PFI firms promote coronavirus donations but refuse NHS fee cut
Private finance firms profiting from Scottish hospitals have drawn criticism for seeking positive publicity for their response to the coronavirus epidemic in Europe whilst refusing to drop their charges in Scotland.
Private finance schemes cost Scottish taxpayers £40bn, says spending watchdog
Private finance schemes by successive governments have left Scottish taxpayers footing a £40 billion bill to build schools, hospitals, roads and other projects worth £9 billion, according to Scotland’s spending watchdog.
House builders demand more Help to Buy subsidies from government
Lobbyists acting for the housing industry have demanded continued Help to Buy subsidies from the Scottish Government, despite criticism that the cash simply inflates house prices.
Fines to rogue fishermen fall and illegal fishing escapes prosecution
The number of fines issued to rogue fishermen has decreased over the past three years while skippers caught fishing in protected waters have not been reported to the procurator fiscal, we can reveal.
How tax haven investors profit from Edinburgh’s empty sick kid’s hospital
Profits from a controversial new children's hospital in Edinburgh are being channelled through tax havens to offshore investors, we can reveal, prompting criticism of public sector pension fund managers and the Scottish Government.
Police Scotland criticised over treatment of vulnerable informants
Officials raise concerns over "resistance" from some officers over the use of new "Vulnerability Assessments" for police informers.
Electoral Commission criticised over delayed ‘dark money’ probe
With the prospect of a general election looming, the Electoral Commission has been criticised for taking more than 14 months to investigate an opaque funder linked to the Scottish Conservatives.
Common good funds falling value sparks call for reform
An investigation by The Ferret found that many common good funds are worth significantly less now than they were ten years ago.
Dundee council ‘raided’ common good fund for £5.5k Lord Provost portrait
Dundee City Council has been criticised for using £5,500 of its Common Good Fund to pay for a portrait of the city’s Lord Provost.