Politics

The costs for a new prison in the Highlands will not remain within the estimated budget, the Scottish Government’s justice secretary admitted today.

The forthcoming ban on disposable vapes will mean a cleaner, greener and healthier future for people in the Highlands according to a local MSP.

Jamie Stone MP has called on Highland Council to ring-fence funding for road improvements ahead of its upcoming budget.

North MSP Maree Todd is being urged to intervene over the need for "basic maintenance" tasks along several stretches of the A9 in the Highlands.

The connection between depression and the dark skies in the winter is well understood, and why it’s essential to do activities to keep us positive.

Thirteen Highland Community Councils have been formed following a call for candidates.

The imminent expansion of the Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross seat at Westminster has prompted Jamie Stone to open a new constituency office.

Highland Council has received advance notice of a full planning application.

The Scottish Affairs Committee says UK-wide schemes to support households with the cost of living were not sufficiently “rural-proofed”.

The biggest expansion of nuclear power in Britain for 70 years is seen as a "colossal opportunity" by the chairman of Dounreay Stakeholder Group.

Labour and Tory MSPs slam First Minister for avoiding responsibility for Scottish Government decisions and again blaming Westminster.

By extending its repayment on three Public Private Partnerships it would get a £68 million windfall but increase debt by £146 million.

Views are urgently sought from the public over ways Highland Council can address a £60m gap in its budget.

Maree Todd is being urged to consider her position as constituency MSP as the fallout continues over the pause on new healthcare projects.

Holyrood Notebook by Edward Mountain

The Scottish Government has been accused of treating the people of the far north "appallingly" after the £80m Caithness health redesign was halted.

He says the stop 'places in great jeopardy the refurbishment of Raigmore’s maternity unit and projects in Caithness and Lochaber.'

A new report has shown that over 30,500 homes in the Highland Council area face one or more forms of housing need.

A government spokesman says Westminster's failure to 'inflation-proof its capital budget' resulted in a 'nearly a 10 per cent real-terms cut.'

Caithness, Sutherland and Ross MSP Maree Todd has backed those locally who are calling for "high-quality healthcare as close to home as possible".