Tag: Scottish Government

ASSC calls out lack of government and council guidance as Visitor Levy deadline looms

As the countdown begins to the introduction of Edinburgh’s visitor levy on 1 October 2025, the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASSC) is expressing serious concerns over the lack of official guidance and support for accommodation providers.

Since the introduction of the short-term let licensing legislation, the ASSC worked tirelessly to support Scottish operators through the transition, offering practical, reliable information and hands-on assistance where government failed to engage.

In 2022, ASSC CEO Fiona Campbell MBE and licensing solicitor Joanna Millar launched a nationwide Regulations Roadshow to help demystify the legislation and empower operators to comply, delivering 26 such events and partnering with many local councils, reaching nearly 10,000 people.

The ASSC also developed a suite of comprehensive Frequently Asked Questions, now in Version 7, which was widely adopted by VisitScotland.

The ASSC had intended to replicate this model – achieved without meaningful support or funding from the Scottish Government – to help operators in advance of the Visitor Levy going live in Edinburgh.

However, with less than 10 weeks to go, this has proved impossible due to the complete absence of guidance from either the Scottish Government or Edinburgh Council.

The outstanding issues include:

  • No business-specific guidance – only deficient guidance intended for local authorities
  • No clarity on VAT status
  • No method of calculation
  • No confirmed exemptions framework
  • No timing confirmed for collection (e.g. at booking, on arrival, or departure)
  • No detail on how the Levy aligns with the Digital Markets Act
  • A delayed National Portal, not due until March 2026
  • No consumer-facing communications strategy.

This lack of preparedness raises serious questions about how the scheme can be implemented fairly, consistently, or without negative consequences for businesses. 

The ASSC is calling for immediate clarity from both the Scottish Government and City of Edinburgh Council, and remains ready to support a pragmatic and effective rollout of the Visitor Levy – if and when the necessary tools are put in place.

Fiona Campbell MBE, CEO of the ASSC, said: “We were fully prepared to run another national roadshow to support our members and the wider accommodation sector through this significant change – but we simply cannot provide clarity where there is none.

“It is unacceptable that, with just weeks to go, businesses still have no official guidance on the most basic operational aspects of the Visitor Levy. Once again, industry is left to pick up the pieces. 

“We are committed to constructive engagement and practical solutions, but we cannot continue to operate in an information vacuum.

“Scotland’s accommodation providers and guests deserve better than this. The clock is ticking and the Scottish Government and Edinburgh Council need to act now.”

Additional funding for independent hospices in Scotland

Support for pay parity with NHS staff

The Scottish Government is to distribute £5 million of funding in 2025-26 to support independent hospices with pay parity for clinical staff with their NHS counterparts.

Hospices have now had their funding allocations confirmed and the investment, set out in the 2025-26 Budget, will ensure that frontline staff providing essential palliative and end-of-life care in independent hospices are fairly paid in line with NHS pay scales.

The funding aims to help hospices recruit and retain skilled healthcare professionals during a time of rising workforce pressures and increasing demand for palliative care services.

Health Secretary Neil Gray, said: “Independent hospices provide vital care and support to people and families across Scotland at the most difficult times in their lives. I am pleased we are able to support these organisations in supporting pay parity for their clinical staff.

“This funding recognises the skilled, compassionate care that hospice staff deliver every day, and helps ensure their pay reflects the immense value of their work.”

Chair of the Scottish Hospice Leadership Group Jacki Smart, said: “This is a welcome first step in recognising the needs of the hospice sector, which plays a key role in delivering specialist palliative care for Scotland.

“It is right for patients and staff that hospices can pay skilled professionals fairly and in line with NHS colleagues, and we need to keep pace on this.”

Independent hospices across Scotland are independent charitable organisations providing care tailored to local needs. Integration Joint Boards (IJBs) are responsible for the planning and commissioning of independent hospices to meet the needs of their local population.

Hospices work closely with a wide variety of health and social care services, including NHS Boards, to deliver high quality care and support.

The Scottish Government is committed to developing a new national framework to support more effective planning and commissioning between hospices and IJBs. This work will continue alongside discussions about long-term pay parity and funding arrangements.

Unacceptable Lothian gynaecology waits show women’s health being ignored, says local MP

 Tracy Gilbert MP has condemned the SNP Government over damning figures showing years long waits for vital gynaecological treatment, with NHS Lothian among the health boards  failing women across Scotland. 

New data obtained by Scottish Labour reveals that, despite repeated promises to prioritise  women’s health, the average wait for inpatient gynaecology treatment in NHS Lothian has  barely improved, in fact, it has fallen by just 12% since 2019/20, even as demand has  surged. 

Tracy Gilbert MP said: “This data shows a staggering failure of leadership from the SNP. Women in Lothian are  being forced to wait far too long for care, often in pain, often in silence, while the  Government spins promises that never materialise. A 12% decrease over five years is not  progress: it’s complacency. Women deserve better.  

“They deserve a health system that works for them, not against them. Scottish Labour will  tackle waiting times head-on, because women’s health can’t wait.”

Trump arrives in Scotland

First Minister says United States remains one of Scotland’s closest partners

Scotland will have “a platform to make its voice heard” during the visit of the President of the United States, First Minister John Swinney has said.

Speaking ahead of President Trump’s arrival, Mr Swinney said the global attention the visit will receive provides Scotland with an opportunity to respectfully demonstrate the principles of freedom and justice for all, while also promoting Scotland’s tourism sector and economic investment potential.

First Minister John Swinney said: “Scotland shares a strong friendship with the United States that goes back centuries. That partnership remains steadfast through economic, cultural and ancestral links – including of course, with the President himself.

“As we welcome the President of the United States, Scotland will be showcased on the world stage. This provides Scotland with a platform to make its voice heard on the issues that matter, including war and peace, justice and democracy.

“It also includes the millions of Americans – many of them potential future tourists or investors in Scotland – who will watch their elected President as he visits our country.

“As First Minister it is my responsibility to advance our interests, raise global and humanitarian issues of significant importance, including the unimaginable suffering we are witnessing in Gaza, and ensure Scotland’s voice is heard at the highest levels of government across the world. That is exactly what I will do when I meet with President Trump during his time in Scotland.

“We are a proud democratic nation, a country that stands firm on the principles of equality and freedom for all, and a society that stands up for a fair and just world. The right to peaceful demonstration is something we cherish, and everyone has the democratic right to protect and express their views in a peaceful, and democratic manner. That is right and proper.

“I am confident the vast majority of people protesting will do Scotland proud and demonstrate as they should – peacefully and lawfully.

“I am also confident that Scotland’s police service can handle the challenge of keeping all our communities safe and, as they must, in maintaining the appropriate security any US President requires.

“This weekend is a landmark moment in our relationship with the United States, and I am certain it will be remembered for Scotland showing the world the very best of itself.”

More planned appointments to reduce NHS waits in Scotland

Investing in additional capacity across health service

Extra investment to tackle NHS waits is expected to deliver more than 300,000 appointments and procedures this year.

Additional funding of £106 million was set out in the 2025-26 Budget, and an extra £4 million for dermatology activity has been announced today.

The additional planned appointments and procedures delivered through this £110 million are expected to break down as follows.

  • 195,000 imaging scans
  • 31,000 inpatient or day-case procedures
  • 88,000 new outpatient appointments
  • 4,100 new dermatology outpatient appointments

This means 213,000 more appointments are expected to be delivered this year than in 2024/25 – exceeding the Programme for Government commitment of delivering 150,000 appointments by more than 60,000.

A proportion of the funding will also support cancer activity and provide critical supporting services including pathology, diagnostic reporting and pre-assessment.

Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “Reducing long waits in the NHS is one of the biggest priorities for the First Minister and the Scottish Government.

“Our record investment in the NHS this year is allowing us to target specific areas that are experiencing long waits, reducing backlogs and getting people the appointments and treatments they need as quickly as possible.

“I am pleased to confirm that we expect the additional funding committed to reduce waiting times to result in more than 300,000 appointments and procedures this year.

“My thanks go out to all the hard-working NHS teams for their continued efforts.

“Also today I am announcing an additional £4 million specifically for dermatology. We know that this is an area with significant backlogs, so by investing in increased capacity we hope to be able to reduce waiting times for this speciality.”

Westminster’s new immigration rules will be ‘devastating for care sector in Scotland and across the UK’

Kaukab Stewart, Scotland’s Minister for Migration, has commented as changes to immigration rules advanced by Westminster came into force yesterday.

Ms Stewart said: “The UK Government’s approach to immigration simply isn’t working for Scotland. As these new rules come into force, they will hinder the prosperity of Scotland. We have repeatedly called on them to take a more pragmatic approach to migration—one that recognises our distinct demographic and economic needs.

“Ending the international recruitment of care workers, without sufficient notice or any substantial consultation on its impact, will be devastating for the care sector in Scotland and across the UK.

“These changes will prevent, rather than promote, economic growth. By increasing the salary threshold for skilled worker visas, it will become harder for people to choose to work in Scotland, hurting businesses in turn.

“The UK Government should listen to the large majority of businesses who support a Scottish visa to allow migrants to make a positive contribution to Scotland’s economy, public services and communities.

“The UK Government must engage seriously with the Scottish Government on our proposals for tailored migration routes, including a Rural Visa Pilot and a Scottish Graduate Visa, or risk further damage to Scotland’s economy and public services.”

CHI in Local Government: Improving Outcomes through Partnership

CHI in Local Government Project brings together key partners to deliver better outcomes for citizens

A new project exploring the use of the Community Health Index (CHI) number in Scottish Local Government has been awarded £590,000 funding from the Scottish Government.

The ‘CHI in Local Government’ project, led by COSLA, the Digital Office for Scottish Local Government, and Public Health Scotland, seeks to improve information sharing across health, social work, and social care services.

The Community Health Index (CHI) System, which has underpinned NHS Scotland’s digital infrastructure for over 40 years, provides a unique patient number used across the health service. It supports everything from immunisation and screening programmes to primary and secondary care delivery.

The CHI In Local Government project aims to use the CHI number to improve the quality of the data services hold, allow services across health, social work, and social care to better match data, and ultimately deliver better outcomes for our citizens.

Accessing health, social work, and social care services all too often requires people to repeat their information. Using the CHI number as a common identifier across health, social work, and social care will reduce this duplication and improve integration of services. To deliver the highest standard of care, it is essential that our workforce have access to the right information at the right time.

The aims of the CHI in Local Government project align clearly with the ambitions set out in the joint COSLA and Scottish Government Digital strategy, Care in the Digital Age, and Data strategy, Greater Access, Better Insight, Improved Outcomes.

Both strategies emphasise the importance of robust information governance and seamless data sharing across health and social care.

Councillor Paul Kelly, COSLA Health and Social Care Spokesperson, said: “I am delighted that the CHI in Local Government project has received funding to progress to the Discovery phase.

“By using CHI more widely across our Councils we can improve data matching and, crucially, reduce the amount of times people accessing our services have to repeat their information.

“I look forward to continuing to champion this work as it progresses and ultimately delivers better outcomes for our citizens.”


Tom Arthur, Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing, said: “In line with the priorities recently set out in the Health and Social Care Service Renewal Framework, I am pleased to support this project.

“Using CHI numbers in social care means people will get a better level of service. By allowing information to be shared safely and confidentially between professionals, we can reduce duplication of work, and the time staff have to spend on administrative tasks.

“It will further embed the integration of health and social care and help in preparations for the health and social care online app, launching in Lanarkshire later this year.”

Martyn Wallace, Chief Digital Officer, Digital Office for Scottish Local Government, said: “I am thrilled with this significant investment as we continue to work closely with our public sector partners to enhance our digital services for citizens.

“By utilising the Community Health Index (CHI), we will streamline access to services, reduce the need for individuals to repeat their information, and ensure timely delivery of care.

“This initiative will also promote better integration of health and social care services, support other collaborative digital projects like the new Health & Social Care App, and ultimately improve outcomes for our citizens.”

Scott Heald, Director of Data and Digital Innovation, Public Health Scotland said: “Our vision at Public Health Scotland (PHS) is focused on ensuring communities can flourish across Scotland.

“We bring together data and intelligence to shape decisions affecting health and care. This work to adopt the Community Health Index (CHI) in Scottish Local Government will make a huge contribution towards how we can work with partners to maximise the benefits of digital and data in ways that will empower individuals and communities.

“PHS already collects and analyses data from across the domains of health and social care, much of which Is sourced directly from Local Government systems.

“The opportunity to integrate the CHI into those underlying systems will lead to faster, more efficient, and accurate production of whole-system data on health and social care services and provide insights on outcomes for individuals across Scotland.”

First Minister to attend final day of Tall Ships festival

Aberdeen bids farewell to 50 vessels after successful four day programme

First Minister John Swinney will be among the crowds of people gathering in Aberdeen today to watch the Parade of Sail on the last day of the Tall Ships Races festival.

The First Minister will meet young trainees who are taking part in the races, event organisers and volunteers before watching the 50 Tall Ships leave the harbour.

Speaking ahead of the event, the First Minister commented: “The Tall Ships Races 2025 is a major international maritime and cultural moment for Aberdeen and Scotland as a whole.

“Over the past four days it has attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors, making it the city’s biggest event in a generation. The success of this festival is a testament to Aberdeen’s role as a maritime city with a focus on international engagement and community involvement.

“The Scottish Government is committed to supporting world-class events, such as the Tall Ships Festival, that raise Scotland’s profile as the perfect stage and showcase our event and tourism assets. 

“Scotland is set to host several other major international and national events, including the Commonwealth Games in 2026, Tour de France Grand Depart in 2027 and the 2028 UEFA European Championships – further enhancing our global profile and supporting economic, cultural and community development across the country.”

Supporting Scotland’s Autistic Adults

£2.5m. fund allocated to third sector organisations

Nine organisations working with autistic adults are to benefit from a £2.5 million multi-year fund.

The Autistic Adult Support Fund, launched in 2023, supports third sector organisations to help autistic adults reach their full potential – supporting them, their families and their carers to understand what neurodivergence means for them and improve their wellbeing.

Among the latest recipients of the fund is The Anchor charity in Greenock, which is being awarded £247,450 to help autistic adults at risk of suicide or self-harm.

Mental Wellbeing Minister Tom Arthur said: “I am pleased to announce the recipients of this funding to provide support to autistic adults and their families and carers.

“All successful projects will meaningfully involve autistic people in the development, design, and delivery of the support. Autistic adults will be helped to thrive – the projects will support them to access services and improve their general wellbeing so they can get involved in and truly feel part of their community.

“Our commitment to multi-year funding will ensure that funded projects have the security and space to develop and grow high quality support, making the most of the skills and experiences of autistic people they support.”

Chris Paul, Chief Executive of The Anchor said: “We are delighted to have secured this funding, bringing the opportunity to support autistic adults in our community at new levels.

“As a local grassroots organisation with big ambition, we are looking forward to taking this project forward.”

Celia Tennant, Chief Executive Officer at Inspiring Scotland said: “Everyone in Scotland should have the same opportunity to lead happy and healthy lives and ensuring there is support to understand an autistic diagnosis or identity is important in making that possible.

“The volume of applications received to this fund further demonstrates not just the need for investment in this area but also the vital role that the third sector is providing in supporting autistic adults to understand their autism to improve wellbeing.

“In managing the application process for this new fund, we were pleased to be supported by a panel of autistic people and professionals from relevant areas, ensuring the fund decisions were informed by lived experience.” 

Autistic Adult Support Fund – Inspiring Scotland

Full list of funded organisations:

ApplicantType of SupportArea of DeliveryRequested Amount
HOPE for AutismGroup support, coaching, workshopsNorth Lanarkshire£101,639.52
Autism InitiativesPost diagnostic course, peer groups, one to oneScotland£486,756.00
SWAN Autism (Scotland)Post diagnostic course, one to one, group support, counselling, workshopsScotland£305,989.00
Home-Start OrkneyPeer led support groups and resource developmentOrkney£72,342.05
Into WorkAutistic wellbeing and work programmeEast Lothian; Edinburgh City;
Midlothian		£186,043.39
The National Autistic SocietyPost-diagnostic course and one t one supportNational£453,417.33
The Salvesen Mindroom CentreOne to one supportScotland£389,433.25
The Anchor SCIOOne to one supportArgyll & Bute; Inverclyde£247,450.00
Lucy Faithfull FoundationGroup work, one to one support, training for professionalsScotland£205,577.00
Total  £2,448,647.54

New medicine to protect higher-risk babies from RSV

Single injection to help prevent the common winter virus

More babies who are born very prematurely will now be protected against the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) with the introduction of a new single injection which lasts throughout the winter season.

Following advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), the single dose long-acting antibody medicine, nirsevimab (Beyfortus®) will replace the five monthly jabs which were previously offered to higher-risk infants between October and February.

In addition, the existing programme for higher risk infants is being expanded to include very preterm infants, born before 32 weeks.

Minister for Public Health Jenni Minto said: “RSV can be life-threatening to babies born very early.

“That is why I am pleased the single jab will be offered by all NHS Boards across Scotland from this September, helping to protect these high-risk infants over winter.

“We will continue to work hard to protect Scotland’s most vulnerable groups against the respiratory illnesses which circulate throughout the colder months. Our various prevention programmes help reduce avoidable admissions to hospital and therefore the pressure on our NHS.”

Dr Sam Ghebrehewet, Head of Vaccination and Immunisation at Public Health Scotland, said:

“The last year has seen significant progress in efforts to protect those most vulnerable to RSV, including the introduction of the maternal RSV vaccine which is offered at 28 weeks of pregnancy and helps protect newborn babies from serious illness. Babies born prematurely are at highest risk of serious complications from RSV and we welcome this programme expansion, which will help to ensure that even more babies are protected during their most vulnerable early months.”

RSV can lead to life-threatening pneumonia and infant bronchiolitis, a lung infection.

The current RSV maternal vaccine (for infant protection) is given at 28 weeks, so the expansion of the programme to all infants born before 32 weeks gives protection to those babies who are unlikely to benefit from maternal vaccination.

The new injection for babies is the latest development in efforts to protect those most vulnerable to RSV and prevent unnecessary hospital admissions over the busy winter period.

Last August, Scotland was the first nation in the UK to introduce another new RSV vaccine, Abrysvo, for pregnant women and older adults – more than 70% of eligible older adults took up the offer, leading to a Public Health Scotland study, published in the Lancet, showing a 62% reduction in RSV related hospitalisations among this group.