13/03/2026 – Page 2 – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Is NATO failing? Experts to clash at the Edinburgh Union as Iran, Russia and Trump challenge the alliance

As US commitment wavers and conflicts rage in Ukraine and the Middle East, leading foreign affairs experts face students to ask: IS THE HISTORIC ALLIANCE STILL FIT FOR PURPOSE?

On Monday 16 March at 7pm, the Edinburgh Union will host a critical international affairs debate on the motion: This House Has No Confidence in NATO to Solve Modern Security Challenges.

Against the backdrop of the protracted war in Ukraine, an emboldened Russia, and the rapidly escalating war involving Iran, this debate will scrutinise the purpose, efficacy, and future of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

With the historic military alliance’s resources, strategic unity, and diplomatic influence being severely tested on multiple fronts, speakers will examine whether NATO remains equipped to handle today’s complex geopolitical landscape.

The event brings together leading voices in foreign policy, academia, and the anti-war movement to debate the motion and put their arguments directly to the audience.

The distinguished panel of guest speakers includes Mary Dejevsky, Independent foreign affairs correspondent; Dr Leyla Alijeva, Oxford academic specialising in Russia; Sophie Johnson, Secretary of Stop the War Scotland; and Dr Benjamin Martill, Senior Lecturer at the University of Edinburgh.

Alongside these experts, student speakers from across Edinburgh’s universities will also take opposing sides in the debate.Taking place in Rainy Hall, New College, this event continues the Edinburgh Union’s term programme.

Following a series of highly successful events, the Union continues its mission to provide a platform for open, rigorous debate on contemporary global, political, and cultural issues in Scotland’s capital.

Finn Tyson, President of the Edinburgh Union, said: “We are excited to be hosting such an incredible calibre of speakers for this timely debate and giving students at the University of Edinburgh the opportunity speak alongside experts in this field.

“The global security landscape is constantly evolving, and the role of international institutions such as NATO is increasingly part of ongoing public debate.

“By engaging with multiple perspectives, this debate aims to provide a platform at Edinburgh University for the rigorous debate this topic needs.”

Strengthening additional support for learning

Delivering better experiences for learners, teachers and practitioners to thrive

A rapid review of Additional Support for Learning (ASL) has set out recommendations to ensure young people’s evolving needs continue to be met across Scotland.

Professional Education Advisor Janie McManus’ expert review of ASL said that clearer expectations, stronger pathways to support across education, health and social care, and early interventions should underpin the next steps in delivering Additional Support Needs (ASN) provision in schools.

Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth welcomed publication of the review outcomes and accepted the recommendations in a speech to practitioners – the first in a series of national events on ASL convened by the Scottish Government.

In her address, Ms Gilruth also confirmed that an app to streamline administrative tasks and free up teachers’ time to focus on pupil needs would be rolled out more widely later this year, backed by £700,000 government funding, subject to the success of ongoing pilots in six council areas.

Ms Gilruth said: “I am grateful to MSPs from across Parliament for their constructive engagement on the additional support needs review. I am also thankful to Janie McManus for leading this short, sharp review into ASN, with clear recommendations for the next Scottish Government to address.

“The pandemic was an undoubtedly challenging time for schools, but none more so than for our additional support needs pupils. It is with the needs of those young people in mind, that we have come together to work collegiately to drive the improvement we all want to see in Scotland’s inclusive schools.

“Across the country our teachers and school staff display extraordinary commitment working with pupils with ASN to provide a nurturing, supportive environment. Through our investment in the CivTech programme, we are seeing how technology can be harnessed to cut the time spent on paperwork and free up valuable time for teaching and learning, helping ensure teachers and school staff have the time to focus on what matters most – their pupils.”

COSLA Children and Young People Spokesperson Cllr Tony Buchanan said: “We welcome the final progress report on the Additional Support for Learning Action Plan.

“Six years after Angela Morgan’s review, progress has been made, though more remains to do. We now better understand the needs of children and young people, supported by new tools and stronger partnerships.

“Local and Scottish Government must continue working together with a shared vision that enables local and individualised approaches. We note Janie McManus’s report and will consider it jointly with Scottish Government.”

A spokesperson for the Scottish Children’s Services Coalition commented: “While we welcome the outcomes of the expert review on additional support for learning (ASL), including the call for timely access to specialist services across education, health and social care, and early intervention, there needs to be adequate resourcing in place to turn this vision into a reality.

“Across the last decade, spending per pupil on ASL has declined by almost a third, and there have been cuts in the like of specialist ASN teacher numbers, which have been slashed by 240 over the same time period. We are facing a lost generation of vulnerable children and young people who are not getting the care and support they so vitally need.

“We would urge the Scottish Government to prioritise the windfall that will come from proposed increased spending on those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in English schools, on those Scottish pupils with ASN.

“With more than two out of five pupils identified with additional support needs, and the Scottish Parliamentary elections forthcoming, we would additionally urge the political parties to concentrate on this issue as they draft their manifestoes and for the public to focus on what these parties intend to do if voted into office.”

New framework targets a more Equal Edinburgh

A new framework aimed at reducing poverty and inequality in Edinburgh has received unanimous backing from councillors.

Equal Edinburgh aims to make council and other services easier to access and understand for residents, while reducing the stigma associated with doing so.

The four-year plan draws on lessons learned from its predecessor (which ran from 2021–25), but more specifically from extensive engagement with communities and other partners, including the Scottish Government, Equality and Rights Network and Scottish Women’s Budget Group, carried out over the past 12 months.

Some of the key outcomes include:

Safer and better access to council buildings
Improved online access and clearer communication methods
Improved mental health and wellbeing by making it easier to access services (in person or online)
Better opportunities for residents to participate in local activities and events to reduce isolation and foster good community relations
Improved data gathering and reporting so that decisions are made in an informed way
Improved access for residents to have their say on citywide issues and to engage in consultation and voting processes

When setting the Council budget last month, councillors agreed to allocate £285,000 towards progressing the plan over next three years.

Amongst other things, this will allow continued investment in the delivery of the British Sign Language Plan (2024-2030) and additional BSL Videos on the council website, funding for Volunteer Edinburgh to facilitate the Equalities and Rights Network and development of more inclusive communications.

From day one, Equal Edinburgh will support staff to provide high quality service to all residents and foster positive relationships with local communities through partnership working. A new EDI board will be set up to monitor progress and support delivery, with a progress update presented to councillors in 2028.

Councillor Jane Meagher Council Leader, said: “We’re clear that we want Edinburgh to be a city where everyone feels safe, secure and welcome – and we’ve set ourselves ambitious targets around tackling poverty and inequality.

“This new framework celebrates the diversity of this city and our communities, made up of people with a rich variety of life experiences. I’m particularly pleased by the role our communities and other partners have played in shaping this work, and that we’re learning the lessons from what has gone before.

“We’re building on best practice already underway across the city to deliver better services and outcomes for residents, ensuring that everyone has access to, and can benefit from, our support as quickly as possible – in a way that suits them.”

Appendix 1 – EDI Framework Download

Chancellor and Energy Secretary meet with fuel bosses as government orders crackdown on pump prices

Chancellor and Energy Secretary to meet with petrol retailers and energy suppliers in Downing Street today with a clear message: drivers must get a fair deal at the pump.
Chancellor asks CMA to crack down on any rip‑offs on road fuel and heating oil — warning she “will not tolerate” firms exploiting the situation to make excess profits.
Fuel Finder will help drivers spot the cheapest forecourt nearby, as Government takes action to ensure all major fuel retailers are signed up.

Rachel Reeves has written to the Competition and Markets Authority requesting it stays on high alert for unjustifiable price rises on petrol, diesel and heating oil, to support families and businesses.

The Chancellor said she is determined to support people with the cost of living amid conflict in the Middle East and will not stand by if firms use uncertainty as cover to push up prices and protect margins at the expense of drivers.

Her intervention comes ahead of a Downing Street roundtable on Friday evening, where petrol retailers and energy suppliers will be pressed on what they are doing to keep prices down — and what more they can do to ensure changes in costs are passed on fairly.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said: “I will not tolerate any company exploiting the current situation to make excess profits at consumers’ expense.

“I’m backing drivers and families — and I expect a fair deal at the pump.”

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: “Tackling the cost of living is our number one priority – all fuel retailers must sign up for Fuel Finder so drivers can find the cheapest price at the pump.

“We will not hesitate to act to protect consumers against any unfair practices.”

TODAY (Friday), the Chancellor and Energy Secretary will call on industry to explain why prices vary so widely, how quickly forecourts respond when costs ease, and what immediate steps firms will take to make sure motorists aren’t left paying over the odds.

The Chancellor noted earlier this week that prices varied from £1.27 per litre to £1.80 per litre between forecourts.

This comes after the Energy Secretary met with the CEO of the Competition and Markets Authority on Tuesday 10 March to discuss ensuring consumers were protected from any unfair price rises.

Drivers should not have to guess whether they’re being overcharged — so the UK Government is accelerating its Fuel Finder, making it easier to see who’s cheapest locally and to take business away from the priciest pumps.

All major supermarkets have confirmed they are now providing real-time data to the government’s Fuel Finder scheme, with almost 90% of retailers already registered, and government taking action on the final 10%.

Greater transparency on prices will drive up competition and is set to see households who own a car save on average £40 a year at the pump.

And the message to any retailer dragging their feet is straightforward: if you won’t be transparent, you’ll be called out — because sunlight on prices is one of the strongest tools consumers have to force competition and drive costs down.

MSPs unite to support Liam McArthur MSP’s Assisted Dying Bill

MSP’s hold pictures of deceased constituents in support of the Dignity In Dying charity in the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood, Edinburgh. 12 March 2026.

A group of cross party MSPs united yesterday to support Liam McArthur MSP’s Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults Bill ahead of its final vote on Tuesday 17th March.

The MSPs have issued a letter to their Parliamentary colleagues urging them to keep the voices and experiences of those most affected by this issue front of mind and to vote in favour of Bill.

The MSPs joined a photocall in support of the Bill carrying photos of terminally ill Scots and those who died a bad death and wished for the law to change.

In the letter they say that:

“On many issues that come before us in Parliament we differ in opinion, but when it comes to extending compassion and safety to dying people we are united in our support for dignity and choice.

‘Over the last few years, we have each heard from constituents across Scotland about the heavy toll the ban on assisted dying has taken on them and the urgent need for the law to change.

‘We have heard from a mother who watched her son beg to die when the pain caused by his endocrine cancer became too much to bear, from a daughter who watched her mum starve and dehydrate to death over the course of 18 long days when she reached the limit of MND, from a widow who returned home to Scotland alone after accompanying her dying husband to Switzerland to face a police interview, from dying people considering how best to take matters into their own hands should their suffering become unbearable and many more people with terminal illness consumed by the fear of a protracted and painful death.

‘While all the experiences they shared were different in nature, there was one constant – that in each and every case a safe and compassionate assisted dying law would have lessened their pain and made both living with a terminal diagnosis and loss that bit more bearable.

‘In every constituency there are stories like these – real people enduring real suffering. In every single constituency the voting public support changing the law on assisted dying.

‘The Bill that is in front of us has been through rigorous scrutiny, is robustly evidenced and puts in place a range of protections that simply do not exist at the moment. It will make assisted dying the most safeguarded end of life option. 300 million people around the world already have access to some form of assisted dying. There is no evidence of abuse of these laws and extensive evidence to show that they address the failings created by a blanket ban on assisted dying.

‘The current situation can not continue – it is demonstrably cruel, dangerous and ineffective. It denies dying people choice and fails to protect anyone. By contrast Liam McArthur MSP’s Bill will create new protections for people at end of life and offers this Parliament the opportunity to put in place a safe, regulated framework that will work alongside palliative care to provide choice and compassion when people need it most.

‘This issue is not going away, banning assisted dying does not stop assisted dying, it merely drives it overseas, underground and behind closed doors. As such, voting against this bill has serious consequences, leaving dying Scots more at risk, isolated and vulnerable.

”We urge you to keep the voices and experiences of those most affected by this issue front of mind and to vote in favour of the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults Scotland Bill on the 17th March.”

The letter has been signed by MSPs from each of the main political parties represented in Parliament. Signatories include:

George Adam MSP, Karen Adam MSP, Jackson Carlaw MSP, Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP, Jackie Dunbar MSP, Joe FitzPatrick MSP, Rachael Hamilton MSP, Patrick Harvie MSP, Monica Lennon MSP, Richard Lochhead MSP, Douglas Lumsden MSP, Rona Mackay MSP, Paul McLennan MSP, Carol Mochan MSP, Lorna Slater MSP, David Torrance MSP, Evelyn Tweed MSP, Elena Whitham MSP.

Maggie Chapman MSP, Gordon MacDonald MSP and Gillian Mackay MSP joined the photocall.

Mobile phones in schools consultation shows broad support for restrictions during the school day

A six-week consultation, which closed on 2 March, has seen high engagement, with almost 14,000 responses from parents/carers, pupils and school staff.

Results show overwhelming support for the introduction of restrictions in secondary schools citywide. 97% of responses from staff who work in secondary schools were in favour of school mobile phone restrictions. 57% would opt for the whole school day, while 40% would opt for part restrictions with mobile phones accessible to pupils at lunch and breaktimes.

Similarly, parents of current secondary school aged learners were supportive of mobile phone restrictions during the school day, with 94% in favour. 54% would choose restrictions for the entire school day, and 40% agreed that a part restriction including just class time would be best.

Out of all parents/carers who took part in the consultation, 73% said they would be supportive of restrictions for the whole school day, with 22% preferring access to mobile phones at lunch and breaktimes.

The response from current secondary school aged pupils presented a more mixed picture with just over half (53%) stating a preference for part restrictions with mobile phones allowed at lunch and breaktimes but not in class, and just 3% in favour of restrictions for the whole school day. 43% said that they should be trusted to follow the school rules, and 32% said they didn’t think that there should be any restrictions at all.

Pilots are underway at two Edinburgh secondary schools, Portobello and Queensferry High Schools, using lockable magnetic pouches, restricting access to mobile phones during the school day.

The consultation, coupled with feedback from the two pilot schools, will provide information that will allow elected members to consider the details of restrictions and the extent to which lockable pouches could be used to support mobile phone restrictions.

Almost a third (31%) of parents/carers who currently have children at an Edinburgh secondary school were in favour or a lockable pouch system, with 29% preferring phones to be secured but stored in a cabinet.

Among staff who work in secondary schools, there was an equal split when asked about implementation of restrictions, with 36% preferring a secure lockable pouch system and 38% opting for phones to be stored away but accessible.

In September 2025, Councillors agreed to restrict the use of mobile phones in schools, with the preferred option the use of lockable pouches to support restrictions on mobile phone use across all secondary schools, and lockable cabinets in primary schools.

The consultation forms part of citywide engagement work on implementing mobile phone restrictions in primary and secondary schools. An interim Integrated Impact Assessment has already taken place and will be finalised using consultation feedback.

Special consideration is being given for pupils with health needs or caring responsibilities who may need access to their mobile phone during the school day. Focus groups, including with young people is ongoing.

A report analysing these findings will be presented at Education, Children and Families Committee in June 2026.

Councillor James Dalgleish, Education, Children and Families Convenor said: “I want to thank all those who have taken the time to engage with this valuable consultation. I am really pleased that such a high number of parents/carers, learners and school staff have shared their views on how potential mobile phone restrictions could work in practice.

“We are being bold in our ambition when it comes to making our classrooms phone-free, and we want to be one of the first local authorities to introduce widespread restrictions. It is important that we do this in the right way and a big part of this is making sure that we have heard and take on board feedback from our communities.

“This consultation forms part of our engagement and it is positive that the figures broadly show that we are on the right track.

“There is more work to be done to make sure that we have heard the views and concerns of our secondary school aged young people who are digital natives and understandably used to having their phone during the school day.

“We want to get this right so that any potential restrictions are seen as a positive step for all.”

Council leaders urged to agree package to avoid industrial action in schools

Joint letter from Education Secretary and teaching union

Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth and General Secretary of EIS Andrea Bradley have written a joint letter to all council leaders, urging them to take the decisions needed to avoid industrial action.

The letter states:

“We are writing to you ahead of tomorrow’s Cosla Leaders meeting to urge you to take the decisions needed to avoid industrial action and to join us in implementing a reduction in class contact time (RCCT). Both Scottish Ministers and the EIS have now signed up to the plans to implement the 90- minute RCCT across Scotland that you will be considering tomorrow. It has taken a lot of intensive work to get to this point.

“It is clear that an agreement can now be reached that would see RCCT implemented by August 2027 in Primary and Special Schools, and by August 2029 in Secondary. This phased approach is intended to give councils the time and capacity required to manage recruitment and local planning effectively, and the Scottish Government and teacher unions will work with you to assist in that task.”

Reduction in class contact time: Letter to council leaders – gov.scot

Robberies: Man to appear in Court

A 42-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with thefts and robberies in Edinburgh.

The incidents happened between Sunday, 2 March, and Tuesday, 10 March, 2026, in the Niddrie, Leith and Portobello areas of the city.

A report has been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal, and he is expected to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today – Friday, 13 March, 2026.

Detective Constable Fiona Murray said: “We are aware of the concern these incidents caused to local communities and I would like to thank members of the public for their assistance.”

“Preposterous excuses” given for latest Scottish Government non-compliance

Scottish Information Commissioner, David Hamilton, has received a reply to his letter of 2 February 2026 in which he sought assurances from the Scottish Government’s Permanent Secretary that Ministers had complied with his Decision 193/2024.

That Decision required Scottish Ministers to release all legal advice given to the Scottish Government in relation to the Commissioner’s earlier decision on whether they held Hamilton Inquiry evidence.

The Commissioner was advised by the Scottish Government that it had complied, however the Scottish Government refused the Commissioner access to the withheld information he needed to see in order to check this by relying on a little-used provision in FOI law. Therefore, at the time, the Commissioner had to take Ministers at their word that compliance had been achieved.

During a related court case in January 2026, the Commissioner became alert to the prospect that some of that legal advice had not been released and sought reassurance.

A response has finally been received which the Commissioner considers demonstrates that the Scottish Government has failed to comply with his 2024 Decision.

He is now consulting with lawyers on certifying this non-compliance to the Court of Session, allowing the court to inquire into a second case of contempt of court.

David Hamilton, Scottish Information Commissioner.

The Commissioner said: ““Perhaps worse than the fact that Scottish Ministers have once again failed to comply with one of my Decisions, is that they appear to have tried to conceal this breach of trust with unjustified delays and a wall of silence. The excuses I have now been given, both in writing and in person, are preposterous and unacceptable.

“I have now met with the Permanent Secretary and have expressed my dismay. I can no longer trust the Government to handle this information unsupervised and will explore more intrusive options to ensure compliance.

“The Government’s FOI handling of the Hamilton Inquiry cases stands in stark contrast to the way nearly every other case of theirs is handled.

Following my meeting with the Permanent Secretary, I now need to assess whether I can resource a further intervention to examine the unusual case handling practices in these cases.”

The letter of 10 March 2026 from the Permanent Secretary to the Commissioner is published here.

Bringing Hope, Building Futures: New package of support for parents

Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan 2026-2031 published

New support for parents to increase their incomes and reduce the burden of everyday costs, on top of existing work, will help to keep approximately 100,000 children out of poverty in 2026-27.

More than £111 million is being committed to updated plans to eradicate child poverty through Bringing Hope, Building Futures.

It builds on existing Scottish Government action which has already reduced relative child poverty rates in Scotland to the lowest levels in almost a decade – with rates nine percentage points lower than the UK in 2023-24.

Action includes:

Investing £61.5 million in the Tackling Child Poverty Fund to strengthen and introduce measures, including to expand childcare support for low-income parents, help employers offer progression opportunities, grow the Family Nurse Partnership to help up to 500 more young parents during pregnancy and into parenthood, and to expand Bookbug
A £20 million Whole Family Support Third Sector Delivery Fund for charities to help families in their communities
£30 million to boost incomes through work, create more training opportunities for parents by investing in the college sector, and to reduce transport costs for low-income parents travelling to work
£9 million to mitigate the UK Government’s freeze on Local Housing Allowance rates, which caps the amount of housing support a household can receive, to support up to 18,000 families

Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “Eradicating child poverty is the Scottish Government’s driving mission – no child should live in poverty in a country as rich as Scotland.

“This plan builds on a great deal of progress and sets out a broad range of actions to help parents – by reducing the cost of living, helping increase incomes received through work and social security, and helping their children to thrive.

“I am proud that Scotland is the only part of the UK to have statutory targets to drive down child poverty, which were unanimously agreed by parliament.

“Our plan focusses on concrete action this year while providing the foundations on which any incoming administration can build and reflect its own policy priorities, working with industry, local authorities and charities, to give children in Scotland a future free from the scourge of poverty.”

tackling-child-poverty-delivery-plan-2026-2031 Download