Every August, Edinburgh transforms into the world’s cultural epicentre, with festivals filling every corner of the city (writes FOYSOL CHOUDHURY MSP).
This year, however, the stage will be busier than ever. Alongside the usual theatre lovers and comedy fans, the capital will welcome an additional influx of visitors as thousands arrive for concerts by Oasis and AC/DC.
It’s a month that draws global attention and economic opportunity. Yet, beneath the spotlight lies a more pressing truth: a festival economy that, while world-renowned, places intense pressure on the very infrastructure residents rely on year-round.
Nowhere is that strain more visible than in housing. When tourists arrive, hotels and B&Bs fill up fast. For people already living in vulnerability, August can mean being pushed further into homelessness. Shelter Scotland warns that major events create a “bottleneck” in temporary accommodation, with people displaced at short notice to make room for tourists.
However, the pressures do not end with housing. Edinburgh’s cultural season is built on the dedication of stage crews, technicians, hospitality staff, and many others who work tirelessly in the supporting industries.
Yet for many, the reality is long, exhausting hours for very modest pay. Often, those hours come under contracts that offer little or no security. With low wages, unstable work, and the seasonal nature of these jobs, it’s a constant struggle to make ends meet, even as the city’s economy thrives on their efforts.
Emerging artists face similar barriers. Simply being in Edinburgh in August can be a financial gamble; some take on debt to perform, while others are priced out entirely. When workers can’t afford to work and artists can’t afford to perform, diversity shrinks, innovation slows, and the cultural richness on which our festivals rely begins to erode.
The Scottish Government is quick to celebrate record visitor numbers, but slower to address the inequalities behind them. A fair cultural strategy cannot be measured by ticket sales alone. It must guarantee that no one is pushed into unsuitable accommodation and ensure fair pay and decent conditions for festival workers, as well as provide real support for emerging artists so they can take part without risking financial hardship.
Last Friday, I hosted a conversation at the Festival of Politics, “Dreaming of a Fairer Future for Culture,” alongside Culture Counts and a panel of inspiring voices from across Scotland’s creative sector.
Edinburgh’s festivals are a treasure, but pride alone will not protect them. Their future depends on whether we confront the pressures that threaten them and act decisively to safeguard the people and communities who make them possible.
If Scotland is to remain a cultural leader, it must honour not just the art on stage, but the lives and livelihoods that keep the curtain rising each year.
Workers directly impacted by the cessation of refining at Grangemouth are to receive additional targeted support to help them transition into new jobs.
INEOS O&P employees who were part of shared services for Grangemouth oil refinery and are directly affected by its closure will be able to receive support from Forth Valley College to develop skills for emerging sectors.
The intervention builds on what was put in place earlier this year for refinery workers. That has already enabled more than 300 Petroineos workers made redundant to access careers advice and training and brings the total projected investment from the Scottish and UK Governments up to £2 million.
Workers have been offered a wide range of training opportunities, including renewable energy upskilling courses and wind turbine engineering courses, paid for and supported by the UK and Scottish Governments. This will provide them with the vital skills needed to secure new jobs, including in the clean energy sector – which currently supports more than 47,000 jobs in Scotland.
The move supports a key action in the Scottish Government’s Grangemouth Industrial Just Transition Plan – which seeks to position the area as a global leader in green energy and sustainable manufacturing.
Climate Action and Energy Secretary Gillian Martin said: “It is vital that we do what we can as a government to support and promote local opportunities and growth in the Grangemouth area.
“As Scotland’s leading industrial cluster, Grangemouth has long played a vital role to our economy and bringing energy security to the country and it is only right it continues to help lead the way in our journey to net zero through new, green energy opportunities.
“This funding will help affected workers move into sectors such as offshore and onshore wind, hydrogen and carbon capture.”
UK Minister for Energy Michael Shanks said: “We want to ensure workers directly affected by the closure of Grangemouth refinery get the tailored support they are entitled to, with over 300 already receiving advice and training to help them into new employment opportunities.
“This training guarantee will equip this highly skilled workforce to transfer their experience into new sectors as Scotland continues to lead the way in the UK’s clean energy future, alongside our ongoing work to secure long-term industrial future at the Grangemouth site.”
Unite Scottish Secretary Derek Thomson said: “The additional support for Grangemouth based workers will deliver targeted assistance for those facing redundancy due to the closure of the oil refinery.
“The investment by the Scottish and UK governments for retraining will provide INEOS workers with some reassurance that they are not being left behind.
“It will help support them for new job opportunities in the wider energy sector. Unite will continue to do all we can to encourage government, public bodies and companies to deliver a Just Transition for Grangemouth workers and this investment is a step forward in that campaign.”
A recent Strathclyde University study found that Scotland’s renewable energy industry and its supply chain supported more than 47,000 jobs and supported £15.5 billion of output in 2022.
Scottish Govt must now deliver a mandate for universal Fracture Liaison Services and set rigorous care quality standards – just like England and Wales
A failure to deliver high-quality Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) across Scotland is contributing to a devastating increase in broken hips, say campaigners.
FLS are early diagnosis services for osteoporosis, which is one of the top drivers of disability and early death amongst older people in Scotland.
Osteoporosis causes bones to weaken and break more easily – often just from a fall from standing height, a cough or a sneeze.
Half of women aged over 50 will suffer devastating broken bones as a result of osteoporosis, as well as a fifth of men. The end result of late treatment of osteoporosis is a life-threatening hip fracture, which kills over a quarter of sufferers within a year.
The number of people aged 50 and over who suffered hip fractures rose considerably in 2024 to 8,426* cases, a new report by Public Health Scotland shows.
The Royal Osteoporosis Society is now calling on the Scottish Government to deliver a mandate requiring all health boards to have high-quality Fracture Liaison Services (FLS). The Scottish Government must also set rigorous performance standards for FLSs to ensure enough patients are being identified, treated and monitored.
A mandate like this is already in place in England and Wales, leaving Scotland trailing behind, despite Glasgow being the birthplace of the FLS model, which has been copied in 57 countries.
Without a mandate from the Scottish Government, NHS chiefs are not incentivised to provide high-quality FLS in all areas. The lack of publicly available data – because a national audit of all FLSs has been delayed – is concealing life-threatening gaps where services are not present or performing.
Fracture Liaison Services are specialist NHS clinics that diagnose and treat osteoporosis in people over 50 after the first broken bone. Early detection and treatment – with inexpensive medication that is available on the NHS – is vital in preventing further fractures such as broken hips.
Currently, many patients in Scotland are not having their osteoporosis diagnosed and treated, which is leading to a devastating cascade of further avoidable fractures.
If Scotland had quality universal FLS coverage, over a five-year period, it is estimated:
8,899 fractures will be prevented – with 3,341 of those being hip fractures
60,000 acute bed days will be saved
£104m in all associated costs can be saved – including £64m in acute care costs
Craig Jones, Chief Executive of the Royal Osteoporosis Society, said: “In England and Wales, the governments have promised a national roll-out of life-saving bone clinics, but the Scottish Government has, so far, declined to match that commitment, saying an audit of current services is needed first.
“The slow pace of auditing services is fuelling the rise in life-threatening hip fractures, which will lead to lost lives. Scotland invented the world standard for fracture care, so it’s hugely disappointing to see the nation fall behind England and Wales.”
Carol Mochan, Shadow Minister for Women’s Health, said: “Every one of these hip fractures represents a person whose life has been turned upside down, and too many could have been prevented.
“The Government knows what we need – a mandate for universal, high-quality Fracture Liaison Services. Wales has done it. England is doing it. There’s no reason people in Scotland should be left behind.”
Dr Sandesh Gulhane, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, said: “Scotland led the world in creating Fracture Liaison Services, but that early lead has been squandered.
“Latest figures show that the number of people aged 50 and over with hip fractures has been rising, with the largest increases amongst people aged 70 to 89. This could be prevented by timely diagnosis and treatment, yet only 41.5% of patients in Scotland receive a full inpatient care package within 24 hours of admission.
“The rise in hip fractures is the inevitable result of this inaction. The promised audit remains unfinished, and without a mandate for quality services, patients will keep falling through the cracks. The Scottish Government must act now to put Scotland back at the forefront of osteoporosis care.”
Almost 200,000 people in Scotland are living with undiagnosed spinal fractures due to under-prioritisation of osteoporosis care.
Osteoporosis affects around 250,000 people in Scotland, and it’s estimated that 41,900 ‘fragility’ fractures occur here every year.
Fractures are the fourth worst cause of premature death and disability in Scotland.
Half of women over 50 and one fifth of men will break a bone due to osteoporosis, a condition where bones lose strength and break more easily – even from a cough, a sneeze or a hug.
Fractures are preventable with safe, effective medications that are highly affordable for NHS Scotland.
3.5 million people in the UK are estimated to have osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis causes 500,000 broken bones every year in the UK, costing over £4.5 billion.
The report by Public Health Scotland also shows standards of care in hospital for people following a hip fracture have plummeted. The average time patients spent in the emergency department after a hip fracture increased to 5 hours 36 minutes, compared with 5 hours 10 minutes in 2023.
The Welsh Government issued a mandate to deliver universal FLS, which has been achieved. Wales also published a Quality Statement for Osteoporosis and Bone Health, which committed to delivering quality standards of care for people with osteoporosis. Targets have been set to identify, treat and monitor more patients.
England has committed to rolling out universal FLS by 2030.
Potential spending is just ‘tip of iceberg’ of what can be achieved, says Scotland Loves Local chief
An extra £26.7m could be driven directly into Edinburgh’s economy if everyone in the city spent just £1-a-week more with local businesses.
The significant financial difference that can be made – safeguarding the future of businesses and protecting jobs – has been highlighted as part of Scotland Loves Local Week, which runs until Saturday (August 30).
The call to think local first is spearheaded by Scotland’s Towns Partnership (STP) – the organisation behind Scotland Loves Local – with support from the Scottish Government.
STP has calculated that, if every person in Scotland were to spend just £1 more per week with local businesses in their area, an additional £282.7m would be generated annually.
STP Chief Officer Kimberley Guthrie said: “The reality is that £26.7mm is the tip of the iceberg of what can be achieved in Edinburgh. If £1 more every week can make a transformational impact to the people who make our places, just imagine what is truly possible by choosing local even more.
“Money stays local for longer when you spend with local businesses.The multiplier effect is massive. These businesses spend with other businesses, who employ other local people, who then spend with other local businesses. Every penny spent is an investment in the future of your area.
“The jobs and livelihoods of your neighbours, friends and family depend on you doing so.”
STP champions the critical part that towns and local neighbourhoods play in creating a better Scotland and the need to invest in them.
Scotland Loves Local is the drive for people to build stronger, more sustainable futures for their community by supporting the businesses in their area.
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said: “Local spending is vital to the prosperity of our villages, towns and cities. It keeps people in jobs, businesses open and wealth in communities.
“The Scottish Government continues to work closely with Scotland’s Towns Partnership to drive forward the Scotland Loves Local campaign which aims to strengthen communities by putting localism and thriving town centres and high streets at the heart of a green, fair and growing economy.
“To create jobs and boost local economies we are also progressing our Community Wealth Building Bill which would, if passed by MSPs, encourage councils, NHS boards and other public bodies to buy more goods and services from their local businesses.”
Health Secretary Neil Gray has welcomed an increase in the number of newly qualified paramedics joining the Scottish Ambulance Service, with 360 new recruits joining the service since 2023.
New figures show a steep increase in recruitment between 2022-23 and 2023-24, and a total recruitment of 489 since 2020.
The investment in newly qualified paramedics is designed to give the service more resilience, improve capacity and increase the number of patients treated in the community.
A three-year paramedic undergraduate degree programme was launched at Glasgow Caledonian University in 2017 and is now available at five universities across Scotland.
Figures for the last five years, which include graduates from outside Scotland, are:
2020-21 = 24
2021-22 = 58
2022-23 = 47
2023-24 = 179
2024-25 = 181
The number of paramedics currently working in Scotland is 2,156.6 whole time equivalent posts.
Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “The Scottish Ambulance Service is an absolutely vital part of the health service, so the Scottish Government is working hard to provide it with the staff and resources it needs to continue delivering a high-quality emergency service to people across Scotland.
“Since 2020, we have supported the recruitment of additional staff, with further recruitment already underway this year—bringing workforce levels to a record high.
“Ambulance staff have shown outstanding resilience in the face of sustained pressure, and I want to thank them for their continued dedication and hard work.”
Michael Dickson OBE Chief Executive of the Scottish Ambulance Service said: “We are delighted to welcome this number of newly qualified paramedics to SAS. This reflects their experience to date, and it also reinforces the important role paramedics can play in the future of NHS Scotland.
“Our continued ambition, supported by Scottish Government, is to grow and develop the SAS workforce, ensuring we continue to deliver the very best patient care by boosting capacity and increasing our resilience in communities across Scotland.”
Campaigners have long argued for swifter progress, citing safety concerns on a road that regularly changes from single to dual carriageway. There has been political criticism of the Scottish Govenment’s failure to deliver on their original promise.
Tragically, there has all too often been the grief and pain that accompanies the loss of a loved one on what has become a notorious stretch of road.
Ronnie Weir’s house in the village of Dowally in Perthshire is a mere 25 meters from an undualled section of the A9. In April 2017, Ronnie suffered serious leg injuries on the same stretch when a car travelling in the opposite direction hit his vehicle head on. The female driver of the other car died at the wheel.
Speaking to Eòrpa, he told how the trauma follows him to this day: “You’re always concerned whether it is near the home or anywhere because the trauma which an accident causes is horrendous.
“Sometimes it’s difficult to speak about it because of that and it brings back memories about how insensitive some people were about the whole accident. They just wanted to keep on the road and don’t care.”
Lorry driver Elaine MacKenzie, whose job means frequent journeys up and down the section of the A9 that’s now due to be dualled by 2035, told Eòrpa: “People don’t understand that the signs say 50mph for lorries but not for cars.
“Everything slows down. Those behind me can’t get past, they get impatient, and they don’t understand that there’s people in front of me, and then they try to get past me in dangerous places. This is every day. I pray every time I go on the A9.”
Dualling is set to gather pace ahead of the 2035 deadline. Farmer Pamela Laird’s family has run East Dowally farm in Perthshire for generations. Speaking on camera for the first time about her situation, she told Eòrpa she’s set to lose a quarter of her land to the A9 under Scottish Government compulsory purchase powers.
So far she doesn’t know how much she’ll get: “We’re losing a hundred acres. In some areas they’re stripping the topsoil off and lowering it.
So it’s very invasive, very invasive. Flooding is number one worry for us. I don’t believe that the swales and suds and any mitigation that they have put into place will cope with the Tay when it is in full flow.
“I think when the river rises it’s just going to rip through everything.”
Transport Scotland told Eòrpa mitigation measures have been taken, including culverts to allow waters to drain.
The Scottish Government’s commitment is now for completion of dualling between Perth and Inverness by 2035.
Pressed on continuing safety concerns about sections yet to be dualled, Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop MSP said: “Any loss of a life on the A9 or indeed other roads in Scotland is a tragedy in and of itself.
“Road safety is something as Cabinet Secretary for Transport I take extremely seriously and in terms of the A9 we’ve also invested five million pounds on interim shorter term road safety issues.
“We’re not waiting just for the dualling. The dualling in and of itself will help on road safety and that’s one of the reasons that clearly we’ve embarked on it.”
Inverness-based reporter Andrew MacKinnon: “The Scottish Government’s new deadline of 2035 can be seen as bitter-sweet. Progress is being made, and Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop has given her assurances that 2035 will be met.
“However, those who point to a need for the section to be dualled for safety reasons are faced with another 10 years before that’ll be done. And those who have suffered the tragic loss of loved ones will continue to grieve.”
Eòrpa: The A9 | An A9 premieres on BBC ALBA TONIGHT Monday 25 August at 9pm, and on iPlayer from 6am the same day.
A groundbreaking genetic test that reduces the risk of deafness in newborn babies is being introduced by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) as part of a national rollout funded by the Scottish Government.
The rapid point-of-care test, which will launch in September, identifies a genetic variant that can cause permanent hearing loss when babies are treated with the common antibiotic Gentamicin.
It allows for more tailored care, with babies identified to have the variant provided with an alternative antibiotic.
The Genedrive test will start being used for babies requiring antibiotic treatment for infections within the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Royal Hospital for Children (RHC) in Glasgow next month, with the Royal Alexandra Hospital and Princess Royal Maternity Hospital to follow soon after.
It will be rolled out to all territorial health boards with neonatal units over the next 18 months.
The initiative follows an assessment by the Chief Scientist Office-funded Accelerated National Innovation Adoption (ANIA) pathway, led by the Centre for Sustainable Delivery (CfSD), and a Programme for Government commitment from the Scottish Government to provide £800,000 to support national adoption.
NHSGGC, through the West of Scotland Innovation Hub (WoSIH), recommended the test for consideration by ANIA.
It follows the ongoing UK-wide PALOH (Pharmacogenetics to Avoid Loss of Hearing) programme and an assessment by the Scottish Health Technologies Group.
Last week, Public Health Minister Jenni Minto visited the RHC neonatal unit to meet clinicians and representatives from the WoSIH, who have played a leading role in bringing the innovation to Scotland.
Ms Minto also discussed the planned national rollout with members of the CfSD.
Once fully implemented, it is anticipated that more than 3,000 newborn babies would be tested during the first year.
The test was developed by the company Genedrive, in collaboration with researchers from Saint Mary’s Hospital, part of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and The University of Manchester.
It is currently being used in 14 neonatal units across the UK, contributing to the PALOH-UK study.
NHSGGC is progressing staff training at the RHC, with the first tests scheduled for September.
Neonatal teams will be equipped to manage the testing process, adjust antibiotic treatment where necessary, and support families with confirmatory genetic testing if a positive result is found.
NHSGGC is also providing real-world data from the rollout and study to support the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)’s evidence generation recommendations, helping to refine national guidance and inform future adoption.
The rollout reflects NHSGGC’s broader commitment to harnessing digital innovation, improving access to personalised care, and shifting the balance of care to prevent harm before it occurs through its Transforming Together programme.
Dr Helen McDevitt, Consultant Neonatologist with NHSGGC and clinical lead for the PALOH-UK study at the RHC, said: “The introduction of this point-of-care genetic testing for newborn babies requiring antibiotic treatment for bacterial infection is a landmark moment for neonatal care in Scotland.
“By introducing this test, we are taking a vital step in preventing avoidable hearing loss in newborns and ensuring safer, more personalised treatment.
“We were pleased to meet Public Health Minister Jenni Minto today to discuss the rollout of this test, which will have a hugely positive impact on the lives of many people.
“Through our adoption of this test, NHSGGC will also be able to provide real-work data to support NICE in order to help inform its national guidance.”
Public Health Minister Jenni Minto said: “I am delighted that the Scottish Government is funding the rollout of this test across all of Scotland’s neonatal units over the next 18 months.
“I want to thank the hardworking staff at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Glasgow who I met yesterday and who showed me a demonstration of the genetic test for newborn babies.
“NHS reform in Scotland will be accelerated by scientific and technological innovation, and this Government is committed to supporting Scotland’s excellent research base and adopting novel, evidence-proven approaches to drive further improvements for patients.”
Katie Cuthbertson, National Associate Director of the Centre for Sustainable Delivery, said: “We are delighted to support the rapid adoption of this pioneering genetic test through the ANIA pathway.
“This test will help prevent avoidable hearing loss and improved outcomes for families across Scotland, and represents a major step forward in delivering safer, more personalised care for newborns.
“We are excited to continue to collaborate with Boards and clinicians across NHS Scotland, to ensure we remain at the forefront of innovative, precision medicine and sustainable healthcare transformation.”
Gino Miele, Genedrive Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are proud that NHS Scotland has sought to implement our interventional rapid genetic test nationally, ensuring over time that it is available to neonates across Scotland who might otherwise be at risk of hearing loss.
“We look forward to working closely with CfSD, ANIA and individual sites to implement this into standard clinical practice throughout Scotland.”
Extension supports UK’s objective of supporting Ukraine to defend itself from Russian attack, while developing its Armed Forces to deter Putin in future
UK MARKS UKRAINIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY
Ukrainian soldiers will receive a further boost from the British military’s expert training, as the Government announces the extension of the UK’s world-leading training programme on Ukrainian Independence Day.
The UK is stepping up and evolving its training support to ensure Ukraine’s Armed Forces are in the strongest possible position as they resist ongoing Russian attacks, and to deter any further Russian aggression under a future peace deal by supporting the regeneration of Ukraine’s forces. Supporting Ukraine’s defence supports the UK’s own national security and helps counter the economic disruption caused by Putin’s illegal invasion.
Training support and military equipment from the UK has helped give Ukraine a crucial boost on the frontline, with Russia continuing to lose far more vehicles and equipment to damage or destruction than Ukraine.
The extension of Operation INTERFLEX to at least the end of 2026 was announced by the Defence Secretary amid Ukrainian celebrations today, marking 34 years since declaring independence from the Soviet Union.
More than 50,000 Ukrainian recruits have been trained on British soil so far, with the UK leading 13 other nations providing support to the INTERFLEX programme as one of the biggest schemes of its kind in the world.
The UK is also adapting INTERFLEX training to best suit Ukraine’s evolving military requirements, with a gradual shift from prioritising shorter courses centred on basic combat skills training, to a greater focus on leadership and instructor training.
Two additional courses are now being delivered alongside the basic infantry course. One teaches soldiers how to be in command at a platoon and section leader level and the other is an instructor training course.
Working closely with Ukraine means the UK Armed Forces can learn valuable insights and techniques from the battlefield, helping to improve skills and tactics. Support for Ukraine has also seen closer industrial collaboration, benefiting British businesses and supporting the government’s Plan for Change.
The news comes as events take place across the UK today to celebrate Ukrainian Independence Day and highlight the historic relationship that Britain and Ukraine have built. Nearly 2,000 Ukrainian recruits, British military personnel, and other attendees are set to celebrate at one of the INTERFLEX training sites in England.
Defence Secretary John Healey MP said: “The UK is united for Ukraine. We will continue to step up our support alongside allies, so that Ukraine can defend today and deter tomorrow.
“In the face of ongoing Russian attacks, we must put Ukraine’s Armed Forces in the strongest possible position. And as the push for peace continues, we must make the Ukrainians into the strongest possible deterrent to secure that future peace.
“On this special day for the freedom and democracy of the Ukrainian people, we are ramping up and evolving our world-leading training support that has given more than 50,000 Ukrainians vital combat skills.
“This matters to Ukraine and it matters to Britain. A secure Ukraine is a secure Europe. From learning lessons from the battlefield to strengthen our own Armed Forces, to deepening our military industrial collaboration supporting jobs across the nation, Britain and Ukraine are growing closer than ever before.”
INTERFLEX training began as a 5-week course to provide basic combat training to recruits, but following continued feedback and dialogue with Ukraine’s Armed Forces, has since become a 7-week course and offers alternative courses specifically designed to boost leadership and command skills for personnel, with new courses introduced, tailored according to seniority of trainees.
Training a new generation of Ukrainian instructors is one of the most effective methods to strengthen Ukraine’s security both now and in the long-term, increasing skills and capacity to expand its own training programmes. It will help Ukraine continue to regenerate its military capabilities, which would act as the strongest deterrent against further attacks from Putin under any peace deal.
New survey results of Ukrainian recruits who have completed training under Operation INTERFLEX from January to August 2025 revealed that 83% of those on leadership courses said they felt more able to make their troops under their command survivable at the end of their leadership training. The data also revealed that 93% of leadership trainees felt more confident they can make troops under their command more lethal at the end of their training.
Recent open-source reporting indicates that support from the UK and other nations has helped Ukraine achieve remarkable results on the battlefield, with more than 4,000 Russian battle tanks having been reported destroyed since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, compared with around 1,250 in Ukraine’s case. Reporting suggests that Russia has lost more than double the number of armoured vehicles compared to Ukraine.
Artem, a Ukrainian soldier currently training on Operation INTERFLEX’s Platoon and Company Sergeants Course said: “I am very grateful to the UK for supporting the people of Ukraine in their struggle for independence and identity as a nation.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to take such courses, for the high level of professionalism of the instructors, their dedication to their work, and for their ability to organise both group training and find an individual approach for each of us.
“Instructors ensure that classes are conducted in conditions as close to real-life as possible, whether it be in trenches, in a forested area, or in an urban area.
I learned how important it is to be prepared for coordinated actions in conditions of increased danger, how to properly coordinate personnel during defence, and planning offensive actions. I learnt how to survive in conditions of minimal support and improve first aid skills.”
Work on a potential peace deal between Ukraine and Russia has deepened in recent weeks under US leadership, with the Prime Minister flying out to Washington last week to meet with President Trump and President Zelenskyy alongside other European leaders. The Chief of the Defence Staff also held meetings on the Coalition of the Willing with other NATO chiefs.
The Coalition of the Willing – led by the UK and France – has developed plans for a multinational military force that could be deployed to Ukraine to provide support in the event of a peace deal. Several planning meetings in recent months have involved more than 200 military planners and input from around 30 countries.
The UK remains fully committed to securing a just and lasting peace in Ukraine and are engaging with key allies in support of this effort, which is why £4.5bn is being spent on military support to Ukraine this year, the largest amount provided to date.
In March, the Prime Minister announced a historic £1.6 billion deal to provide more than five thousand air defence missiles for Ukraine – creating 200 new jobs and supporting a further 700.
The UK will also invest a record £350m this year to increase the supply of drones to Ukraine from a target of 10,000 in 2024 to 100,000 in 2025.
@ScotGovFM First Minister @JohnSwinney and Social Justice Secretary @S_A_Somerville attended a ceremony at Edinburgh’s City Chambers to mark Ukrainian Independence Day.
@ScotGov will continue to support Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity while assisting Ukrainian communities in Scotland.
Proposals to help alleviate workload pressures faced by teachers have been announced by the Scottish Government.
Work is underway with councils and teaching unions to create a plan to reduce class contact time for teachers, which is supported by increased funding for councils of £186.5 million to restore teacher numbers to 2023 levels.
In addition, independent work will be taken forward to examine how reducing unnecessary bureaucracy in Scottish education can improve teacher workload. This will be supported by guidance from the Chief Inspector of Education.
Greater use of digital technology will also be explored to help free up teachers’ time.
Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said: “Scotland’s schools are responding to far greater pressures post-pandemic than they did five years ago, and this is having an impact on the teaching workload and, ultimately, children and young people.
“We recognise the pressures facing teachers, and it is absolutely crucial that we continue to support a delivery of measures to ease workloads.
“These proposals will ultimately provide teachers with additional time to prepare lessons and reduce the number of hours worked outside of the school day, enhancing their wellbeing and benefiting children and young people by providing an improved learning experience.
“Collaborative working with trade unions and local authorities is essential and we want this work to be delivered at pace.”
General Practice will receive an initial additional investment of £15 million this year to ease recruitment pressures and boost capacity.
The new investment will support workforce retention and recruitment, build service capacity and support the day to day running of GP services.
The funding comes after discussions with the sector about the sustainability of GP services – negotiations will continue around further support to help shift care from acute to community.
Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “We have been listening carefully to the views of Scotland’s GPs and as a result, I am pleased to confirm an initial additional investment of £15 million for the current financial year.
“This new funding will help support capacity and ensure GPs and services in the community have the resources they need for their essential role in our health system.
“We remain in negotiations with the sector on the provision of further support in the future, but this initial instalment demonstrates this Government’s commitment to supporting primary care and alleviating current pressures on the system.
We want to make it easier for people to see their GP and to achieve this we are working towards ensuring a greater proportion of new NHS funding goes to primary and community care.
“We have already increased investment in general practice by over £100 million in the last two years to meet recommended pay increases and to support practices with sustainability.”
Commenting on the funding announcement, RCGP Scotland Chair Dr Chris Provan said: “GPs and their teams strive to deliver a high quality of care, but they are increasingly struggling to meet the demand from a growing population with more complex needs – all while the GP workforce continues to shrink.
“RCGP Scotland welcomes the investment of £15 million in this financial year as a positive step. However, this funding alone will not transform general practice or undo years of underinvestment.
“It must be seen as the beginning of a sustained commitment to properly resource general practice – stabilising services, supporting the recruitment of more GPs, and expanding capacity to improve patient access.
“The Scottish Government has pledged to shift the balance of care and funding towards primary and community care. Investing in general practice delivers better health outcomes and offers significant value to patients, the wider NHS, the economy, and society.
“Today’s announcement must mark the start of that shift, which now needs to be accelerated to ensure general practice is strengthened and supported to deliver the high-quality care patients deserve.”
