Views sought on food price controls on everyday items
Households struggling with food costs could benefit from price controls on essential items under proposals published for consultation.
Fulfilling one of the commitments made for the Scottish Government’s first 100 days, views are being sought on the proposals and accompanying draft Bill. These are intended to ease cost of living pressures, particularly for lower income households who spend a greater share of their budget on food.
The consultation seeks views on the proposals and how the mechanism would work in practice, including the retailers and foods that could be included in the scheme.
Minister for Business Tom Arthur said: “Helping people with the cost of living is a top priority of this government. Our aim is to make essential food items more affordable for households struggling to pay for their weekly shop, particularly those on lower incomes.
“The consultation covers the wide range of factors we need to consider to implement a food price cap. I am committed to taking action to address food affordability that works with retailers and protects farmers and food producers.
“I have spent the last three months engaging with bodies with an interest in this and encourage everyone to have their say.”
Community organisations, charities, social enterprises and local residents are being invited to help shape the future of the Norton Park Conference Centre as part of a new study exploring how a bespoke heritage space could better serve Edinburgh’s third sector as well as the local communities round Easter Road.
Norton Park has commissioned a comprehensive options appraisal to identify new and enhanced uses for its Conference Centre, with the ambition of creating greater social impact, stronger community benefit and improved long-term sustainability.
The study will explore how the building could support voluntary organisations, community groups, social enterprises, local residents and purpose-driven businesses, while respecting the heritage character of the building.
The project is being led by Community Enterprise and Fraser/Livingstone Architects. A central part of the project is understanding what Edinburgh’s third sector actually needs. The team is keen to hear from charities, voluntary organisations, community groups, social enterprises, networks and public sector partners about the challenges they face, the facilities they currently use, the gaps in provision across the city and the opportunities they would like to see developed.
Keith Robertson, Chief Executive of Norton Park, said: “Norton Park has a long history of supporting the voluntary and community sector in Edinburgh.
“We know there is potential for the Conference Centre to play a much bigger role in supporting organisations and communities across the city. This project is an opportunity to think creatively about the future and ensure that the building responds to real needs.
“We are keen to hear from as many organisations as possible so that any future plans are rooted in evidence, demand and community benefit.”
Norton Park is Edinburgh’s leading third-sector hub, providing affordable, high-quality workspace and a supportive community for charities, social enterprises and community organisations.
The study will examine a range of possibilities, including workspace, meeting facilities, training and event space, partnership working opportunities and other community-focused uses. The findings will help Norton Park identify a preferred option and develop a longer-term vision for the building’s future.
Robin Livingstone, Director of Fraser/Livingstone Architects: “Sitting next to Easter Road stadium in Leith, Norton Park has a legacy in building repair, having rescued a Victorian school building from disrepair.
“This feasibility commission is an opportunity to build on that heritage by transforming the Conference Centre, housed in a makeshift conversion of a neighbouring B-Listed church.
“We will open the building to the community, unlock underused spaces, and improve energy efficiency by enhancing the building fabric to reduce carbon emissions. Creating a retrofit exemplar that supports Norton Park’s charitable purpose.”
Douglas Westwater, Chief Executive of Community Enterprise, added: “Edinburgh has one of the most vibrant third sectors in Scotland, but organisations are facing significant pressures around costs, sustainability and access to suitable space.
“We want to hear directly from the sector about what would make the biggest difference. Whether you are a small community group looking for meeting space, a charity seeking collaborative opportunities, or a social enterprise with ideas for the future, we would love to have a conversation.”
Get Involved
Organisations and individuals with an interest in the space are encouraged to get in touch and share their views.
To discuss your organisation’s needs, opportunities for collaboration, or wider priorities for Edinburgh’s third sector, please contact Douglas Westwater at Community Enterprise, email douglas@communityenterprise.co.uk
Legislation to protect pupils’ education and wellbeing
Pupils, parents and teachers are among those being encouraged to share their views about restricting phones in schools with the launch of a public consultation today.
The Scottish Government’s consultation will inform the development of legislation to restrict phone use in schools, given concerns about the harmful effect on pupils’ education and wellbeing. Views are sought on the extent, scope and potential impact of any restrictions, as well as any possible exemptions.
Updated guidance, published in June, already encourages schools to restrict the use of phones during teaching and learning time as a minimum while the proposed mandatory legal restrictions are being developed.
The consultation has been published alongside practical guidance for parents to keep their children safe online and manage their screen time – with the advice being posted from today on Scottish Government social media channels.
Speaking ahead of a visit to Perth Grammar School, Education Secretary Màiri McAllan said: “Smartphones are a fact of modern life, and it is important that we equip the next generation with the necessary skills, knowledge and resilience to thrive.
“However, the evidence of the risks that phones can pose to young people is compelling – from disruption to education, sleep and wellbeing, to more severe harms including bullying, harassment and radicalisation.
“The Scottish Government is treating this as a public health issue. We are publishing content from today about how parents can help keep their children safe online, alongside surveys to seek views on what more can be done to support families.
“We have already used guidance to encourage headteachers to restrict the use of phones, but we know teachers, parents, carers and pupils want a consistent approach across Scotland. That’s why national legislation is important.
“This consultation gives children, young people, parents and carers, school staff and education authorities the opportunity to share their views on what this legislation should look like.”
Cllr Joan Griffiths Planning Convener appeals to those living and working in the Capital to help shape the city’s future development:
We’re at the very early stages of putting together our next local development plan City Plan 2040 to meet the needs of existing and new residents and the Capital’s growing population.
Our ‘Call for Ideas’ consultation is asking those living and working in the city to help us set its direction and your local knowledge will help us focus on making changes where they are needed. If you’re passionate about how your community will look in the future and how you’d like it to evolve, please give us your views.
We’re looking for proposals on new buildings and how they are used, what facilities and services are needed and homes you think we need. Ideas about how we could reuse important buildings and land would be helpful too.
Also, where you think additional spaces for playing, sports or growing food would be helpful for communities and any improvements you think are required to help you get around.
Your idea can be about any area and can be any size covering a whole district, neighbourhood, a single plot of land or building. It would be good to know why you think it’s important and why it would a make a difference.
I’d encourage you to find out what others think by reaching out to local people in the area to find out what is most important to them. You could ask about the changes you are suggesting, what they think about your ideas, and you can point out planning policies you’d like to influence. You could do this through surveys and questionnaires, drop in events, exhibitions and by attending planned local events.
My vision is that you can help us create City Plan 2040 to strengthen communities and make sure that they look after the wellbeing of their residents.
We want to build attractive places where people can afford to buy or rent their homes, walk to shops, schools, green space and healthcare facilities, enjoy cultural, community and sporting activities and easily access sustainable transport to visit other parts of Edinburgh.
We’d love to hear from residents, young people, community councils and groups, businesses, social enterprises, the public and private sector, developers and landowners. The consultation is open until 30 September, and every idea will be considered.
We will be using the ideas to help us prepare the Proposed Plan including how we plan sites and areas. It could also help to shape what our planning policies might be and how the places that people value most can evolve.
We will be consulting on the Proposed Plan later in the process and we’ll let you know how you can get involved and give your views.
Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust are holding a meeting at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre onTUESDAY 25th AUGUST at 5pm to discuss the park development and for you to ask questions about YOUR park.
There is over £5 million being spent on re-developing the park and it will be closed until October/November 2027.
THURSDAY 8th OCTOBER 5.15pm – 8.30pmat GRANTON STATION
PUBLIC CONSULTATION ONLINE from WEDNESDAY 26th AUGUST
Come and talk to us about our proposals to build a new Primary School and Nursery at Granton Waterfront.
The new proposed building will be able to accommodate a Nursery for 128 pupils between the ages of two and five, and a new two stream (15 classes) primary school with the potential for an Enhanced Support Base (ESB) with four additional classes. The facility will have the ability to expand to up to a three stream (22 classes) primary school in future.
You’ll be able to view the proposals and take part in our public consultation online from Wednesday, 26 August 2026 until Thursday 15 October 2026 at 5.00pm.
National Lottery Good Causes: Fund what matters to you
It Starts with Community. And it starts with you.
There are just seven weeks left to respond to the UK Government’s call for evidence, on how the money raised for good causes by National Lottery players should be spent – and they want to hear from individuals and groups across Scotland.
Since 1994, the National Lottery has generated over £53 billion for good causes – through projects that help people connect, grow and build a better future, all across Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and England.
Our priorities, and our strategy It Starts With Community, have been shaped by 18,000 people across the UK who told us what their communities needed. And last year, our funding teams covering every postcode area of the UK funded an idea every 8 minutes.
Views sought on changes to restraint and seclusion guidance
Responses are being sought on proposals to improve guidance around the use of restraint and seclusion in hospitals.
The proposed updates to the Code of Practice for the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 aim to strengthen protections for adults and children to ensure that their safety, emotional wellbeing and rights are taken into account with any potential use of restraint or seclusion.
It also seeks to support practitioners, services and Health Boards to deliver safe care, based on the needs of individual patients being treated under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003. The draft measures include guidance on:
the clear definitions of restraint and seclusion
the lawful limits of restraint
the use of restraint and seclusion with children and young people
the use of restraint and seclusion in relation to people with learning disabilities or autistic people
the use of restraint during nasogastric tube feeding
Minister for Mental Wellbeing Maree Todd said: “The safety and wellbeing of people receiving mental health treatment and support is at the heart of these proposals.
“These proposed revisions to the Code of Practice reflect the increased concern over the use of restraint and seclusion – and in particular with children and young people, as well as developments to human rights legislation over the past 20 years.
“Revisions will give practitioners clearer, consistent and rights‑based guidance, and help ensure people are treated with dignity and respect.
“I urge people with a stake in this – patients, families, carers and clinicians to respond.”
Workplace expert, Acas, has today launched a consultation on updates to its Code of Practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures to promote early and informal resolution of concerns at work.
The new Code will help employers and workers handle concerns in a fair, transparent and timely way. Employers and workers have rights and responsibilities and handling concerns that come up early and informally can save on costs and stress at work.
Acas research on the annual cost of conflict has found that managing formal disciplinary and grievance procedures is estimated to cost UK employers £2.36 billion a year, while the annual cost of informal resolution is around ten times lower at £250 million.
Acas Chair, Baroness Maggie Jones, said: “Acas research shows that formal processes can be very costly for everyone involved. Effective early intervention in conflict saves money and time as well as promoting staff wellbeing and productivity.
“Our new Code reflects the benefits of handling work issues early and informally. It will help employers and workers handle concerns in a way that’s fair, transparent and timely. I would encourage everyone to take part in the consultation.”
Acas statutory Code of Practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures was last fully revised in 2009. It currently applies where there is potential for disciplinary action to be taken against a worker or where a worker raises a formal concern or grievance with their employer.
The purpose of the Code is to provide employers, workers and representatives with guidance on handling disciplinary and grievance situations in the workplace.
Employment tribunals must take the Code into account in relevant cases and can increase or reduce an award by up to 25% for unreasonable failure to follow the Code by an employer or worker. Size and resources of the organisation are taken into account.
As well as promoting the benefits of informal and early resolution of conflict, the draft updated Code also seeks views on how to improve handling formal procedures.
Acas has also published a new YouGov poll today, which asked British businesses about what options best help their organisations to resolve workplace conflict informally. The top three picked were:
Having a good working relationship with the other person (58%);
A shared willingness to find a solution (53%); and
A workplace culture that supports open conversations (52%).
The consultation on the draft Code closes on 23 September 2026.
