Scottish Government faces IT skills shortage
A public spending watchdog has warned that the Scottish Government still doesn't know how much investment is needed to achieve the aims of its 2017 digital strategy.
Scottish Government
Councils have raided £157million from their reserves in the last year
Scotland’s councils were forced to raid their cash reserves this year and remove £157million to fund day-to-day services.
Farming vital to boost economy, say 86% of Scots
Almost nine in 10 Scots believe farming is vital to economic growth, according to a new poll.
Calls for safety review on AWPR
Calls have been made for an urgent safety review on the AWPR.
Ministerial task group to address population concerns
A ministerial task group has been set up to help solve Scotland’s future population concerns, including maintaining inward migration.
Prestwick Airport to be sold off by Scottish Government
Prestwick Airport has been put up for sale, the Scottish Government has announced.
Water at review schools assessed to be safe, John Swinney insists
Tests have shown water at a school where several current and former teachers have been diagnosed with cancer is safe to drink, the Education Secretary has insisted.
Minister for Older people slams ‘unacceptable’ licence fee decision
Stripping pensioners of free TV licences is “unacceptable” and will create “difficult choices” about what they can afford, Scotland’s Minister for Older People has warned.
Thousands of young people fear judgment of talking about mental health – report
Thousands of young people across Scotland fear discussing their mental health will result in judgment or rejection, according to a new study.
Clear sense of urgency needed in tackling child poverty, ministers told
Meeting Scotland’s child poverty targets could cost almost £1 billion a year – although a report has said that making more “modest” payments of just £10 a week could make a difference to struggling families.
University tackles period poverty by post
A university is to expand its provision of free sanitary products to its online learners as far afield as Tanzania and New Zealand to help tackle period poverty.
Independent review announced into health and safety at ‘blue water’ school
An independent review into health and safety concerns at a school where four current and former teachers were diagnosed with cancer has been announced by the Scottish Government.
Flooding expected as heavy rain forecast for Scotland
Homes and businesses are likely to be flooded and travel disrupted as heavy rain sweeps parts of Scotland on Thursday, forecasters have warned.
Sick days taken by prison staff up by almost 50,000
Sick days taken by prison workers have increased by almost 50,000 in the last four years, sparking accusations that the Scottish Government is failing staff who are “struggling almost to breaking point”.
North’s largest primary school to extend summer holiday by a day as £3.2 million refurbishment continues
Pupils at the north's largest primary school are being given an additional day off at the end of the upcoming summer break after an "exceptional school closure" was granted by the Scottish Government.
New targets to tackle ‘blight of fuel poverty’ in Scotland approved
Targets committing the Scottish Government to reduce fuel poverty to below 5% of Scottish households by 2040 have been approved by MSPs.
Have your say on the proposals to ease traffic at notorious Longman roundabout
Proposals to ease traffic at the notorious Longman roundabout in Inverness are to go on display later this month.
Funding boost for children’s social media advice service
Funding of £90,000 has been announced for a new advice package on the healthy use of social media and screen time.
Fishing dispute breaks out between Scotland and Ireland
A fishing row has erupted between Scotland and Ireland, with the former threatening action if Irish vessels continue to operate in the zone around Rockall, an outcrop in the North Atlantic.
Scottish coastal protection zones proposed for dolphins, whales and sharks
Protection zones for whales, dolphins and basking sharks are being considered across thousands of miles of sea off the Scottish coast.
Inverness playgroup to close its doors after 30 years
An Inverness playgroup that has run for 30 years has become a casualty of the Scottish Government's new childcare pledge.
Scottish Government promises it will do all it can to protect threatened Aberdeen paper mill
The Scottish Government has pledged to do "everything that can possibly be done" to save an under-threat north-east paper mill.
Relationship between Scottish and UK governments has ‘broken down’
The relationship between the Scottish and UK governments has "broken down" and urgent constitutional reform is required to restore trust, an influential Commons committee has said.
Calls for more powers to protect women attending abortion clinics
Power to protect women attending abortion clinics should be given to local councils, the Scottish Government has been told.
Audit Scotland investigates HIE’s ability to run its crisis-hit Cairngorm ski resort
Scottish Government auditors are investigating the ability of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) to run the Cairngorm ski area and questioning the organisation’s valuation of the resort’s failed funicular railway.
Strikes at six regional airports across Scotland suspended
A second day of strikes by air traffic controllers, which could have affected six regional airports in Scotland, has been suspended.
Key finance strategy ‘lacking analytical assessment’, economics experts say
The Scottish Government’s latest financial strategy is lacking “analytical assessment” and contains only “limited information” on spending plans, economic experts have said.
Praise for Moray mentoring volunteers as Scottish Government minister visits
Volunteers who give up their time to help troubled young people in Moray have been praised by the Scottish Government.
More than 100 miles of new paths to be created across Scotland
More than 100 miles of new and improved paths will be created across Scotland as part of a scheme to boost outdoor access.
Funding of £4.5 million announced to help grow Scottish food and drink exports
Funding worth £4.5 million has been announced to support the growth of Scotland’s food and drink exports.
Serious violence in Scotland down by more than a third in a decade – analysis
Violent incidents in Scotland such as serious assault and attempted murder have dropped by more than a third in a decade, according to new analysis.
Climate change protesters chained to Scottish Parliament freed by leaders
Environmental protesters locked themselves on to the Scottish Parliament building and posted the keys to party leaders in the hope of getting changes to the Climate Change Bill.