Almost 45,000 disabled children and young people to be supported this year
Families of almost 45,000 disabled children and young people are set to receive winter heating support, as Scotland’s unique benefit marks its fifth anniversary.
Child Winter Heating Payments will be issued from next week to families caring for children with the highest disability support needs. All payments are automatic and are expected to be made by the end of October.
In total, £11.4 million is expected to be put in the pockets of families who need it the most.
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “I’m proud that this benefit payment – available only in Scotland – will help families of almost 45,000 disabled children and young people keep their homes warm this winter.
“Child Winter Heating Payment was introduced by the Scottish Government five years ago and is providing vital support to families facing the extra costs of caring for a disabled child or young person who needs the highest level of disability support.
“The payment represents Scotland’s commitment to supporting its most vulnerable families, providing targeted help that isn’t available elsewhere in the UK.”
Joana who works at Oaklands School in Edinburgh and who is mother to Maddie, aged 17, gets Child Disability Payment and Child Winter Heating Payment.
Maddie has various conditions including rheumatoid arthritis and autism.
She said: “You’ve got Christmas coming up, the weather is changing, bills are going up, food is going up and that little help, it just means you think right let’s put the heating up. When that Child Winter Heating payment come in it is like winning the lottery. You are so used to money going out and then it comes in. It does make such a difference, 100 per cent.”
Child Winter Heating Payment is paid automatically to the families of children and young people under 19 who receive the highest levels of disability support.
Rainforest projects are to benefit from more than £3 million funding to protect biodiversity and build ecosystem resilience to climate change.
The funding will be used to help save Scotland’s temperate rainforest – made up of native woodlands found on the west coast, where consistent levels of rainfall and relatively mild, year-round temperatures provide the right conditions for some of the world’s rarest mosses, liverworts and lichens – from the effects of the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss.
This year 1,350 hectares of priority rainforest habitat will benefit from funding to:
remove rhododendron, a non-native invasive species that robs plants of nutrients, moisture and light, to give other plants space to grow
restore plantations on ancient woodland sites
prevent damage to young trees and ground vegetation through deer management
Announcing the funding during Scotland’s Climate Week, Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said: “Scotland is home to its own temperate rainforest boasting a variety of rare species and habitats, and we are already delivering work to protect and expand this precious environment. We have some of the best remaining rainforest sites in Europe.
“Forestry Land Scotland are already carrying out immense work within the rainforest zone and have restored more than 2,654 hectares since 2023, and this additional funding of more than £3 million will help us to go further faster.
“Rainforests can capture up to one million tonnes of carbon dioxide each year so protecting them is essential to help us reach net zero emissions by 2045 and, crucially, tackle biodiversity loss.”
£2.95 million awarded to harness academic ideas for commercial use
An anti-cancer drug that researchers believe may be up to 500 times more effective than current treatments is among 18 projects receiving pilot funding to develop innovative ideas into commercial success.
The £2.95 million Proof of Concept Fund will support the commercialisation of ground-breaking research across ten Scottish universities including the project targeting blood and solid cancers at the University of Edinburgh. The £125,000 awarded to the project will fund further studies, ensuring it meets industry standards.
The pilot Proof of Concept Fund is awarded to projects that address significant global challenges across a range of sectors including Life Sciences, Quantum, Photonics, Aerospace, AI and Fintech. Projects include:
A laser system which quickly detects aircraft engine faults
A non-invasive, radiation-free ultrasound to detect breast cancer
A more sustainable and healthier alternative to palm oil
Funding will enable researchers to demonstrate the feasibility of projects through developing prototypes, market exploration and achieving regulatory approvals to derisk new technologies and attract investment. The projects have significant and largely untapped economic opportunities, with potential wide-ranging societal benefits.
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes saw demonstrations from three of the successful projects receiving funding during a visit to the University of Edinburgh Institute for Genetics and Cancer.
Ms Forbes said: “Our first National Innovation Week was a declaration of intent by the Scottish Government. Innovation must be our national endeavour and we are supporting it across all areas of society.
“Scotland’s world-class universities have the ideas and inventions to help tackle global problems and improve lives. This new Proof of Concept Fund and will help bridge the gap between theory and practice, translating research into real-world impact which in turn drives Scotland’s economic transformation.
“The successful projects that we are supporting are quite simply inspiring. They have the potential to be lifesaving and life changing.”
Professor David Argyle, Vice-Principal and Head of College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine at the University of Edinburgh, said: “The transition from ground-breaking discovery to real-world application is one of the most critical stages in research.
“This funding is a welcome endorsement of the exceptional innovation underway across Scotland, supporting academics to achieve commercial success.
“At Edinburgh, the investment in pioneering cancer treatments, lab-grown tissue models and improved detection of aircraft faults shows how this work can hugely benefit people’s lives while also strengthening the economy.”
Short-term prisoners due for release within the next six months are to be released early under emergency proposals to tackle prison overcrowding, with stringent safeguards to protect public safety, if Parliament agrees.
The prison population has surged by more than 200 in the past three months and now stands at 8,363, one of the highest levels ever recorded. Following significant measures over the past two years to address unprecedented rises in prisoner numbers, Justice Secretary Angela Constance told MSPs further action is needed to ensure the sustained, safe and effective operation of prisons.
Subject to Parliament’s approval, this would mean:
Short-term prisoners serving under four years and within 180 days of their scheduled release eligible for emergency release.
Anyone serving a sentence for sexual offences or domestic abuse, and any registered sex offenders, excluded from the release plan.
Prison governors given a veto on an eligible person’s release if they believe they pose an immediate risk to specific individuals or groups.
It is estimated that in the region of 440 prisoners could be released during the initial tranches in November and December.
Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: “This is not an action I propose lightly. I am grateful to prison staff working tirelessly in difficult circumstances and want to ensure they and those who live in prisons are kept safe, so immediate action is now necessary.
“There will be strict safeguards in place to protect public safety, which is my paramount concern. The release will only apply to those serving short sentences under four years and due to be released within the next six months and will exclude those serving sentences for sexual offences or domestic abuse. There will also be a governor veto where they consider that a prisoner poses an immediate risk of harm to specific individuals or groups.
“I absolutely recognise that the early release of prisoners can be a cause for concern for victims. We will engage with victim support organisations to ensure that information on the change in release date is available to them.
“Scotland is not alone in the UK in having to deal with a high prison population, despite the continuing action we are taking to deal with an unprecedented rise in numbers. While there is no single reason, there has been a significant rise in long-term prisoners, continuing high numbers of sentences of under a year despite the presumption against, and an increase in sentence length. This has led to an increase in numbers that needs to be alleviated.”
Victims who have already signed up to the Victim Notification Scheme (VNS) will be told automatically by the Scottish Prison Service if there is a change to the date of release of the prisoner in their case.
Victims who are not signed up to the VNS can also contact the Scottish Prison Service directly to receive information or nominate Victim Support Scotland, Rape Crisis Scotland, ASSIST or Children First to receive information about prisoner release on their behalf.
Wider measures to deal with the rising prison population that continue to be taken include maximising capacity of the prison estate, some short-term prisoners being eligible for release when they reach 40% of sentence served and optimising the use of Home Detention Curfew.
In the longer term, an independent Sentencing and Penal Policy Commission is considering how imprisonment and community-based interventions are used, which will help inform further measures in order to establish a sustainable prison population.
New law will provide greater legal clarity and support economic growth
Digital assets like Bitcoin will have greater legal clarity under new legislation that will help support Scotland’s growing financial technology sector.
The Digital Assets (Scotland) Bill provides clear legal recognition that digital assets can be objects of property under Scots private law. This marks a significant step forward in helping to ensure Scotland’s legal framework is fit for the digital economy. Currently, businesses, investors, and individuals dealing with digital assets may choose to invest in other jurisdictions offering greater legal certainty.
The new legislation creates robust legal foundations around digital asset ownership and acquisition helping Scotland to remain an attractive destination for financial technology companies and providing greater confidence for individuals. Scotland has around 260 FinTech companies employing more than 11,300 people and the sector is worth £14 billion to the Scottish economy.
Business Minister Richard Lochhead said: “This legislation provides the legal clarity that businesses and investors need to thrive in Scotland’s digital economy.
“By clarifying how digital assets are treated under Scots property law, we are building strong foundations for innovation and ensuring that Scots law can accommodate these innovations.
“Scotland’s world-class legal system and vibrant financial sector are experiencing huge growth. We want to be a FinTech global powerhouse and legislation such as this will help meet that commitment.”
GOVERNMENT MUST TAKE ACTION OR MISS FUEL POVERTY TARGETS
Scotland is extremely unlikely to meet its fuel poverty targets for 2030 according to a new report from the Scottish Fuel Poverty Advisory Panel.
The Panel says the Scottish Government’s first three-year update, Tackling Scottish Fuel Poverty 2021–24, shows that fuel poverty rates have risen sharply since targets were first set in 2019.
It says that greater emphasis must be placed on the monitoring and evaluation of progress towards fuel poverty targets.
The latest figures paint a stark picture: more than a third of households in Scotland (34%), approximately 861,000, are now classed as living in fuel poverty.
A household is in fuel poverty if, after housing costs have been paid for, it needs more than 10% of its remaining income to pay for its energy needs and if after paying for its energy the household is left in poverty.
It’s considered in extreme fuel poverty if they have to spend more than 20% of its remaining income. Almost one in five (19.4%) or 491,0001 households are in extreme fuel poverty, a long way from the Scottish Government’s goal of reducing the figures to 15% for fuel poverty and 5% for extreme fuel poverty by 2030.
Matthew Cole, Chair of Scottish Fuel Poverty Advisory Panel said: “We’re calling for the existing Fuel Poverty Strategy to be revised as a matter of urgency, or Scotland will not only miss its 2030 targets but is also unlikely to meet its 2035 targets.
“There is also need for a fuel poverty delivery plan that links boosting household income directly to meeting fuel poverty targets, and this delivery plan should be robustly monitored.
“While meeting the 2040 target of just 5% in fuel poverty and 1% in extreme fuel poverty is still possible, it will be a massive challenge requiring a whole new strategic approach. There are far too many people still having to choose between heating their homes and feeding their families.”
He said the Panel has heard some harrowing stories from energy advice agencies and other partners on the frontline across Scotland: “We have heard of people resorting to extremes so that they can access heat and power, with a resident in the Western Isles developing hypothermia after disconnecting the heating because they were unable to pay their bill.
“We have even heard reports of someone ripping up the floorboards in their home so that they could burn them as a heat source. These findings are shocking on their own, but are even more so when we consider the longer-term impacts living in fuel poverty can have, including on physical and mental health.”
The Panel’s new report acknowledges that the world is a very different place since the original targets were set in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic and cost of living crisis driven by the war in Ukraine and sanctions against Russia.
It also acknowledges that although household energy rates are not within the Scottish Government’s direct control, the escalation of fuel poverty levels in Scotland means that tackling fuel poverty should be a greater priority than ever.
The report recognises that some progress has been made by the Scottish Government over the last three years, particularly in efforts to improve the energy efficiency of housing. There has been a measurable improvement in recent years with 56% of homes rated EPC band C or better in 2023 – an increase of around 3% from 2022.
There has also been significant Scottish Government support to increase income for low-income households, with some interventions directly related to annual assistance with energy costs.
However, there is still a long way to go to achieve the targets. The Panel has made a series of recommendations to the Scottish Government urging it to:
Fulfil its commitment to revising its current Fuel Poverty Strategy by December 2026.
Accelerate the rate of improvements to make housing stock more energy efficient.
Increase awareness of how energy is used in homes to reduce waste and make costs clearer, as many households may be on unsuitable tariffs, paying more than necessary without realising it.
Set a clear vision for the GB energy market, push for reforms that take account of the needs of Scottish consumers, and protect those at risk of fuel poverty.
Target island and remote rural communities with tailored, co-ordinated action to cut fuel poverty where it hits hardest.
On behalf of the Panel, the Chair emphasised: “It is essential that the revised strategy includes a clear, credible plan to cut fuel poverty and meet statutory targets.
“That means closer monitoring, better evaluation, and flexible policies that respond quickly to stalled progress or heightened need. We look forward to seeing the Scottish Government’s response in the coming weeks.”
Gillian Campbell, Director of the Existing Homes Alliance (EHA), said: “The Scottish Fuel Poverty Advisory Panel highlights that the number of households in fuel poverty rose from 24.6% in 2019 to 34% in 2023. This rising level of fuel poverty in renewables rich Scotland is deeply concerning.
“Poor energy efficiency remains one of the main drivers of fuel poverty, yet we know Scotland already has excellent fuel poverty and energy efficiency programmes that can make homes warmer, healthier and cheaper to heat. However, the scale of existing programmes doesn’t match current levels of need.
“The Scottish Government must commit to scaling up these effective schemes and providing long-term funding certainty so local authorities and partners can maximise their impact. Without that commitment, too many people will continue to face the impossible choice between heating and eating this winter.”
Over £5.5 million for local renewable energy projects
An Island solar farm, community ice rink and a small community wind farm are among almost 50 projects to benefit from more than £5.5 million funding.
Supported through a combination of Scottish Government and Great British Energy funding, the Community and Renewable Energy Scheme’s (CARES) Community Energy Generation Growth Fund will enable 46 community groups to install local renewable energy schemes such as wind turbines and solar panels, to meet local needs.
Energy Secretary Gillian Martin confirmed the 2025 allocations for the Fund whilst at a visit to an Edinburgh Solar Co-op site in southwest Edinburgh, during Scotland’s Climate Week.
The community-run group have been offered more than £480,000 funding to install further solar panels on schools, community centres and leisure facilities across the city generating free electricity for the buildings and a fixed return on investments for local supporters.
Among the projects awarded funding are:
Edinburgh Community Solar Co-op receives £484,500 for Edinburgh Solar Co-op phase 3
Arran Community Renewable’s work on building community-owned Glenkiln Solar Farm
Eigg Electric to support their work towards decarbonising the island by 2030
Huntly Development Trust’s project to generate up to 20MW of potential wind, solar and green hydrogen
It brings the total number of funding offers through the Fund up to 69 since it first launched last year, supporting 57 different community energy projects.
Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy Gillian Martin said: “Scotland is fast becoming a global renewable energy powerhouse, and it is vital that communities share in the benefits from this transition.
“This funding, for stand-alone generation projects, responds to the needs of local groups and has the potential to lever in significant funds for communities by providing the ability to earn money from their projects by, for example, selling the excess energy generated back to the grid. It will also play a key role delivering a just transition to net zero, whilst supporting a greener, fairer future for Scots.
“To further ensure communities see the benefits of the renewable energy transition, we know more can be done. That is why we are calling on the UK Government to go further by mandating offers of shared ownership and to introduce a mandatory community benefits scheme for mature onshore technologies.
“We will continue to work with our partners to grow the community energy sector and, crucially, ensure that the delivery of renewable energy comes with benefits for people in Scotland, as well as supporting progress towards net zero.”
UK Government Minister for Energy Michael Shanks said: “Great British Energy is empowering communities across Scotland to take a stake in their own energy, whether it be investing in solar projects on the Isle of Arran or community wind farms in Aberdeenshire.
“This is our clean energy superpower mission in action – putting communities in the driving seat of energy generation and making sure working people and businesses profit.”
Local Energy Scotland Manager Chris Morris, said: “Congratulations to the community groups and charities who’ve worked hard to develop these inspiring projects and proposals. We’re looking forward to working with them and to see the lasting impact they’ll make, locally and across the country.
“This funding marks a step forward for community-led renewable energy in Scotland. Through CARES, we’re enabling local groups to turn ambition into action, developing energy projects that not only reduce carbon emissions but also directly benefit communities with long term social and economic value.”
Warm, safe and affordable homes for thousands of families
The number of social homes delivered in the past 18 years in Scotland has passed the 100,000 mark.
Latest statistics on affordable housing show that, since 2007, the Scottish Government has helped deliver 140,346 affordable homes, with 100,064 of those for social rent.
Commenting, Housing Secretary Màiri McAllan said: “Social homes passing 100,000 is a demonstration of our strong commitment to supporting affordable housing across Scotland.
“Social housing is a key cornerstone in our efforts to tackle the housing emergency and achieve our goal of eradicating child poverty. These numbers show that thousands of families have been provided with a warm, safe and affordable home.
“However, demand is outstripping supply, and these latest quarterly statistics paint a stark picture of the challenges that the cost of living, inflation and Brexit have placed on the housing sector – not least construction inflation having reached an incredible 24% in recent years.
“However, I am committed to turning these figures around. That is why earlier this month I published an ambitious Housing Emergency Action Plan, backed by up to £4.9 billion of investment to deliver a major affordable housing programme.
“This will support around 36,000 affordable homes over the next four years, providing homes for up to 24,000 children. This is additional to the £808m we will spend this financial year to deliver around 8,000 affordable homes.
“I am once again calling on everyone in the public and private sector to urgently pull together and work with us to ensure that everyone in Scotland has a place they can call home.”
Legislation to transform homelessness prevention and improve standards in rented housing has been passed by the Scottish Parliament.
The Housing (Scotland) Bill will place a duty on certain public bodies to prevent people from losing their homes by asking about their housing situation and taking action.
The Bill will also broaden Ministers’ powers to implement ‘Awaab’s Law’, which will ensure landlords promptly address issues that are hazardous to tenants’ health, starting with damp and mould.
The legal measure was named after Awaab Ishak who died in 2020 after being exposed to mould in his home in Rochdale in north west England. The law will now be implemented in Scotland’s rented sector from March 2026, subject to Parliament’s agreement.
Other measures in the Bill include giving Ministers the power to implement a system of long-term rent controls, keeping rent affordable for tenants.
Housing Secretary Màiri McAllan said: “Passing the Housing (Scotland) Bill is a landmark moment for how we prevent homelessness in Scotland.
“Whilst we already have some of the strongest homelessness rights of any country, we will now go even further to a create a gold-standard homelessness prevention system.
“Passing this groundbreaking legislation, coupled with the Housing Emergency Action Plan published earlier this month, shows just how serious we are about tackling Scotland’s housing crisis.
“Families across Scotland will have the confidence that their rented home will be free from damp and mould as we take forward work to implement ‘Awaab’s Law’. We will now work at pace to lay regulations to implement these protections from March.
“Scotland has already led the way in protecting tenants and providing strong rights when people are homeless and now the Housing Bill will revolutionise homelessness prevention and ensure rents are kept affordable.”
Maeve McGoldrick, head of policy and communications for Crisis Scotland, said: “Today’s vote marks a landmark moment in Scotland’s journey towards ending homelessness.
“We already have strong rights in place for people experiencing homelessness, but as we see from our frontline services, we need to do far more to prevent people losing their home in the first place. That means allowing people entering a housing crisis to get help earlier, so they can get support before it is too late.
“At Crisis we have been calling for new protections to stop people being forced from their homes for years. These new changes, contained in the Housing Bill, hold the potential to create a truly world-leading homelessness system, where everyone has a safe, secure place to live.”
Campaigners Living Rent said: “MSPs voted to pass the Housing bill and with it, rent controls. This bill wouldn’t exist without the work of Living Rent members.
“It caps rent increases between tenancies, clamps down on disrepair, and strengthens joint tenancy rights.”
The Scottish Greens also welcomed the decision: “40 years ago Margaret Thatcher abolished rent controls in Scotland.
“The Scottish Parliament just passed a Bill introduced by the Scottish Greens, which will allow them once more! This will keep rents affordable and offer safety and stability to renters.”
Graham Crocket, National Estate Agency Director at Aberdein Considine, has reacted to the passing of the new Housing (Scotland) Bill 2025.
The Bill empowers local councils to designate ‘Rent Control Areas’, capping rent increases to inflation plus 1%, and introduces stricter eviction rules while mandating rent history disclosures.
Grahamsaid: “The implementation of the Housing (Scotland) Bill 2025 is a turning point for landlords, property buyers and the wider property market. While the government frames this Bill as a step towards fairness and affordability, the ripple effects could be profound.
“With rent controls, enhanced tenant protections and new transparency requirements becoming law, landlords and investors will need to carefully reassess their positions, while first-time buyers could be among those best placed to benefit.
“For landlords, especially those operating in high-demand urban areas, the Bill represents a tightening of margins and a loss of flexibility. The prospect of capped rent growth and longer notice periods may prompt a sell-off of rental housing stock, particularly for older flats and tenements. This shift could flood the second-hand market with properties previously held for investment.
“If this happens, first-time buyers could find themselves with more choice and negotiating power than before. In cities like Glasgow and Aberdeen, where affordability ratios are more favourable, the impact could be especially pronounced. Entry-level homes may see a softening in price, giving new buyers a foothold in markets that have long felt out of reach.
“The Bill’s full impact will depend on how councils implement rent control zones and how landlords respond. For now, the market is watching, and first-time buyers may be wise to do more than just watch.”
Aberdein Considine has produced a short city-by-city forecast on the expected impact of the Housing (Scotland) Bill:
Glasgow: With an average house price of £191,000 and strong rental demand, Glasgow is likely to see moderate investor exits. Flats in areas like Dennistoun and Southside may enter the market, softening prices and improving access for first-time buyers.
Edinburgh: Scotland’s capital faces a declared housing emergency and high property values. Rent controls could be rolled out aggressively, prompting landlord exits in Leith and Southside. However, strong demand may keep prices buoyant, limiting gains for new buyers.
Aberdeen: Long subdued by oil sector volatility, Aberdeen’s market is already cool. The bill may accelerate existing trends, with modest price declines and increased affordability for buyers seeking value.
Stirling: Affordable and well-connected, Stirling could attract buyers priced out of Glasgow and Edinburgh. Investor exits near the university and city centre may boost supply of housing stock, stabilising prices and enhancing accessibility.
Perth: With a quieter market and rural appeal, Perth may see slower changes. However, increased listings of older rental stock could gently ease prices, especially for flats and terraced homes.
Aberdein Considine is an award-winning law firm with 21 offices and more than 450 staff across Scotland and the north of England. The firm is also Scotland’s largest solicitor estate agent with a national network of high street branches, including in the key cities of Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perth and Stirling.
Extra funding for the Oil and Gas Transition Training Fund
An additional 100 offshore oil and gas workers will be able to access tailored support to help them transition into the sustainable energy sector – following a £450,000 increase in Scottish Government funding.
The funding has been awarded to the Oil and Gas Transition Training Fund, a joint Scottish Government and UK Government initiative, in response to demand from oil and gas workers. It means that over this financial year, at least 300 oil and gas workers in Aberdeen or Aberdeenshire will be able to access careers advice and funding for training to move into sustainable energy roles.
More than £120 million has already been invested by the Scottish Government in the North East through the Just Transition Fund and the Energy Transition Fund to support the region’s transition to net zero. This funding has helped create green jobs, support innovation, and secured the highly skilled workforce of the future.
The funding comes as the First Minister opened Scotland’s largest energy transition skills hub in Aberdeen, which will support 1000 people from the North East and beyond into roles in sustainable energy.
This week is Scotland’s Climate Week.
Climate Action Secretary @GillianMSP highlights the importance of celebrating what has already been done.
Together, we can protect our environment, strengthen our economy and build a safer future for the next generation.
Energy Secretary Gillian Martin said: “Today marks the beginning of Scotland’s Climate Week, which gives us a chance to recognise how the skills, experience and expertise of Scotland’s valued oil and gas workers are essential to delivering a fair and managed energy transition.
“This additional funding to the Oil and Gas Transition Training Fund will support more offshore workers to take on different roles across the sustainable energy sector.
“The North East has long been a titan in the oil and gas industry and it is only right we support the talented and skilled workforce to move into new roles in the evolving sustainable energy sector.”
