Tag: 2025

PRESS RELEASE : Young people across England celebrate exam results [August 2025]
The press release issued by the Department for Education on 14 August 2025.

Record number of 18-year-olds in England get first choice university, as T Levels continue to grow and government tackles inequalities through Plan for Change.

Hundreds of thousands of young people across England are celebrating receiving their A level, T Level and Vocational Technical Qualification (VTQ) results today (14 August 2025), as the Education Secretary thanked teachers and congratulated students.

University continues to be a popular choice for young people with record numbers (193,510, up from 184,400 in 2024) of English 18-year-olds receiving their first choice of university. 20.4% of disadvantaged 18-year-olds being accepted to higher education, up from 19.8% in 2024 and 17.4% in 2019.

But like in previous years, results today have exposed inequalities which continue to exist in the education system, with big gaps between regions and with poor outcomes year on year for pupils from white working-class backgrounds. This follows the government setting out a clear focus on tackling these issues head on and ensuring white working-class pupils – especially boys – are supported to thrive in school and go on to get well-paid jobs.

T Levels also continue to deliver strong results for students. The overall pass rate for T Levels is 91.4%, with almost two thirds of students (65.3%) achieving a merit or above, as this innovative new qualification offering hands-on experience of work in an in-demand sector continues to grow. Last year, 97% of T Level students who applied to university received at least one offer, with others progressing onto an apprenticeship or a job. T Level industry placements offer strong work experience, insights into competitive sectors which students might not otherwise get, and lead to good jobs – with around a third of students that get jobs after their course doing so with their chosen T Level industry placement employer.

The figures build on the government’s drive to deliver the skilled workforce the country needs and follows the announcement of a new £100 million investment just this week in ten specialist Construction Technical Excellence Collegesto offer even more opportunities to build successful careers in trades.

Over the past 12 months, the government has already made progress in fixing the foundations of education through its Plan for Change and turning the tide on stubborn challenges. Attendance is up, with over 5 million fewer days of absence this year compared to last. And teacher recruitment and retention is up, with 2,300 more teachers in our schools.

Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, said:

Students should be incredibly proud of their hard work and their achievements today, and I am immensely grateful to teachers and school staff for everything they have done to support students up to this point.

Every single young person collecting their results today should have the opportunity to pursue their dreams – whether that starts with further study, university, an apprenticeship or the world of work – but too often, opportunities depend on background rather than talent. The entrenched divide in outcomes seen over the last few years and the lack of progress for children from white working-class backgrounds is particularly concerning.

Through our Plan for Change we are breaking the link between background and success, starting with reformed early years and revitalised family services, through to ambitious reforms to our school and post-16 system to make sure every young person, wherever they grow up, is truly ready for life and work.

Progress sits alongside vital, wider work to tackle disadvantage such as expanding free school meals, providing free breakfast clubs across the country and revitalising family services in every local authority.

Results today show that:
- at grade C and above at A level, the North East is now the only region where attainment remains below pre-pandemic levels
- more pupils are taking maths, physics and chemistry A levels than at any other time since modern records began – and more of these pupils taking these subjects are achieving a grade C – preparing them to work in the STEM sectors in the future
- almost 12,000 students received T Level results this year, up from just over 7,000 last year and around 3,500 in 2023
- almost 240,000 certificates were awarded for those completing their Level 3 vocational and technical qualifications
24.9% of 18-year-olds from the North East have secured a university place on results day compared to 43.4% of 18-year-olds from London. This gap is now 18.5 percentage points, which is the highest on record, up from 17.3 percentage points in 2024 and 11.9 in 2019.

For A level results the gap between this year’s lowest performing region (East Midlands) and highest performing (London) is 6.0 percentage points at C and above. While the gap has decreased from 6.3 percentage points in 2024 it is still greater than in 2019 (when the equivalent gap was 5.2 percentage points).

Later this year government will publish Schools and Post-16 Skills white papers, setting out further reforms to build an education system where every child and young person can achieve and thrive, regardless of their background or circumstances.

To further break down barriers to opportunity for young people, the government has also launched the Youth Guarantee, which will ensure that every 18 to 21-year-old in England will have support to access an apprenticeship, quality training and education opportunities or help to find a job, backed by £45 million investment.
August 18, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : UK Ambassador Visits San Miguel Community in Poptún [August 2025]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 August 2025.

The visit highlighted progress made through a UK project which supports sustainable development and environmental conservation in southern Petén.

UK Ambassador to Guatemala, Juliana Correa, visited the community of San Miguel in Poptún on 13 August, where the Biodiverse Landscapes Fund (BLF) is investing approximately £16,000 to support local initiatives.

The project has provided piped water access to 38 families (benefiting around 210 people), supported environmental protection systems for 21 families, and helped 14 families revive traditional bean cultivation practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and wildfire risks.

During the visit, the ambassador learned about community conservation efforts, including more than 50 environmental monitoring tours, maintaining firebreaks across an area of 551 hectares, and strengthening local governance in collaboration with Guatemala’s National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP).

San Miguel has been a benchmark in the region, promoting cooperation agreements that have inspired other communities to follow similar processes. The United Kingdom reaffirms its commitment to working alongside Guatemala to address the effects of climate change, protect biodiversity, and combat poverty.

August 18, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister’s call with European leaders and the President of the United States [August 2025]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 13 August 2025.

The Prime Minister joined a call with the leaders of the United States, Ukraine, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Finland, NATO and the European Union this afternoon.

All leaders agreed this week marks an important moment for the future of Ukraine. They thanked President Trump for his efforts in bringing Putin to the table in pursuit of a ceasefire to end to the ongoing bloodshed.

The Prime Minister was clear that our support for Ukraine is unwavering – international borders must not be changed by force and Ukraine must have robust and credible security guarantees to defend its territorial integrity as part of any deal.

Europe stands ready to support this and will continue to work alongside President Trump and President Zelenskyy for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, they added.

They looked forward to speaking again following the meeting in Alaska on Friday.

August 18, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Sheffield firm pays £167,587.13 for dumping waste in Lincolnshire [August 2025]
The press release issued by the Environment Agency on 13 August 2025.

A transport company will pay a total of £167,587.13 for delivering controlled waste to an illegal site at Fen Lane, Long Bennington, Lincolnshire.
- Latest hearing following major investigation by Environment Agency into site at Fen Lane, Long Bennington
- Court told company was responsible for delivering over 1400 tonnes of controlled waste
- Sentencing hearing at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday 8 August 2025
The sentence imposed on Fletcher Plant Limited of Clement Street, Sheffield, is the latest result from a major investigation by the Environment Agency.

At Nottingham Crown Court on Friday 8 August 2025, the company was fined £80,000, ordered to pay costs of £50,000 and a confiscation order of £37,587.13.

The company had previously been found guilty in June 2024 after a trial of failing to comply with duty of care regulations for controlled waste between 1 October 2019 and 1 May 2020.

Named Operation Lord, the investigation saw Environment Agency officers spend months building evidence of the illegal waste site.

The findings led to 12 people and 1 company, Fletcher Plant, being charged, of which 10 pleaded guilty.

Following an 8 week trial which concluded on 28 June 2024, the remaining 3 defendants were found guilty.

So far, 11 people have been sentenced to a total of 14 years’ imprisonment for their involvement in this illegal operation.

The court was told that intelligence gathered, revealed lorry-loads of shredded waste were regularly being accepted onto the site the size of a football pitch.

It was calculated that Fletcher Plant, over a period of 6 months, organised the transport of over 1400 tonnes of controlled waste.

The judge accepted that the company did not know the site was operating illegally, but its officers had a legal requirement to carry out a duty of care.

The company said it had built a good reputation and it was the first time it had been prosecuted in over 40 years. A new management team had also been put in place.

Peter Stark, Enforcement Team Leader for the Environment Agency in Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, said:

This sentence shows that all businesses involved in the removal of controlled waste must make all reasonable checks to ensure that waste is being dealt with appropriately and not illegally.

If simple and continued due diligence checks had been made by Fletcher Plant they would have flagged up that the site operators did not have the appropriate authorisations.

Due diligence checks are not something that should only occur prior to starting a contract, they should occur regularly during a contract.

The duty of care in relation to waste is a legal requirement under Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Anyone who suspects illegal waste activity should report it to our 24-hour hotline on 0800 80 70 60, or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Particulars of Offence

FLETCHER PLANT LIMITED, a body corporate, between 1 October 2019 and 1 May 2020, acting as a waste broker, had control of controlled waste and failed to take all such measures applicable to it as are reasonable in the circumstances to prevent a contravention by any other person of Regulation 12 of the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2016, contrary to section 34 (1) (a) (a) and 34 (6) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
August 18, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer call with Prime Minister Schoof of the Netherlands [August 2025]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 13 August 2025.

The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of the Netherlands Dick Schoof earlier today.

They discussed their sustained support for Ukraine and the ongoing work to end Russia’s barbaric war. They agreed that there should be no decisions about the future of Ukraine without Ukraine.

They looked forward to discussing further in this afternoon’s meetings alongside President Trump and President Zelenskyy.

August 18, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Permanent Secretary Appointed at Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs [August 2025]

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 13 August 2025.

Paul Kissack is appointed as the new Permanent Secretary of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

The Cabinet Secretary, with the approval of the Prime Minister, has appointed Paul Kissack as the new Permanent Secretary of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

Paul, who is currently the Group Chief Executive of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust, will start the role in October.

Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Rt. Hon Steve Reed MP said:

I’m delighted to welcome Paul to the department. His experience and expertise will ensure we achieve our objectives as a government. I look forward to working with him to make our country a better place.

Cabinet Secretary, Sir Chris Wormald said:

I would like to congratulate Paul Kissack on his appointment as Permanent Secretary at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Paul’s experience of public service delivery in the UK (and New Zealand), and his most recent role leading the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, makes him excellently suited to lead Defra at this time and drive delivery of the Department’s missions.

I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank Tamara Finkelstein for her excellent leadership of the Department over the last six years and David Hill for his role as interim Permanent Secretary.

Incoming Permanent Secretary, Paul Kissack said:

I am delighted to be rejoining the Civil Service and honoured to be returning to Defra. Restoring the natural environment and enhancing the sustainable use of natural resources – through cleaner water, greener land, purer air and reduced waste – is fundamental to a strong economy and delivering the Plan for Change.

And the work of the Defra Group – from food security to bio-security to flood defences – is critical to ensuring our national resilience and protecting the public. I am hugely looking forward to working with colleagues across the Defra Group, across Government and the many stakeholders who share these ambitions for our country in the years ahead.

The appointment follows an external recruitment exercise chaired by the independent First Civil Service Commissioner.

August 18, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Pakistan saves billions through UK backed governance reforms [August 2025]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 August 2025.

A landmark UK programme has successfully concluded after delivering major reforms across Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

The UK’s Sub-National Governance Programme ran from 2019 to 2025, unlocking over £1.9 billion in public finance through improved planning, budgeting, and revenue mobilisation.

Working closely with provincial governments, the programme has helped to achieve savings to reinvest into other public services. For example, it helped the Government of Punjab to develop a comprehensive pensions reform plan. This included the introduction of a new pensions scheme where both the employer and employee pay in, which is expected to save the Government of Punjab PKR 2.7 trillion over the next 30 years.

Reforms through the programme have also directly supported people’s livelihoods. In Punjab, 35 million people’s social and economic data was collected, meaning the government can now better target urgent cash assistance and food subsidies. The programme helped design and rollout social protection initiatives such as Ba-Himmat Buzurg, which offers elderly people with no source of income financial assistance, and the Himmat Card which provides financial support for people with disabilities in Punjab. In KP, it helped overhaul waste management, introducing sustainable door-to-door waste collection which is now being scaled up across the province.

British High Commission Development Director, Sam Waldock, said:

This programme shows what is possible when strong partnerships come together to support long-term reform, changing people’s lives. We’ve strengthened institutions, improved service delivery, and helped Pakistan unlock more of its resources to finance its own development. That has led to direct improvements to the day to day lives of millions- from helping people to access essential cash assistance, to creating waste management systems which makes their surroundings cleaner and more hygienic.

The UK’s work on governance reform in Pakistan will continue. In collaboration with UN Development Programme, the UK will continue to focus on sustained institutional reform and improved public financial management. Several key initiatives, including further reforms to provincial pension schemes, will be carried forward in the UK’s new National Governance Programme.

August 18, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Senior business leaders bolster Treasury board [August 2025]
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 13 August 2025.

Chancellor bolsters business expertise at the Treasury with three new appointments to the Board of Directors.
- Former chairman of John Lewis, Sir Charlie Mayfield, experienced banker and regeneration entrepreneur Edward Twiddy and economics communications specialist Jenny Scott appointed as non-executive directors.
- Trio will oversee the Treasury’s work and offer challenge and advice to the Department to support decision making.
Three experienced business leaders from retail, tech and communications have been appointed to the Board of Directors at the Treasury by the Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

Former Chairman of John Lewis Sir Charlie Mayfield will play a lead role on the Treasury’s Board of Directors alongside banking and regeneration entrepreneur Edward Twiddy and economics communications specialist Jenny Scott.

They will use their business expertise and experience to help the Treasury run as efficiently as possible, ensuring it effectively supports economic growth, the government’s number one mission.

All of the appointees will commence their terms on 1 September 2025, each serving an initial three-year term.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves said:

I’m really pleased to welcome Sir Charlie Mayfield, Edward Twiddy and Jenny Scott to the board, as we build on our partnership working with business. Between them, they bring a huge amount of experience and fresh thinking. Their insights will be invaluable as we focus on growing the economy to deliver for working people as part of our Plan for Change.

Sir Charlie Mayfield is an experienced Chair and business executive as the former Chairman of John Lewis Partnership. Sir Charlie has over 20 years’ experience in the private sector and 7 years within the public sector as Chair to the UK Commission for Employment and Skills. He brings extensive leadership skills including a strong track record in change management, both in developing talent and capability, and in driving technology-led transformation.

Edward Twiddy is Chair of Northstar Ventures, a Newcastle-based venture capital firm. He also co-founded the leading fintech start up, Atom Bank back in 2014 when the technology was in its infancy after spending 13 years as an official at the Treasury. Edward has extensive leadership experience in both executive and non-executive roles, with a strong focus on enterprise and innovation.

Jenny Scott co-founded and owns strategic communications advisory firm Apella Advisors. Jenny previously held senior communications posts at the Bank of England, shaping and guiding communications across all policy areas during the financial crisis and the Brexit referendum. Before joining the Bank, Jenny was the Economics Correspondent at the BBC and went on to present BBC2’s ‘The Daily Politics’ with Andrew Neil.

About the appointment process

Sir Charlie Mayfield, Edward Twiddy and Jenny Scott have been appointed by the Chancellor following a fair and open recruitment process run by HM Treasury.

The Treasury is committed to appointing a diverse range of people to public appointments and continues to take active steps to attract the broadest range of suitable applicants for posts.
August 16, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Live Facial Recognition technology to catch high-harm offenders [August 2025]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 13 August 2025.

Named and contactable neighbourhood police officers will also be in place in every community.

Every neighbourhood across England and Wales now has named, contactable officers in place to tackle issues blighting their communities, marking a major milestone in the government’s Plan for Change.

As part of the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee to put 13,000 more officers into communities by 2029, the public will have consistent direct links to their local force, with dedicated anti-social behaviour leads and new visible patrols in town centres.

In addition to bolstering police presence in communities, the Home Office is announcing the rollout of 10 new Live Facial Recognition (LFR) vans to seven forces across the country, equipping officers with targeted, cutting-edge technology to catch high-harm criminals.

The new vans will operate according to strict rules, which ensure they are only deployed when there is specific intelligence. The College of Policing has clear guidance on how the technology should be used.

These vehicles enable law enforcement to target and locate wanted criminals and suspects for the most serious crimes including sex offences, violent assaults, homicide and serious and organised crime. Forces already using LFR have used it to arrest rape, domestic abuse, knife crime and robbery suspects as well as sex offenders breaching their conditions. The technology has also been used to maintain safety at big public events.

Existing safeguards require checks only to be done against police watchlists of wanted criminals, suspects and those subject to bail or court order conditions like sex offenders. Watchlists are bespoke to every deployment, with officers following strict guidance from the College of Policing guidance when composing a list.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said:

Neighbourhood policing has been decimated over the last 15 years, but through our Plan for Change we are turning the corner, starting with town and city centres.

Within the next year, we will have 3,000 new neighbourhood officers and PCSOs in place, which is a big shift. We also want them to have more powers to tackle off-road bikes, shop theft, street theft and other crimes that have blighted some of our town and city centres, so everyone can feel safe in their own town.

And we will provide police with the tools they need to do their jobs. Facial recognition will be used in a targeted way to identify sex offenders or people wanted for the most serious crimes who the police have not been able to find.

That’s why we’re funding 10 vans and also drawing up a new legal framework, so we’ve got proper safeguards and checks in place so that we can use the technology to go after the most dangerous criminals.

Police forces including the Metropolitan Police and South Wales have already seen success with their own live facial recognition deployments. The Met reported that in 12 months they made 580 arrests using LFR for offences including, rape, domestic abuse, knife crime, GBH and robbery, including 52 registered sex offenders arrested for breaching their conditions.

Alongside the roll out of the 10 vans, the government will simultaneously consult on how the technology should be used and what appropriate safeguards and oversight are needed to ensure transparency and public confidence, in turn helping the government to shape a new legal framework for its use.

They also need to follow the College of Policing’s guidance on how the technology is used – measuring faces from a live feed only against police watchlists to try to determine matches – and comply with the surveillance camera code of practice.

Every van is manned by trained officers who check every match made by the technology. The algorithm being used in the vans has been independently tested and will only be operated in specific circumstances and with robust oversight.

The facial recognition algorithm used in the new vans has been independently tested for bias by the National Physical Laboratory (NPL). The testing found that the algorithm is accurate and there is no bias for ethnicity, age or gender at the settings used by the police.

The 10 new units will be deployed to forces in Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, Bedfordshire, Surrey and Sussex (jointly), and Thames Valley and Hampshire (jointly).

The consultation announced today will launch in the autumn to seek views on when and how the technology should be used, appropriate safeguards and oversight, to ensure transparency and public confidence, and will help the government to shape a new legal framework.

The mobile units will be distributed in the coming weeks, with the rollout being coordinated by the National Police Chiefs Council and South Wales Police. It will be for individual forces to determine how and when they are deployed in their respective areas, operating within the College of Policing guidance, but with clear monitoring of their use and effectiveness in order to feed into the consultation.

Lindsey Chiswick, NPCC lead for facial recognition, said:

The police have a duty to prevent crime and keep the public safe. Live Facial Recognition supports effective policing, enabling officers to locate suspects quickly and accurately.

The increased access to Live Facial Recognition vehicles to forces that previously did not have the capability is an excellent opportunity for policing. Each Live Facial Recognition deployment will be targeted, intelligence-led, within a set geographical location and for defined period of time, ensuring deployments are proportionate, lawful and necessary.

Live Facial Recognition has already been used in policing to great success, locating thousands of wanted offenders, or others breaching their bail conditions.

I am confident that the increased use of this technology will continue to support the safety of communities across the country moving forward.

South Wales Police has been a national leader in facial recognition deployment, with no false alerts reported since August 2019 and multiple arrests linked to LFR use.

Chief Superintendent Tim Morgan, of South Wales Police, said:

Our priority is to keep the public safe and this technology continues to help us achieve that.

We understand the concerns which are raised about the use of live facial recognition technology and we use any new technology ethically and spend time and effort making sure it’s deployed in line with all legislation and guidance.

It is important to remember that use of this has never resulted in a wrongful arrest in South Wales and there have been no false alerts for several years as the technology and our understanding has evolved.

The level of oversight and independent scrutiny means that we are now in a stronger position than ever before to be able to demonstrate that our use of facial recognition technology is fair, legitimate, ethical and proportionate.

John Hayward-Cripps, Chief Executive, Neighbourhood Watch said:

The Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee reflects what many Neighbourhood Watch members want: responsive policing that prioritises local relationships. This is so important because people stop reporting issues when they don’t have confidence that something will be done.

We know that successful community policing takes time. Having named and contactable officers is an extremely positive step, the most effective neighbourhood policing models combine targeted approaches with genuine community engagement.

Working with communities as partners rather than passive recipients should deliver the visible, community-based policing that not only keeps people safer, but builds confidence and encourages all of us to play an active role in our communities.

The announcement forms part of the government’s Safer Streets Mission and follows the launch of the Safer Streets Summer initiative, which is delivering increased patrols and enforcement in over 500 town centres nationwide.

August 16, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Higher Public Spending for People in Scotland [August 2025]

The press release issued by the Scotland Office on 13 August 2025.

Public spending is £2,669 per person in higher in Scotland, according to new Scottish Government figures.

The Scottish Government’s Government Expenditure and Revenue (GERS) figures for 2024-25 show that people in Scotland benefit by £2,669 more per head of additional spending compared to the UK average, as a result of the redistribution of wealth throughout the UK, and the impact of our Plan for Change. This is an increase of £358 on the previous year [£2,311 in 2023-24].

In 2024-25, £91.4 billion in tax receipts was raised in Scotland through devolved and reserved taxation, compared to £117.6 billion in public spending for Scotland. That works out to 8.0 per cent of UK revenue and 9.1 per cent of spending.

The figures also reveal that the ‘notional deficit’, or net fiscal balance, in Scotland grew to around £26.5 billion, or 11.7 per cent of GDP, more than double the UK deficit of 5.1 per cent of GDP. This is an increase of £5.1 billion on the previous year [£21.4 billion in 2023-24].

The UK Government is committed to retaining the Barnett Formula and funding arrangements agreed with the Scottish Government through the Fiscal Framework, which enables this higher spending for Scotland. We are also committed to working in partnership with the Scottish Government to drive economic growth in Scotland as part of our Plan for Change.

Despite this, the Scottish Government recently confirmed that its policy is to end the current application of the Barnett formula in Scotland, a move that would mean a funding gap of more than £14 billion that the Scottish Government needed to manage.

Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said:

These figures underline the collective economic strength of the United Kingdom and how Scotland benefits from the redistribution of wealth inside the UK. By sharing resources with each other across the UK, Scots benefit by £2,669 more per head in public spending than the UK average. It also means that Devolved Governments have the financial heft of the wider UK behind them when taking decisions.

That means more money for schools, hospitals and policing, if the Scottish Parliament chooses to invest in those areas. People in Scotland will rightly expect to see better outcomes.

These figures also underline that the Scottish Government’s policy of full fiscal autonomy would mean turbo-charged austerity and economic chaos for Scotland. That’s why the UK Government will stand up for the pooling and sharing resources across the UK as part of our Plan for Change – to grow the economy and put more money in working people’s pockets.

A recent Westminster Scottish Affairs Committee inquiry examined the effectiveness of the Barnett Formula – the mechanism which determines the level of funding the UK Government sends to Scotland every year. The MPs found the measure was “fit for purpose”. The committee also rejected calls for the formula to shift and provide funding to Scotland based on need. The report said Scotland already receives more funding per head than any other country in the UK, and a change in the framework could see funding cut.

At the Spending Review the Chancellor set out a record settlement for the Scottish Government. It will receive an extra £9.1 billion over the course of the Spending Review period, meaning that the Block Grant is forecast to increase in real terms for every year of the Spending Review and will be worth £52 billion by 2028/29, the highest since devolution.

The UK Government is also investing directly in Scotland – including £1.7 billion in local growth projects. £750 million for Edinburgh’s supercomputer, £250 million to upgrade Faslane, and £200 million in the Acorn project. And of course the billions the UK Government is spending on defence disproportionately benefit Scottish jobs and industry.

The GERS figures are published here.

August 16, 2025