Scottish Government

The Scottish Government will set out how it intends to support the Paris Agreement goal of preventing warming of more than 1.5 degrees by publishing its own indicative Nationally Determined Contribution ahead of COP26 in Glasgow next November. Roseanna Cunningham, environment and climate change secr

The City of Edinburgh Council has published its response to the recent Scottish Government consultation on short term lets, welcoming the announcement that draft legislation on proposals is expected to be considered by Parliament in December. The report, which will be considered by councillors at ne

Health secretary Jeane Freeman has announced plans for a significant expansion in testing for hospital patients, health and social care staff, and communities in Level 4 areas. From next week, all emergency admissions will be tested for COVID, and twice-weekly lateral flow testing will be introduced

Langstane Housing Association has outlined how it will make use of funding it has received through the Scottish Government’s Homelessness Prevention Fund. Administered by the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA), the £1.5 million fund to support projects that contribut

Almost 6,000 people received a Funeral Support Payment from the Scottish Government in its first full year, according to new statistics. Since it started making payments last September, Social Security Scotland has paid out £8.7 million to people who have lost a loved one.

More than 23,000 iPads and Chromebooks are being distributed among digitally excluded low-income families and care leavers in Scotland, as part of the latest phase of the £43 million Connecting Scotland programme. As well as a new device, recipients also receive mobile data and help to use the

The Highland Council is inviting communities to come forward with expressions of interest for projects that, if successful, could receive a share of funding aimed at supporting coastal communities throughout Highland. The Highland Coastal Communities Fund has been set up by the council following an

The Scottish National Investment Bank (SNIB) has officially opened for business today with a mission to focus on supporting Scotland’s transition to net zero; extending equality of opportunity through improving places, and harnessing innovation to enable Scotland to flourish. Being capitalised

The Scottish Government has announced a £35 million five-year programme which will make it easier for planners to work together and for members of the public to get involved in creating and shaping their places. The new data and technology system, to begin development in early 2021, will provi

Finance secretary Kate Forbes has called on the UK Government to prioritise public services and economic recovery through a fresh fiscal stimulus package of £98 billion, ahead of the Spending Review on Wednesday. This support, which is at least 5% of GDP, would be on par with the economic reco

A five-year programme to fund affordable housing projects in rural and island communities is being extended, housing minister Kevin Stewart has told Parliament. The Rural and Islands Housing Funds, worth up to £30 million, were launched in 2016 and will now run beyond March next year.

West Dunbartonshire Council is seeking comments from the Scottish Government on a plan to introduce enhanced fire safety measures across the area’s high rise buildings. The proposed programme of further enhancements, including upgrades to window panels in 11 blocks, as well as installation of

The Scottish Housing Regulator is consulting on indicators to allow it to monitor and report on social landlords’ progress towards the Scottish Government’s Energy Efficiency Standard in Social Housing 2 (EESSH2). Last year the Scottish Government confirmed that the second EESSH mileston

New homes will be built in the Highlands in an attempt to entice workers to salmon farms due to a shortage of affordable housing throughout the region.

The next Scottish Government should invest at least £1.3 billion over the next Parliament in making Scotland’s homes highly energy-efficient and zero carbon emissions from heat, according to the Existing Homes Alliance Scotland. Launching its Manifesto for the 2021 Scottish Parliame