A Scottish Parliament Committee is supporting the general principles of a new Bill aiming to give councils more flexibility in designing visitor levy schemes.
The Visitor Levy (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill updates the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024, which granted local councils the discretionary power to introduce charges for overnight visitors, and amends the position in the Act that levies could only be charged as a percentage of accommodation costs. Councils could instead apply a fixed amount per night or per-person-per-night, or set different fixed amounts for different areas, times of year or accommodation types.
In its report, the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee supports the ability for councils to choose different models but recognises that the introduction of multiple options has the potential to create a “complicated landscape” across Scotland, and even within individual local authority areas, and describes the monitoring of this as “essential”.
The Committee recommend that the Scottish Government should amend the Bill to clarify whether a chargeable transaction could be subjected to more than one scheme – describing this current uncertainty as “unhelpful”.
While the Government said it developed its estimates of the potential costs for local authorities and businesses in consultation with stakeholders, local authorities and businesses have presented different estimates to the Committee.
Given these discrepancies – and the Bill’s wide discretion leading to varied local approaches – the Committee is seeking a fuller explanation of how stakeholders were engaged, why estimates differ, and what amendments and associated costs the Government is considering ahead of Stage 2.
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee Convener, Ariane Burgess MSP, said: “The timetable for this Bill has been challenging but we recognise the Scottish Government’s response to the calls of many stakeholders for flexibility.
“Our report outlines a number of recommendations for the Scottish Government, including an explanation on the discrepancies on the Bill’s costings, clarity over consultation and transition periods for councils who have already adopted visitor levy schemes and what changes it is considering making at Stage 2.”
NSPCC Scotland is urging politicians in all parties to help prevent harm to children and prioritise early support for families in future plans and investment decisions, as the charity publishes an overview of early years policies since devolution.
The report calls for a strategic, long‑term commitment to the early years to ensure every child in Scotland has the best possible start in life.
Published on the NSPCC Learning website it provides a descriptive summary of early years policymaking in Scotland over the past 25 years.
The NSPCC believes there are clear opportunities for improvement in current early years policy and is calling on the next Scottish Government to prioritise it. This is one of the charity’s five priority areas for child protection that it will be setting out next month in the run up to the Scottish Parliament elections.
Early years – the period from pregnancy until a child turns five – is widely recognised as a critical stage in child development during which the foundations of learning, behaviour and lifelong mental and physical health are established.
In 2024, nearly half (45%) of the children on the child protection register in Scotland were under the age of four. This consisted of 93 unborn children and 913 aged newborn to four years old.1
Despite the youngest children in Scotland being the most vulnerable to harm, the 0-3 age group in particular can often be overlooked. It’s been called the ‘baby blindspot’.
Babies and very young children rely on sensitive and responsive care to grow and thrive. Evidence shows that investing in children’s earliest years not only reduces the need for costly interventions later in life but also helps tackle inequalities and ensures every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential.
In this report, the NSPCC sets out how the Scottish Government’s strongest focus on the early years can be traced back to 2011–12, with multi-agency initiatives that were designed to improve outcomes for children, reduce inequalities for those who were particularly vulnerable, and shift services toward prevention and early intervention.
However, the charity’s analysis reveals that strategic focus on the early years has not been maintained as attention shifted toward tackling the poverty-related attainment gap and addressing the long-term effects of childhood adversity in adulthood.
This has meant that targeted support for families and children, from pre-birth to age five, to prevent problems from developing or getting worse, has inadvertently declined.
The NSPCC’s view is that these days early years policy is too often viewed by the Government as meaning early learning and childcare provision, rather than as a broader agenda, which focuses on supporting families to build nurturing, responsive caregiving relationships.
Rachel Love, NSPCC Scotland Senior Policy Officer and report author, said: “Investing in early childhood provides significant long-term benefits for children, their families, and communities, including improved educational attainment, reduced health inequlaities and economic returns.
“Our analysis shows that prioritisation of early years has been inconsistent, leading to gaps in service planning and delivery; and when it has been a priority, funding and resourcing has not matched ambitions.
“As we approach the Scottish Parliament elections, all political parties have an important opportunity – and responsibility – to place the early years at the heart of future policy and public investment in Scotland.
“The NSPCC wants the new Government to give families the support they need, so every child gets the best possible start – ensuring Scotland keeps The Promise to its youngest children.”
The charity wants the new Government to:
Reestablish early years as a cross-party priority, with a clear focus on parent–infant relationships and holistic family support that prioritises prevention and early help.
Create a dedicated Early Years Strategy, led by a Minister for Early Years, to ensure focused and sustained national leadership.
Strengthen statutory guidance on Children’s Services Planning to reinforce its emphasis on early years prevention and intervention, and introducing long-term, ringfenced funding so local areas can deliver high-quality family and parenting support.
Advance implementation of The Promise and Children’s Rights, making sure the needs and rights of babies and under-fives are central to decisions about policy, legislation and practice.
The Real Mary King’s Close and The Lost Close have announced a new collaborative tour experience, Above & Below, launching this February.
Running from Friday 13 February to Sunday 22 February, Above & Below brings together two independently guided experiences to offer guests a richer understanding of Edinburgh’s layered history, both beneath the Royal Mile and above the Old Town.
The experience begins with a 1-hour guided tour at The Real Mary King’s Close, where guests descend into preserved 17th-century streets and hear the real stories of the people who lived, worked and survived there.
Following a short break, guests then continue their journey above ground on a guided Old Town walking tour led by one of The Lost Close’s expert guides, concluding with time spent exploring The Lost Close itself, a series of hidden underground vaults rediscovered in 2019 located directly opposite The Real Mary King’s Close.
The collaboration builds on the success of the two visitor attractions’ ongoing joint experience, Closes & Coffee, which has been running for more than 7 months and has been warmly received by guests.
Paul Nixon, General Manager at The Real Mary King’s Close, said: “We are incredibly proud to be partnering once again with The Lost Close. Supporting small, locally owned businesses is something we genuinely value, and this collaboration is a great example of how working together can create something special for visitors.
“After more than 7 months of successfully running our joint Closes & Coffee experience, we have been really pleased with the outcome, and Above & Below feels like a natural next step in that partnership.”
Katie Scott, Head of Experiences & Events at The Lost Close added: “Working with The Real Mary King’s Close has been a hugely positive experience for us. Closes & Coffee showed just how powerful collaboration can be when two organisations with shared values and a passion for Edinburgh’s history come together.
“Above & Below allows us to build on that success, connecting underground spaces with the streets above and offering guests a more complete and meaningful way to experience the Old Town.”
Priced at £40.00 per person, Above & Below is available for a limited time only during February half-term, with advance booking recommended –
Residents at Strachan House care home, in Blackhall enjoyed a fun, friendship-filled take on Valentine’s Day, enjoying their very first “Pal-entines” experience. Using a speed friendship format residents met staff, residents and others to chat about their interests in order to gain more insight into likes and dislikes of those living and working in the home.
Honouring friendships and meaningful moments is something Strachan House strive to do and it was beautiful to see everyone connecting on a personal level.
Staff were asked questions about their favourite topics at school, their hobbies and about their children and residents were able to share what they’d like to do more of and met others with similar interests. Plans were made by the amazing activities team to ensure many of the hobbies discussed were added to our activitie’s planner.
Fran Fisher General Manager at Strachan House Care Home said: “What a great day we had. It was so special to bring everyone together from all different units and departments to have a beautiful afternoon of friendship.
“We wanted to move away from the typical valentine’s day celebration focussing more on what love means to us. At Strachan house we’re blessed to have so many wonderful people from different backgrounds and walks of life and it was an amazing way to celebrate everyone together”.
Marion Cooper, a resident at the home was excited to be involved and had her questions to ask pre-prepared, we spoke German, laughed about our poor French speaking abilities and we even had the drinks trolley out free flowing with prosecco.
Strachan HouseCare Home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering high-quality care across its care homes and hospitals.
Strachan House Care home provides residential care, nursing care and dementia care for up to 83 residents.
Douglas Alexander to visit Australia, New Zealand & Singapore
Trade opportunities and international security will be at the heart of Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander’s programme as he embarks on a week-long visit to the Indo-Pacific region.
Mr Alexander will meet government ministers and business leaders across Australia, Singapore and New Zealand. The visit will also see the Scottish Secretary attend two international performances of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo – in Auckland and Brisbane – showcasing one of Scotland’s most important cultural exports.
Strengthening defence partnerships
Australia and New Zealand remain among the UK’s closest defence allies at a time of heightened global instability. Australia is a key part of the AUKUS partnership, and in 2025 we signed a joint treaty with a 50-year commitment to deepening security cooperation in the region. Mr Alexander will hold discussions aimed at identifying further opportunities for collaboration, including in naval shipbuilding and advanced defence manufacturing where Scottish industry has world-leading expertise.
Boosting trade and investment
The Scottish Secretary will meet business leaders to discuss how Scottish companies can expand into new export markets across the region, while making the case for increased inward investment in Scotland. With our free trade agreements and UK membership of the CPTPP, the visit offers an opportunity to capitalise on strengthened trading relationships with all three nations. Boosting trade means well paid jobs and investment at home.
Speaking ahead of the visit, Mr Alexander said: “This visit is about speaking up for Scottish businesses and Scottish exporters. Scotland benefits from the strength, reach and connections that come from being part of the UK. The UK is a strong and committed partner — in security, in trade, and in the shared values that bind us to our friends in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore.
“At a time of significant global uncertainty, it has never been more important to stand shoulder to shoulder with our closest allies, and I look forward to discussing how we can deepen our defence cooperation and work together to keep people safe.
“I will also be banging the drum for Scottish business. From whisky and seafood to financial services and renewable energy technology, Scotland has world-class products and expertise that are in demand across Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. This visit is an opportunity to open doors for Scottish exporters, attract the investment that creates economic growth and well paid jobs back at home, and show that Scotland is open for business on the global stage.”
Scotland and New Zealand have deep historical links, and Mr Alexander will be the first Scottish Secretary to visit in recent times.
Scottish Child Payment has supported more than 241,000 parents and carers since its launch five years ago, helping put over £1.3 billion into the pockets of low-income families.
An increase to the payment for children under one will be introduced during 2027/28, estimated to benefit around 12,000 children and could be worth an extra £500 a year for each eligible child.
The payment, which is only available in Scotland, provides families with £27.15 a week, rising to £28.20 from April 2026, for every eligible child under 16. Latest figures show more than 322,000 children are benefiting from the payment as of September 2025.
Scottish Child Payment, and other family payments delivered by Social Security Scotland could be worth around £25,000 by a child’s 16th birthday — compared with less than £2,000 in England and Wales, where support ends at age four.
It is estimated that Scottish Child Payment will keep 40,000 children out of relative poverty in 2025-26, with the relative child poverty rate lower than without the payment in place. Clear evidence that the payment is central to the Scottish Government’s mission to eradicate child poverty.
On a visit to Home-Start Edinburgh to meet with parents and children benefiting from the payment, Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said:
“Scottish Child Payment has improved the lives of thousands of children and families across Scotland over the last five years. And our plans to raise the weekly payment to £40 for eligible children under one shows the Scottish Government’s level of ambition and determination to end child poverty in Scotland.
“This payment helps ease the pressure on family budgets and forms part of the best cost-of-living support package in the UK. It helps pay for essentials like food and clothing, things that people who are better off may take for granted but which children in these households might otherwise go without. I urge families to check if they are eligible.”
Eliza Waye, CEO of Home-Start Edinburgh, added: “Early childhood experiences are foundational to lifelong wellbeing and support better outcomes across health, education, wellbeing and more.
“The Scottish Child Payment plays a vital role in easing pressure on families and helps ensure children grow up in a more equitable environment. Despite this, being a parent is incredibly hard.
“At Home-Start, we support parents to overcome the challenges they face; helping them build confidence and connect to networks of support. The combination of financial and community support enables the investment in families and children to go further.”
Scottish Child Payment opened for applications on 15 February in 2021 and began as a £10 per child, per week payment. It has increased by more than 170% since then. For 2026-27 Scottish Child Payment will increase to £28.20 per child per week, in line with inflation.
Over £1.3 billion worth of Scottish Child Payments have been issued to more than 241,000 individual parents and carers by 30 September 2025.
Unpaid carers, disabled people and people with lived experience of social care will have a say on local services after Scottish Parliament regulations come into force.
Social Care Minister Tom Arthur tabled an order giving service users and third sector organisations a vote during integration joint board decision making. This ensures their perspectives carry equal weight in shaping decisions about services, such as care in the community to enable people with disabilities or long term conditions to remain at home.
The 31 boards bring together the NHS and local councils with key community and service representatives to oversee planning and delivery of social care and community health services. Until now only members appointed by the NHS health board and local councils can vote.
The draft regulations will come into force in September after the Scottish Parliament’s Health, Social Care and Sport Committee’s scrutiny of the legislation concluded yesterday.
Mr Arthur said: “I am determined to ensure those who access and support community health and social care services have an equal say in making decisions that affect their communities.
“These regulations extend voting rights to unpaid carers, service users and third sector representatives, collectively representing the voice of lived experience. It is only fair that these voices carry equal weight alongside other members – to help ensure local services are funded properly to meet the needs of people.
“People with lived experience provide valuable insight into challenges and opportunities which should be considered during planning. This change will bring decision making closer to the people we all serve. We expect to see more inclusive, collaborative and improved choices as a result.”
The Pentland Hills have become a proving ground for Edinburgh-based soldiers from Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland (5 SCOTS), undertaking intensive exercises as part of their rigorous field training phase.
The Redford Barracks-based troops are honing the skills that keep them ready for operations at home and overseas, including key operational skills and essentials for modern military operations, through a series of exercises over several weeks.
Soldiers were tested across a range of critical disciplines, including patrol training to refine stealth, communication and situational awareness; navigation across challenging terrain to strengthen their ability to operate independently; and medical training to equip troops with life-saving skills for high-pressure scenarios.
Offensive action drills further developed their tactical precision, coordination and adaptability in combat situations.
This demanding “green phase” prepares 5 SCOTS for its core infantry role ahead of returning to ceremonial duties in the spring.
As The Royal Regiment of Scotland celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, the battalion will deploy south to London, ready to undertake Royal Guard responsibilities in April.
Scotland is in the absurd position of producing more electricity than we need, while families and firms here face some of the highest bills in Britain. Fuel poverty is rampant, reaching nearly 50% in the northernmost parts of the country, despite Scotland’s renewable capacity only set to grow, with projects like Berwick Bank expected to generate power for more households than exist in Scotland.
One practical approach is zonal pricing, setting electricity prices by geographic region so that areas with abundant local generation benefit from lower supply costs and reduced transmission costs.
In plain terms, power produced on and off Scotland’s shores should not cost Scottish households and businesses a premium once it reaches the meter.
Zonal pricing reflects local supply and demand, and recognises that the real expense lies in grid infrastructure, pylons, cabling, and reinforcement, rather than in “sending” electrons down the line.
Instead, we are currently being forced to accept a vast expansion of pylons across our land because the grid is inadequate for the volume of generation, with “curtailment” running into billions, paying wind operators to switch off while consumers still pay through the nose.
A new pylon network is planned from the north of Scotland down the east and through the Borders to supply demand further south, bringing long-term visual and environmental damage, disruption to arable land and watercourses, and little or no benefit to the communities affected.
As an ALBA Glasgow List Candidate, I, Dhruva Kumar, am calling for a fair deal, implement zonal pricing so Scots can finally share in the value of the energy we produce, cut fuel poverty in a cold country, and make Scotland competitive again for manufacturing, hospitality and the green supply chain.
If Westminster will not act, then Scotland’s councils and government should refuse consent for pylons that export our energy while leaving our people paying the price.
Foysol Choudhury has warned that rising business rates and limited government backing are placing increasing strain on small, community-driven businesses.
Following a visit to Time Twisters Edinburgh in Sighthill on Monday, Mr Choudhury met founder Andy Hixon and staff to see first-hand how the business supports young people, creates jobs, and brings learning to life for school pupils.
He praised the company’s work supporting young people and said more must be done to protect businesses that deliver real local impact.
Time Twisters delivers hands-on educational experiences linked to the Scottish Curriculum, giving students the opportunity to explore Ancient Egypt in an interactive and engaging way.
Founded 20 years ago, the business now employs 23 people and has helped hundreds of young people take their first steps into work, often offering their very first job opportunities.
Speaking after the visit, Foysol Choudhury MSP said: “Time Twisters is a brilliant example of how small businesses can inspire young people, create local jobs, and strengthen communities. But right now, too many businesses like this are being pushed into survival mode.
“The last two budgets have made it harder than ever for small businesses to thrive. Instead of investing, expanding, and creating more opportunities, many are simply trying to stay afloat.
“These pressures are hitting the hospitality and leisure sectors particularly hard, sectors that should be driving local regeneration and economic confidence, not being held back.”
Mr Choudhury reaffirmed his commitment to supporting local enterprises and called for policies that enable businesses like Time Twisters to continue contributing to the community and the local economy.
