Month: December 2025

Watchdog urges DVSA to address driving test delay backlog and cut waiting times

  • Average waiting time for practical car driving tests in Great Britain was 22 weeks in September 2025, and DVSA does not expect to hit its target waiting time of seven weeks until November 2027.
  • These waiting times have increased significantly since the Covid-19 pandemic, with many slots also now being booked up by third-party providers, often using automated bots. 
  • Despite several recruitment drives, DVSA has not recruited sufficient examiners to increase test slots, and exit rates remain high due to uncompetitive pay and safety concerns. 

Learner drivers are facing long waiting times and some are paying up to eight times the standard rate for a driving test through third parties due to a failure from the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to resolve test booking issues, a new National Audit Office (NAO) report has found.

The average waiting time for a test was 22 weeks as of September 2025, compared with just over five weeks in early 2020, and 70% of DVSA’s test centres are operating at the maximum waiting time of twenty-four weeks.

Although DVSA created and implemented a plan in 2024 to reduce wait times down to seven weeks by the end of 2025, it does not expect to meet this target until the end of 2027.

These delays can have a serious impact on learner drivers’ income and the economy, with 30% of respondents to a DVSA survey saying they need to be able to drive for their jobs.

A large backlog of driving tests (estimated at 1.1 million) accumulated over the Covid-19 pandemic, and an estimated 360,000 of these tests have not yet been booked. DVSA has been slow to react to other factors that are increasing the number of tests needed, such as an increase in those taking theory tests. It has also struggled to understand the real demand for driving tests due to high demand being generated by automated programmes (bots) booking up available slots.

Delays in getting a test are resulting in just under a third of learners booking their tests through third-party websites, sometimes paying significantly inflated prices of up to £500, compared to the standard weekday test fee of £62 charged by DVSA.

DVSA has taken action against the reselling of slots through third parties, recently announcing that only learners will be able to purchase tests. Through this, DVSA is also hoping to limit the use of automated programmes to book tests, which remains at high levels despite the implementation of anti-bot protection software.

The NAO report found high exit rates among examiners due to perceived uncompetitive pay and safety concerns. Despite 19 recruitment campaigns by DVSA there are only 83 more examiners in place than in 2021, against a goal of 400.

To meet its targets, DVSA must focus on recruiting new examiners so it can increase the number of driving tests it provides. As the current booking system is not working for learner drivers, the NAO has recommended that DVSA should take this opportunity to review how it manages the booking of driving tests and restore good service.

To action this, the NAO recommends that DVSA and the Department for Transport (DfT) should:

1. Explore what is driving increased demand, including assessing whether there are enough measures in place to ensure learners are able to book a test when they need to.

2. Increase test slots by investigating what is needed to scale up the examiner workforce and respond to any subsequent backlogs.

3. Agree governance arrangements between DfT and DVSA that will support DVSA to better respond to future challenges such as abuse of the test booking system.

Gareth Davies, head of the NAO, said: “The current system for providing driving tests in England, Scotland and Wales is not working satisfactorily, with long waiting times and exploitation of learner drivers by resellers of test slots.

“Our report recommends that the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency and the Department for Transport take decisive action to restore a fit for purpose driving test service.” 

Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, Chair of the Committee of Public Accounts said: “Failures by DVSA to tackle test booking issues have seriously impacted members of the public, with learners waiting many months to book a driving test.

“The current booking system, in place for the past 18 years, has been exploited by
third parties using bots to book up any available slots and then sell them on at
hugely inflated prices – up to eight times the standard weekday rate of £62.

“DVSA has finally begun to take more concrete action against the reselling of tests, although stricter booking rules will not come into effect until spring 2026.

“At the same time, DVSA has not been able to recruit and retain enough examiners
to increase capacity in line with demand.

DVSA must now use the opportunity provided by recent announcements to restore the service to an acceptable level for learner drivers.”

Read the full embargoed report here

Anchor shootings: Webley murderer jailed for life

A gunman who murdered a gangland rival outside a Granton pub on Hogmanay 2023 has been jailed for life.

Grant Hunter, 34, shot Marc Webley outside the Anchor Inn just before midnight on New Year’s Eve two years ago.

Hunter pleaded guilty to murdering Webley and attempting to murder a second man, Stuart Pearson, who was also shot but survived his injuries. Hunter will serve a minimum of 26 years for the crime but was told he may never be released.

Hunter approached Marc Webley and Stuart Pearson outside the pub, where he produced a gun and fired four shots at the men. Stuart Pearson was injured but Marc Webley died from his injuries in the early hours of New Year’s Day.

Jailing Hunter for a minimum of 26 years, Judge Lord Mulholland said: “You fired four shots which showed beyond any doubt that you wanted him dead.

“You shot another man who could have came to his aid which shows further intent.

“It is blatantly sinister that you wanted your victim to see your face which is an aggravating factor. In doing so you removed your mask and this was your undoing as the police knew you and people knew you which led to your swift arrest.

“The public are grateful to the police and forensic scientists for bringing you to justice.

“Gangsterism is not acceptable in a civilised society – this is a civilised society. The public will not put up with this gangsterism and the courts will not put up with it.

“Anyone going to court for carrying out this type of criminality can expect a lengthy prison sentence.

“As I said to you previously, this is not Chicago of the 1930s. Scotland is a civilised place without tolerance for gangsterism.

“You have left a mother without a son and two boys without a father. Your cowardly actions will haunt you for the rest of your life.”

Are tax rises a price worth paying for improved public services?

With the UK and Scottish Budgets in mind, Holyrood.com asked a panel of experts if tax rises a price worth paying for improved public services. Here’s how four members of Tax Justice Scotland responded:

Yes. Abolishing the two-child limit was absolutely the right thing to do. It immediately lifts 350,000 children out of poverty, 20,000 of them here in Scotland.

“In a country as wealthy as the UK it would be utterly incomprehensible for a responsible government not to have acted. 60 per cent of these children are in working families, others have parents whose ability to work is constrained by disability, ill health and bereavement.

These parents pay taxes but now need support with the costs of bringing up the next generation. It is in our interests to pay what’s needed to ensure we have the public services and social security that protect us all when unexpected economic and health shocks hit. Tax is vital for investing in children, and we should all be proud to pay our fair share – for our children’s sake and for the long-term economic security of our country.

John Dickie, Director, Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) in Scotland

It is uncontroversial and self-evident, I believe, to say that we all rely on good public services. Whether parents packing kids off to school, businesses moving goods around the country, or all of us maintaining our health, quality services are essential.

And if we are to deliver on our shared ambitions for our country – reducing child poverty, increasing educational attainment, tackling our wide health inequalities – then we need to raise resources to fund these services.

Tax is vital tool in reaching these goals. But precisely how we use tax is the crucial question. We are a wealthy country, and how that wealth is taxed must move to the centre of debates about taxation. Frustratingly, the recent UK Budget once again focused largely on the taxation of income. There needs to be a greater emphasis on the taxation of wealth, and in Scotland finally reforming council tax would be a great contribution to that debate.

Peter Kelly, Chief Executive, The Poverty Alliance

Absolutely, but tax fairness really matters too. Right now, people across Scotland are seeing local services vanish, public services – like the NHS – struggling, and folk trapped in poverty. Yet they know that wealth at the top is soaring.

We must see tax, when revenues are spent wisely, as an investment in a fairer and greener Scotland, healthier lives, and care and support when we need it most. It’s also a down-payment on a healthy, inclusive economy.

But it’s not just about how much tax is raised, it’s about who pays. Our tax system favours the very richest. The UK Government should do much more to make wealthier households pay a fairer share. In Scotland, we must better tax property wealth by replacing the outdated, unfair council tax and tax luxury pollution through a private jet tax. Public support is strong for the wealthiest paying more: what’s missing is political courage.

Jamie Livingstone, Head of Oxfam Scotland

Tax Justice Scotland works in solidarity with a growing global movement of people campaigning for far tax reforms. We are a partner of (but independent from) Tax Justice UK and the Tax Justice Network.

The work of Tax Justice Scotland is led by a steering group made up of a sub-set of its members who collaboratively work together to guide the campaign.

Contact us: mail@taxjustice.scot

500 jobs protected at Grangemouth as UK Government partners with INEOS to save vital plant’s future

Vital chemical production at Grangemouth protected as Government provides over £120m support package in £150m joint investment

  • UK Government provides over £120m support package as part of £150m joint investment with INEOS to protect vital chemical production and 500 jobs at Grangemouth, plus hundreds more in the supply chain.
  • Unique plant strategically important for UK’s critical national infrastructure, energy, manufacturing, North Sea operations and modern Industrial Strategy.
  • Deal secures operational commitment from INEOS for the plant and multimillion-pound investment from the company.

Britain’s last ethylene plant at Grangemouth has been saved by the UK Government – securing 500 good jobs and hundreds more across the region in the supply chain.

Thanks to a landmark partnership between the UK Government and INEOS, the future of this vital site is now protected, sending a clear signal: this Government is backing workers and their communities across the whole of the UK.

With over £120 million in UK Government support and major investment from INEOS, the Grangemouth plant will stay open with jobs secured.

This huge win keeps the heart of Scotland’s industry beating strong, supports local families, and keeps critical supply chains running nationwide.

This package will help secure the site’s operations and contribute toward improving energy efficiencies, reducing carbon emissions and increasing productivity, helping to secure the site’s long-term competitiveness and sustainability. INEOS has spent over £100 million over the last year maintaining operations at the site.

The Grangemouth plant is vital for the whole UK economy. It produces ethylene which is essential for medical-grade plastics and use in the chemical supply chain. These plastics are also vital to key industries, including advanced manufacturing, automotive, and aerospace, where they are used in nearly every product.

The decisive action from the UK Government is part of its modern Industrial Strategy, which identifies chemicals as a vital foundational sector that underpins the UK’s high-growth industries like defence and advanced manufacturing by producing the materials they all depend on, while also being essential to many supply chains.

The UK Government is backing the chemicals sector through the Industrial Strategy with targeted support to bring down energy costs, including through the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme – which will slash costs for businesses in sectors including chemicals by up to 25% – and the British Industrial Supercharger, which will save Britain’s most energy-intensive firms money on their electricity costs.

The plant also links to the Forties Pipeline System, which is key for transporting North Sea oil and gas to onshore facilities. Without government intervention, the plant’s closure would have seriously affected hundreds of onsite workers, impacted thousands of jobs regionally, and devastated supply chains.

Business Secretary Peter Kyle formally announced the support yesterday (17 December) during a visit to the INEOS site in Grangemouth with the Chancellor and Scotland Secretary.

Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, said: “When we said we’d protect jobs and invest in Britain’s future, we meant it – and this is proof.

“Through partnership, determination, and our Modern Industrial Strategy, we’re delivering new opportunities, fresh investment, and security for the next generation of workers in Scotland.

“This is about good jobs, stronger communities, and a modern economy that works for everyone.

“Our commitment is clear: to back British industry, to stand by hardworking families, and to ensure places like Grangemouth can thrive for years to come. Promise made, promise delivered.”

Business Secretary Peter Kyle said: “The UK Government’s decision to step in will protect Grangemouth as a site of strategic national importance and secure 500 vital jobs in the area.

“By partnering with INEOS we are backing the plant and its long-term future, giving certainty to workers and the supply chain going forward.

“This approach is part of our Modern Industrial Strategy through which we are working to reduce the cost of energy for industry and support manufacturing in the UK.”

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: “We said we would stand squarely behind communities like Grangemouth and we meant it.  

“Building on the millions of pounds we’ve already invested in Grangemouth, this vital package protects our national resilience and secures the livelihoods of hundreds of people employed at the site way into the future.”

Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander said: “The UK Government is investing £120 million today to protect jobs and secure future opportunities at Grangemouth.

“Grangemouth has been at the heart of Scotland’s industrial story for generations, and today we’re ensuring it remains central to our future.

“This is a landmark moment for Grangemouth. This £120 million UK Government investment protects not just the 500 jobs at the plant, but thousands more across Scottish supply chains.”

INEOS CEO Sir Jim Ratcliffe said: “This £150m investment in the future of a major UK industrial site demonstrates INEOS and the UK Government’s commitment to British manufacturing. The support of the UK Government is welcome as we work to deliver competitive and efficient low-carbon manufacturing for the UK, long term. 

“UK Government support for INEOS’ investment shows the strategic importance of making things in Britain. It protects 500 high-value jobs, secures supply chains and preserves the industrial capability the nation needs.”

Through the partnership, INEOS and the UK Government have demonstrated their commitment to operating the site and maintaining jobs. The agreement includes safeguards to protect taxpayers’ money, such as strict assurances that the funding can only be used to improve the site, and also gives the UK Government the right to share in future profits.

The chemicals sector across Europe has faced significant challenges in recent years, including high energy costs, with around 40 percent of remaining European ethylene capacity having recently closed or remaining at risk.

The partnership demonstrates the UK Government’s commitment to working with business to support Scotland and Scottish workers, and contributes towards government’s vision for Grangemouth’s long-term future.

This vision includes £200 million of investment from the National Wealth Fund to support new opportunities in Grangemouth, with projects actively being considered and around 140 enquiries already received.

Last week it was announced that around 310 jobs will be supported over the next five years by the Scottish company MiAlgae, that has started construction on its first commercial scale manufacturing facility that will transform whisky waste into fish-free Omega 3 following £3 million in UK and Scottish government backing.

To support workers at the nearby Exxon Mobil Mossmorran plant which is to close in February 2026, the UK and Scottish governments as well as Fife Council will set up a taskforce to ensure those impacted have the best chance of securing well-paid and valuable employment.

The Grangemouth Training Guarantee will also be expanded to those workers who provided shared services to the refinery, providing new opportunity across local communities.

The UK Government is also working to tackle the challenges of high industrial energy prices at source for Scottish and UK businesses through the modern Industrial Strategy, launched in June.

This includes increasing the discount on eligible businesses’ electricity costs from 60 to 90% through the British Industrial Supercharger scheme, and consulting on the new British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS), which will slash electricity costs by up to 25% for over 7,000 UK businesses.

Robert Begbie, CEO Commercial & Institutional, NatWest commented: “As the UK’s biggest bank for business, accelerating regional growth is a key priority for us at NatWest.

“We know that this vital funding will support Ineos Grangemouth in remaining a critical site for our national resilience and prosperity, whilst helping protect jobs in Scotland and beyond.”

Singing for Solidarity: North Edinburgh choir at Modern Two today

TODAY (Thursday 18 December), from 1.30pm to 2.00pm, join us and the Greater Pilton Singers for a performance of their specially penned song Solidarity Wins: A Song for Greater Pilton, surrounded by the Resistance exhibition at National Galleries Scotland: Modern Two!

Written collaboratively by members from North Edinburgh Arts Art For Grown Ups Project and Royston Wardieburn Community Centre’s Arts and Culture Group – also with musician and activist Penny Stone – the choir created a gentle yet mighty protest song, evoking nostalgia and hope.

As well as their own anthem, they will perform a couple of classic soul and activism songs. The song has been developed as part of the Resistance outreach programme, which has culminated in the exhibition Solidarity Wins: Creative Resistance in North Edinburgh at the Portrait Gallery until 30 April 2026.

PICTURES: CRAIG MACLEAN

Essential driving tips for safe journeys this festive season

Travelling home for Christmas or out and about visiting family can be a hectic and dangerous time on our roads.

Around Christmas, conditions are normally challenging with cold and wet weather making roads treacherous.

The evenings are also darker, with a larger volume of cars. Traffic experts estimate nearly 30 million journeys take place in the UK over the Christmas holidays, as people hunt for gifts, enjoy festive nights out and celebrate with friends and family.

Experts from Tiger.co.uk have named six important steps for drivers to take when travelling over the festive period, particularly if they have kids in the car.

The calendar is normally packed full of festivities that children often need to be driven to, from visiting Santa, to pantomimes, town Christmas light switch-ons and carol services – often driving long distances or through turbulent winter weather conditions.

It’s crucial for parents or guardians to be aware of potential issues to ensure a safe and responsible driving environment for little ones.

Crucially, parents should use an appropriate car seat or seat belt for their child’s age, height, and weight and make sure it’s installed properly, regularly cleaned and is compatible with the vehicle.

According to the Highway Code, children must use a car seat until they’re 12 years old or 135 cm tall, and toddlers under 15 months must be placed in a rear-facing car seat.

Failing to comply with these rules can result in a fine of up to £500 and penalty points.

The Highway Code Rule 98 also warns drivers to make sure objects are secure when loading a car. Christmas presents, juice bottles and toys need to be stored properly before setting off, to reduce the risk of them hurting people inside the car in the event of an accident.

Busy parents or caregivers are also reminded to avoid multitasking while driving and avoid driving altogether if they are too tired over the festive break.

Ian Wilson, car insurance expert and Managing Director at Tiger.co.uk said: “Driving over the holiday season can bring a whole new set of challenges given the unpredictable weather, busy roads and hectic Christmas calendar.

“It also brings unfamiliar situations as more people do late night runs as designated drivers, usual routes can suffer additional congestion due to festive events and Christmas lights and festive spectacles can make for distractions.

“It’s important for drivers to be aware of these additional hazards and safety tips in the build up to Christmas, leaving time to prepare the car, the passengers and ensure they’re not too tired to drive.

“Careless driving can see motorists handed an unlimited fine with three to nine penalty points so it’s best to be aware of the dangers and plan ahead.”

Tiger’s tips for staying safe on the roads this Christmas: 

1. Avoid distractions and ensure visibility

It’s important that the driver can see out of the vehicle properly at all times, so presents need to be packed and stored safely in the boot – and not on the parcel shelf. If the car is decorated for Christmas, you need to be careful that it’s not a distraction to the driver and they can see clearly out of all of the windows.

2. Check you’re not too tired

The Christmas period can put a lot of stress on drivers. Organising, packing, wrapping and spending time visiting lots of family members can be exhausting but you should never drive when tired. Anyone experiencing festive fatigue should swap drivers, take a rest stop to recharge or consider public transport. 

3. Beware of bulky clothes

Although the winter chill means children are likely wrapped up warm before getting into the car, bulky coats should not be worn in car seats. They leave extra space under the harness, which could lead them to slip through the straps during an accident. To keep kids warm in the car, dress them in thin layers and use a blanket over the harness. 

4. Double-check child lock

When driving with children, child locks should also be in use. Children may open the door accidentally while moving – which is incredibly dangerous and could be seen as careless driving and result in a hefty fine and points on your licence. Without a child lock, children can also try to leave the vehicle in busy areas before the parents are ready to help.  

5. Car seats are a priority 

When driving with young children under 12 years or 135 cm tall, it is crucial to follow guidelines provided by car seat manufacturers and the law, to ensure children are properly restrained. Babies under 15 months must be placed in a rear-facing car seat. Refit and clean the seats regularly to ensure they are secure and free from debris that could hinder the buckles.

6. Be wary of multitasking

Passengers, especially children, can be very excitable when travelling at Christmas time, but it is important for drivers not to get distracted. Whether you are tending to their needs or trying to calm them down in the car, these distractions could lead to accidents. It is important to stay focused on the road in order to remain in control of the vehicle. If children in the car are becoming fussy on long journeys, it is better to pull over and take a break in a safe spot before taking to the road again. 

It’s also sensible to add breakdown cover to car insurance policies this Christmas or purchase a standalone product – drivers should check with their insurer to see if they have it already as standard, to avoid paying extra.

‘Collaborative innovation is the true winner’ as Scottish universities increasingly link up 

A raft of new partnerships launched across Scotland’s academic ecosystem means that ‘collaborative innovation is the true winner’, according to an NHS Scotland partner. 

Last week, it was announced that the University of Glasgow would be partnering with Glasgow Caledonian University to “enhance the two institutions’ capacity for entrepreneurship, innovation, and commercialisation” through what is being called the ‘Innovation Exchange’. 

Earlier this month too, a consortium of seven institutions jointly launched the Shared Academic Knowledge Exchange Services (ShaKEs) initiative, bringing together Queen Margaret University (QMU), Abertay University, the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI), Robert Gordon University, The Glasgow School of Art, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and Edinburgh College. 

Their aim is to “strengthen commercialisation and innovation across Scotland’s modern and smaller universities and the college sector”. 

Scotland’s National Innovation Week in September further saw the announcement of a new partnership between three Edinburgh further education institutions with their collective goal being “to support innovation and entrepreneurship”. 

Edinburgh Napier University, Queen Margaret University, and Edinburgh College, College, said they expect the link-up in the capital will be “contributing to Scotland’s economic development, while benefitting our students, communities and industry partners”. 

Formal NHS Scotland partner InnoScot Health believes the new partnerships are encouraging steps towards an ever more aligned triple helix of NHS, industry, and academia. 

The organisation’s Innovation Commercialisation Manager, Fiona Schaefer said: “We have spoken for some time about the need for key institutions and enterprises to strengthen connections across Scotland for the benefit of all, and we’re now seeing that increasingly happening in academia. 

“These are vital relationships that can help to underpin a healthier, more prosperous, and sustainable country. Collaborative support and the pooling of knowledge are essential to achieving that goal, so the forging of closer networks is a pleasing development. 

“Scotland’s urgent need for more collaborative innovation is set to the true winner here.”  

The Innovation Exchange is a five-year pilot partnership between Glasgow and Glasgow Caledonian Universities, supported by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC). 

Central to the Exchange is the development of a robust pipeline of social and commercial enterprises with a shared commitment to progressive thinking.  

The unifying of seven institutions as a result of the ShaKEs initiative will meanwhile allow the sharing of “specialist expertise and professional services to unlock new pathways for research impact, skills development, and economic growth”.  

It aims to translate research into real-world impact for health and social care, amongst other sectors, by honing expertise in areas such as intellectual property that are required to commercialise projects. 

Echoing those goals, the new partnership between Edinburgh Napier University, Queen Margaret University, and Edinburgh College, will support innovation and entrepreneurship in line with nationwide plans to boost Scotland’s economic development. 

The agreement will enhance work towards ambitions laid out in the Edinburgh and South East Scotland Regional Innovation Action Plan and the Scottish Government’s National Innovation Strategy by strengthening entrepreneurial skills and networks. 

InnoScot Health previously linked up with Edinburgh Napier University and Heriot-Watt University on an initiative – labelled a “first of its kind research collaboration” – which saw engineering and nursing students pooling capabilities and know-how to hone breakthrough healthcare ideas. 

It is also a partner with Heriot-Watt University and University of Dundee in the Tay Health Tech collaborative programme which aims to break down barriers to healthcare and health inequalities through the development of technological solutions.  

Fiona added: “It will be exciting to witness the acceleration of cutting-edge research and innovation which results from these many exciting new academic partnerships, no doubt positively impacting triple helix ambitions.

“We wish them well in those endeavours.” 

Coalition calls for greater support as the number of pupils with mental health problems increases by 526% over the past decade

Between 2015 and 2025, the number of pupils with:

  • Mental health problems has risen by 526 per cent.
  • Communication support needs has risen by 296 per cent.
  • Autistic spectrum disorder has risen by 252 per cent.
  • Interrupted learning has risen by 497 per cent. 

The Scottish Children’s Services Coalition (SCSC), an alliance of leading providers of specialist care and education to vulnerable children and young people, has raised concerns over massive increases in conditions contributing to additional support needs (ASN).

Noting that support is at breaking point, it has urged the public to put the political parties on the spot as to how they are going to address Scotland’s ASN crisis in the run up to the Scottish Parliamentary election next year.

The figures, based on an analysis of the latest annual Scottish Government pupil census,1 indicate that between 2015 and 2025 the number of pupils identified with a mental health problem, for which additional support is required, has increased by 526 per cent, those with communication support needs has risen by 296 per cent,  those with dyslexia by 129 per cent,  autistic spectrum disorder has increased by 252 per cent, social, emotional and behavioural difficulties by 144 per cent, those with a physical health problems by 142 per cent, interrupted learning by 497 per cent and those who are looked after by 42 per cent. (see table at end of the press release for full details).

This is against the background of a near doubling (95.5 per cent) between 2015 and 2025 in the overall number of pupils identified with ASN, from 153,143 to 299,445, representing 43.0 per cent of all pupils.2

The increase is in part due to better identification and diagnosis of these conditions, as well as the impacts of Covid-19, social media and the cost-of-living crisis.

While the level of need has increased dramatically, the level of support has not matched this, with cuts in the numbers of specialist ASN teachers and support staff.

The SCSC has repeated its call for greater resourcing by councils and the Scottish Government to support those with ASN, who disproportionately come from lower-income families and areas of deprivation.

The coalition also raised concerns about the effectiveness of a presumption of mainstreaming, that all pupils be educated in a mainstream educational environment unless specific exceptional circumstances apply, without the necessary classroom support.

This lack of support for those with ASN is also seen as a key cause of increased classroom violence and disruption, with a resultant impact on fellow pupils and staff.

A spokesperson for the SCSC said: “Given an escalating number of children and young people with ASN, it is vital that those requiring it get the care and support that they need.

“This is clearly difficult in an environment of austerity and budget cuts, highlighted by reductions in, for example, the number of ASN teachers.

“While we also support the presumption of mainstreaming, that all children and young people be educated in a mainstream educational environment unless specific exceptional circumstances apply, it is clearly difficult to see how this is functioning properly for all those with ASN given a fall in specialist support and dramatic increases in the number of those identified with conditions such as mental health problems and autism.

“The current system of provision is at breaking point, and we are witnessing increasing levels of classroom disruption, a key cause of this being the increase in the number of those with ASN, who are not receiving the support they are entitled to.

“The Scottish Government and councils need to work together to provide the necessary resourcing to address the needs of those children and young people with ASN, who represent some of the most vulnerable individuals in our society.

“We would urge the public to put the political parties on the spot as we approach the Scottish Parliament election next year and understand how they are going to address Scotland’s ASN crisis.”

Reasons for support for pupils with ASN (pupils may have more than one reason for additional support):

Reason for support20252015% change on 2015
TotalTotal
Number of those with ASN299,445153,14395.5
Dyslexia39,03617,034+129
Other specific learning difficulty (e.g. numeric)30,72017,552+75
Other moderate learning difficulty30,48423,228+31
Visual impairment5,7393,839+49.5
Hearing impairment4,3762,736+60
Deafblind6447+36
Physical or motor impairment8,6187,528+14.5
Language or speech disorder20,75814,704+41
Autistic spectrum disorder41,28511,722+252
Social, emotional and behavioural difficulty77,40531,684+144
Physical health problem21,9619,059+142
Mental health problem14,6382,338+526
Interrupted learning15,9312,669+497
English as an additional language61,10721,997+178
Looked after10,6737,530+42
More able pupil3,0753,123-1.5
Communication Support Needs19,3744,894+296
Young Carer10,3021,653+623
Bereavement7,2611,304+523
Substance Misuse762221+245
Family Issues31,8859,700+229
Risk of Exclusion2,610925+182
Learning disability12,24115,324-20
Other25,40614,156+79.5

Letter: Hearing loss at Christmas

Dear Editor,

Christmas is a time for connecting with loved ones and enjoying plenty of festivities, gatherings and conversation. However, for those with undiagnosed hearing loss, this time of year sometimes feels like a struggle and can be isolating.

Over the festive period, you may have noticed yourself or a loved one struggling to hear. Perhaps you were turning the TV up louder than others prefer, struggling to follow conversations at Christmas gatherings or frequently asking people to repeat what they said. You or a loved one may have found it harder to hear on the phone, felt like others were mumbling, or your partner may have felt you weren’t listening.

As we enjoy the quieter days between Christmas and New Years celebrations, if any of these habits feel familiar, it could be time to check your hearing.

Thankfully, it’s very simple to look for signs of hearing loss in yourself or loved ones and to do something about it.

Our free 3-minute online hearing check at rnid.org.uk/check can be the first step on your journey to find out if you should see someone about your hearing and get our advice on what to do next.

Kickstart your new year in the right way and keep everyone part of the conversation!

Sincerely,

Crystal Rolfe

Director of Health at RNID

Vue Edinburgh Omni set to dazzle with new Laser by Barco technology

Laser projection device in dark lab

Film fans in Edinburgh can now enjoy the latest releases in even greater clarity and colour with the arrival of Laser by Barco projection technology at Vue Edinburgh Omni.

Every screen at the venue, which is located within the Edinburgh Omni Centre, is equipped with the cutting-edge upgrade, bringing sharper images, deeper contrast, and a more vibrant cinematic experience than ever before.

Vue’s investment in Laser by Barco technology forms part of its ongoing commitment to delivering the ultimate big screen experience and is the next generation in projection technology.

Unlike standard projection, Laser by Barco provides consistent picture quality from edge to edge, resulting in a more immersive and premium big-screen experience.

Film fans in and around Edinburgh can enjoy the sharpest image in each of Vue Edinburgh Omni’s 12 screens, with some hotly anticipated releases set to take place before the end of the year, including Avatar: Fire and Ash.

Robert Smith, General Manager at Vue Edinburgh Omni, said: “We’re thrilled to introduce Laser by Barco technology to our venue. The difference in picture quality is incredible, and we cannot wait for everyone to experience it.

“The upgrade is part of our continued investment in ensuring we offer the best big screen experience and customers can immerse themselves in the film.”

Tickets for Vue Edinburgh Omni can be booked online at:

 https://www.myvue.com/cinema/edinburgh-omni-centre/whats-on