides Environmental risk from pesticides is to be reduced by 10% over the next five years under a new plan set out by all four UK Governments today (Friday 21 March).
dditional investment of £24 million through an innovative programme to deliver affordable homes across Scotland will see total funding in the scheme reach half a billion pounds. Started in 2014, the Charitable Bonds scheme provides loans to housing associations to build properties for social rent, while also generating additional funds for the Scottish Government's affordable housing budget.
People across the UK will benefit from upgraded sports facilities in their local area thanks to £100 million invested by government today. Major package to upgrade hundreds of local grassroots sports facilities with new and improved pitches, changing rooms, goalposts and floodlights.
Technology giant IBM have backed plans to diversify the UK's cyber sector and encourage young people into cyber careers. Global tech giant IBM to provide platform for flagship cyber skills programme for girls - boosting diversity in the booming £13 billion cyber sector as more young people explore careers in cyber.
An update on progress for redress for postmasters subject to bankruptcy orders who are due redress for losses suffered as a consequence of the Post Office's Horizon IT system. Bankruptcy and its impact on the Horizon IT redress schemes is complex, therefore, the Official Receiver is contacting the affected former postmasters to help work through their options.
Barrow is a blueprint for how defence spending can boost communities up and down the country, the Prime Minister will say while on a visit to the town today. Keir Starmer joins Vanguard Class submarine crew returning home from nuclear deterrent patrol to thank them for their silent service Comes as he visits Barrow to lay the keel of the next generation Dreadnought submarine, the next generation of the UK's nuclear deterrent.
Entertainment from Junior members. See poster for tickets.
Tickets from the bar from 14 March. Show starts at 7:15pm.
Venue: Mount Pleasant Primary School, Thurso Programme: Bizet - L'Arlessienne Suites 1 & 2, conducted by Susie Dingle Wagner - The Pilgrims' Chorus from Tannhauseer, conducted by James Doherty.
Venue: East Caithness Church of Scotland, Argyle Square, Wick. Programme: Bizet - L'Arlessienne Suites 1 & 2, conducted by Susie Dingle Wagner - The Pilgrims' Chorus from Tannhauser, conducted by James Doherty.
More crime victims will get access to a range of information about the perpetrator and have a say on decisions about their prison release under newly unveiled justice reforms. Currently victims can register with the Victim Notification Scheme (VNS) if the offender in their case has been sentenced to 18 months or more in prison, or with the Victim Information Scheme if the sentence was less than 18 months.
Today is World Book Day, an important moment to reflect on the power of storytelling to inspire, educate and connect young people across the world. Reading is a fundamental right - one that opens doors, fuels imaginations and shapes futures.
People who have purchased Boots Paracetamol 500mg Tablets 16s (Item code 81-99-922, Batch 241005, Expiry date 12/2029) are advised to stop using the product immediately and return it to a Boots store for a full refund, because of a packaging error. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued a medicines recall alert due to a packaging error where the foil blister inside the carton incorrectly states ‘Aspirin 300mg Dispersible Tablets' instead of ‘Paracetamol 500mg Tablets'.
The Highland Council is inviting community groups and organisations to submit Expressions of Interest for Community Regeneration Funding (CRF) to finance capital projects that will respond to the needs of their local areas and deliver positive impacts. Community Regeneration Funding is an umbrella term being used to cover multiple community-led external funding programmes being administered by the Highland Council.
People across Scotland encouraged to get potential symptoms checked earlier. The latest phase of the Scottish Government's ‘Be the Early Bird' campaign has a new focus on head and neck cancer symptoms.
The following article is the result of research in England but Scotland may well be similar with a higher level of social housing. As of 31st March 2022, there were 2.7 million dwellings estimated in Scotland.
Lybster Heritage Trust Annual General Meeting Wednesday 26th March 2025 at 0900 Waterlines, Shore Road, Lybster Harbour All Welcome Cheers Andrew.
When The Highland Council's Harbours Management Board met earlier today, (Friday 28 February 2025) members expressed their delight that two projects are bringing benefits to the council, the fishing industry and their local communities. The Highland Council manages approximately ninety ports, harbours and marine facilities, ten of which provide Marine Gas Oil (MGO) bunkering facilities.
Gaelic language broadcasting is to receive an additional £1.8 million to help build on the success of BBC Alba's crime thriller An t-Eilean. The increase is contained in the Scottish Government's 2025/26 Budget and raises total funding for MG ALBA (the Gaelic Media Service) to £14.8 million in the upcoming financial year.
The government is bringing forward strengthened support for millions of households to help pay their energy bills next winter. Nearly 3 million more families would be eligible to receive the £150 Warm Home Discount next winter under new proposals to help people with their energy bills.
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MON 24TH MAR 2025 12:20:07 PM GMT
