Environment
Birds of prey killed or missing at grouse shooting estates
Over 70 birds of prey have been killed or gone missing at grouse shooting estates across Scotland since 2004.
Scottish Government
Education
Risks for new standardised tests in schools revealed
Documents obtained by The Ferret about the Scottish Government’s standardised testing policy reveal a range of potential risks including data losses, invalid results and a potential boycott by teachers.
Environment
Fish farm industry ‘lashes out’ on pesticide controls
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency is under angry attack from the fish farming industry over new controls on toxic pesticide.
Finance, Health
Government funded baby ashes charity close to collapse
A charity set up to support families affected by the ‘baby ashes scandal’ is being investigated for a second time by charity regulators.
Fact check, Politics
Has Scotland been ‘short-changed’ by £2.9bn in the Conservative-DUP deal?
The SNP says the DUP deal has “short-changed” Scotland to the tune of £2.9bn which would have come through the Barnett formula. This is not quite accurate.
Housing and homelessness
‘Horrifying’ numbers of homeless people are dying on Edinburgh’s streets
At least 18 homeless people – more than one every three weeks – died on Edinburgh’s streets in a year.
Environment, Fracking
Revealed: Scottish ministers’ meetings with fracking firm
Scottish ministers have held private meetings with the fracking firm Ineos and Grangemouth executives from China five times in 13 months.
Environment, Fracking
Scottish councils put £400m into fracking companies
Pension funds run by ten Scottish local authorities invest more than £400 million in 23 fracking companies.
Environment
Revealed: secret role of US drug company in fish farm pesticide row
The Scottish Government allowed a US drug company to secretly rubbish a scientific study blaming one of its pesticides for killing wildlife.