Treacherous driving conditions and cancellations on the railway lines as Storm Bert has brought snow, rain, and high winds to much of Scotland today.

Sat 23 Nov, 6.45 pm

People with learning disabilities said they're being failed by the Scottish Government after new data shows a key post-pandemic pledge to offer them annual health checks has failed in every health board.



The data obtained by Scottish Labour via a freedom of information request found no health board has met the target.



In NHS Lanarkshire, not a single patient has received the promised health check despite £4m being handed over to deliver them.

Political Reporter

Laura Alderman

The Scottish Government says it's aware health Boards have faced challenges in delivering health checks.

NHS fails to meet government learning disability targets

Glasgow has long been seen as a city with chronic health problems and inequality compared to the rest of the country.



The 2022 census found Glaswegians are more likely to report bad or very bad health than anyone else in Scotland.



In a bid to help, a charity is delivering physical activity sessions for families, getting children in their early years to keep a healthy weight.

Rahim Cham

In the latest census Glasgow had 10.8% of people reporting bad or very bad health.

Activities classes helping Glaswegian families stay healthy

The number of children using foodbanks in Scotland has been described as "heartbreaking", prompting calls for "urgent and decisive" action.



The latest figures show that 40,000 food parcels were distributed to children facing hunger between April and September.



The Trussell Trust wants to see the Scottish Child Payment increased.



The charity operates 43 food banks across Scotland, and the demand is almost 10% greater than in 2019.

Saul Sievwright

The Trussell Trust has described the situation as 'heart-breaking'.

Charity calls for action over number of children using foodbanks

A small number of people living in the Aberdeenshire village of Gardenstown have been forced from their homes due to erosion in a sea wall.



A hole in the structure that supports a road running through the village has grown to the size of a family car.



Aberdeenshire Council closed the route while police asked some people to leave their houses.

Finlay Jack

Aberdeenshire Council have said it is currently investigating repair options.

Residents forced from homes due to sea wall erosion

Plans have been revealed to upgrade a historic section of the waterway that joins the Caledonian Canal and Loch Ness in the Highlands.



Energy company Statera wants to raise the height of the Ness Weir, created two centuries ago by renowned Scots engineer Thomas Telford.



However, the project has faced opposition over claims it would impact wildlife in the area.

Nicola McAlley

Opponents say there's no need, claiming it will impact wildlife in the popular tourist area.

Plans revealed for Caledonian Canal upgrade scheme

Scottish farmers have joined thousands from across the UK to march on parliament at Westminster in protest at new inheritance taxes that they say could kill off the family farm and damage the country's food supply.



Farmers say the changes will cost them hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Westminster Correspondent

Paris Gourtsoyannis

The UK Government says this is about fairness - until now, farms have been exempt from inheritance tax.

Farmers descend on Westminster to protest inheritance tax changes

GP organisations warned a Holyrood committee today there's a real risk of a staff exodus if assisted dying is introduced - due to the "moral distress" and potentially increased workload for doctors.



But as MSPs explore the controversial issue for a third time, campaigners fighting to legalise it claim the "tide is turning" on assisted dying.

It comes as GP organisations warned of a staff exodus if the legislation is introduced.

‘Tide turning’ on assisted dying, say campaigners

The Labour Party in Scotland is promising to reverse cuts to the winter fuel payment, if it wins power at Holyrood in 2026.



The UK Government announced in the summer the cash would only be available to those receiving pension credit or other benefits.



That led to the Scottish Government scrapping plans to introduce a universal devolved replacement after funding was cut.

Political Correspondent

Ewan Petrie

Labour would implement the plans if it won power in the 2026 Holyrood election.

Scottish Labour pledges to reverse winter fuel payment cuts

A former postmaster from Inverclyde has told STV News that victims of the faulty Horizon IT system are at the mercy of political whims.



It comes as a committee discussing the scandal in Westminster heard that there could still be more postal workers they've not identified who could be eligible for compensation.



Keith Macaldowie has had to re-submit a compensation claim after the legal firm dealing with the case failed to process it on time.

Vanessa Taaffe

Figures show there are 66 Scottish applicants waiting to learn whether they're eligible for compensation.

Horizon victims at ‘mercy of political whims’, says former postmaster

Dumbarton FC, one of Scotland’s oldest football clubs, has entered administration amid ongoing financial troubles and concerns over its long-term future.



Administrators said the club’s directors “were left with no option” after failing to receive money owed from the sale of development land in 2021.

Reporter

Olly Dickinson

Club accounts submitted in September show Dumbarton were owed more than £1.6m.

Dumbarton FC enters administration amid financial woes

North Sea operators are falling behind in their decommissioning targets, according to a new report.



Offshore Energies UK says political and fiscal uncertainty is to blame, with companies cautious about undertaking large-scale projects.



But the trade body claims there's yet to be any substantial evidence of companies ending production in the North Sea.

£1.7bn was spent on decommissioning last year, up from 2022, but less work was done.


North Sea operators falling behind decommissioning targets, finds report

Going to bed hungry, missing vital meals and wearing school shoes that don't fit.



That's the reality for hundreds of Scotland's young people as they face the extreme end of child poverty.



As one of Scotland's biggest children's charities launches its winter campaign, it has told STV News that the Scottish government has a "stubborn reluctance" to tackle the worsening crisis.

The demand for services has soared alongside the daily cost of living. 



Children’s poverty charity launches winter campaign

It's a decision that has divided an island community - a supermarket opening on the Sabbath.



Tesco says it's confident the decision, which includes reduced opening hours, is respectful.

Oliver Wright

There were protests as Tesco in Stornoway on Lewis as it began Sunday trading for the first time.

Sunday supermarket opening divides island community

The creator of the viral Willy Wonka experience has been placed on the sex offenders register for a year after leaving a woman traumatised by harassing her.



William Coull, 36, blamed a decline in his mental health following international media attention for his conduct.

Sharon Frew

William Coull repeatedly sent explicit pictures and messages to his victim.

Creator of viral Willy Wonka experience placed on sex offenders register

Primary school children in North Lanarkshire are helping the elderly learn basic tech skills, such as using iPads.



The pupils from St Aloysius' Primary in Chapelhall have shown the residents at Laurel Gardens retirement complex everything, from taking pictures to making digital Christmas cards.

Vidushi Tiwari

It's just one of many initiatives by North Lanarkshire Council to make tech more inclusive.

Primary pupils helping the elderly learn tech skills

Violence in schools is on the rise, with teachers saying they are particularly concerned about gender-based violence.



A programme aimed at tackling the root causes is being implemented across 13 local authorities in Scotland.



STV News has been to see how it is working in West Lothian – which has one of the highest domestic abuse rates in the country.

Iona Brownlie

Across Scotland, 210 schools are delivering the programme in 13 local authorities.

New programme hoping to tackle gender-based violence in schools

An Aberdeen based charity is looking for older volunteers to help the younger generation.



YourLoveRara is on the hunt for 'grandparents' to help families in need and share their life skills.



The organisation aims to provide a safe space for the community and those who require help.

Reem Satar

The charity support people who may be struggling with the cost of living and low income families.

Charity looking for ‘grandparent’ volunteers to help young families

It's one of Edinburgh's most popular streets for tourists, but business owners say the Royal Mile and surrounding areas have become a hotspot for shoplifters and burglars.



There are calls for an increased police presence in the city's Old Town to help combat fears over the level of crime.

Amie Flett

Business owners say crime is rife along the busy street and surrounding bridges.

Calls for enforcement after spate thefts on the Royal Mile

Scotland's care sector says tens of thousands of people could be denied the support they need due to increased national insurance payments for employers.



Scottish Care says almost half of its members fear going out of business within six months due to the changes in the UK budget last month.



Meanwhile, Scotland's health secretary insists plans for a National Care Service remain alive despite further delays.

A survey found almost half of care homes fear the increased costs will force them to close.



Care sector issues warning ahead of national insurance rise

The Govan Graving Docks, once a thriving hub of industrial activity, have been left to decay over the years.



But hope for their revival is growing ever stronger, with plans most recently submitted for a new park and events space.



It's part of a £125m project centred on the three a-listed docks aiming to transform the area.

Caitlin Hutchison

The three historic dry docks, which opened in the late 1800s, will be preserved as part of the plans.



Plans submitted for £125m Govan Graving Docks redevelopment

An investigation has been launched after hundreds of dead fish were found floating in the waters of Linlithgow Loch in West Lothian.



Local anglers have told STV News this is the largest mass death they've ever seen in the area, and they believe it's likely the fish could have been poisoned.

Laura Piper

Those who work and care for the loch say the discovery has been deeply concerning.

Investigation launched after hundreds of dead fish found in loch

Unions say they are prepared to take industrial action if Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen doesn't rule out compulsory redundancies.



Last week, it said that up to 135 roles are at risk in a bid to save millions of pounds.

Grainne NiGhreachain

Unions and management met as part of the consultation process.

Unions threaten industrial action as 135 jobs to go at Robert Gordon University

One of the North East's leading artistic organisations is warning its future is in doubt due to severe financial pressure.



But with rising costs there is a warning it is struggling to survive and faces an uncertain future.

Anne Smith

Aberdeen Sinfonietta stage concerts every year.

Leading orchestra faces uncertain future amid financial pressure

The Scottish secretary says he is resigned to the Grangemouth oil refinery closing next year.



Ian Murray signed a multi-million-pound growth deal for the area with Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes and the leader of Falkirk Council today.

Labour's Ian Murray believes it is too late to save the site and the 3,000 jobs.

Scottish secretary ‘resigned’ to Grangemouth refinery shutting down

A fiddle - believed to have been played by Rabbie Burns - is taking centre stage at Scotland’s biggest traditional music night - Hoolie in the Hydro.



The instrument is also going to New York's Carnegie Hall for a special performance.

It’s thought to have belonged to the bard's dance teacher William Gregg.

Fiddle played by Rabbie Burns to take centre stage at Scots music night

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland is calling for an end to noisy fireworks following the death of a baby red panda at Edinburgh Zoo.



The three-month-old kit, Roxie, died over bonfire night, and veterinary experts believe her death was linked to stress caused by fireworks being let off across the city.

Roxie the red panda was only born at Edinburgh Zoo in July this year.

Zoo calling for fireworks ban after panda death

It's been dubbed a tourism tax.



Now, the public is getting the chance to have a say in the proposed introduction of the Highlands.



The council says a "visitor levy" will raise more than £10m a year and be re-invested in the sector to improve services.

Iain Ramage

If agreed, the earliest the scheme could be implemented is Autumn 2026.

Public to get say on introduction of Highland ‘tourist tax’

An Aberdeenshire mother says trials of new technology to assist patients taking medications at Aberdeen Children's Hospital “helped her to be a mum again“.



NHS Grampian has been using new bedside cabinets that tell patients when and how much medicine to take.



It is hoped that this will improve their care and make people more comfortable using medication.

Fergus Matheson

New intelligent bedside cabinets tell patients when and how much of their medication to take.

New hospital technology ‘helped me be a mum again’

People living in properties affected by the potentially dangerous concrete RAAC, have taken their fight for financial support to Holyrood.



Homeowners delivered a petition to the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday calling on the Scottish Government to create a national fund to support them.



The Scottish Government says while homeowners are responsible for their own building maintenance costs, it will continue to work closely with local authorities who can provide advice and support.

Campaigners are arguing that their concerns are being ignored.

RAAC affected homeowners protest outside of Holyrood

Businesses across the West Coast are bracing themselves for further disruption across CalMac's ferry fleet.



The ferry operator has published a revised winter timetable following further delays in repairs on one of its largest vessels, the Caledonian Isles. Others are due in drydock for their annual overhaul.



This afternoon, services on the relief vessel for the Ullapool to Stornoway route, the Isle of Lewis, were cancelled due to technical faults.

Haley Bouma

A new timetable has been put in place leaving some areas without their usual service.

Island businesses braced for disruption as ferry repairs further delayed

A trial is underway for a man accused of murdering his brother-in-law on Skye with a shotgun.



Finlay MacDonald is also accused of the attempted murder of his wife, Rowena Macdonald, and the attempted murders of a couple, John and Fay Mackenzie.



Macdonald has lodged a special defence - saying he was impaired by an 'abnormality of mind'.

Finlay Macdonald denies shooting John Mackinnon at Sleat on Skye two years ago.

Trial begins of man accused of murdering brother-in-law with a shotgun

Petro-Ineos bosses say there have been no credible bids for the Grangemouth oil refinery, and there is no prospect of saving it from closure next year.



Giving evidence to the Scottish Parliament's Economy Committee, they said the refinery is losing £385,000 a day, and there has been no sign of the Government's intervention to keep it open.

Political Editor

Colin Mackay

In September Petro-Ineos announced the refinery, one of the world's oldest, will close next spring.

No credible offer to save Grangemouth refiners, say owners

The Education Secretary says new guidance on tackling bullying will help improve accurate reporting of incidents in Scotland's schools.



Jenny Gilruth admits there is still room for improvement, with such behaviour often underreported.



The new guidance says schools should treat online bullying with the same seriousness they deal with incidents in person.

A recent census almost 1 in 3 pupils from P5 to S3 had been bullied in the past year.


Scottish Government publishes guidance to help tackling bulling in schools

A heartbroken father has urged politicians to act to ensure no-one else dies in the tragic way his daughter did on a roadside near Loch Ness.



A Fatal Accident Inquiry in Inverness is investigating the circumstances of 26-year-old Chloe Morrison's death in October 2019.



The nursery teacher was struck by a lorry's extended stabiliser leg while walking with her mother on the pavement in Drumnadrochit.

Chloe Morrison died after being struck by an extension of the back end of a lorry.

Heartbroken father calls for action after daughter’s death in lorry tragedy

It's the UK's largest undeveloped oilfield, capable of producing 300 million barrels of oil and has been at the centre of a fierce public debate over the future of oil and gas.



But today, the legal argument over the decision to grant the go-ahead to Rosebank off Shetland and another gas field in the North Sea began.



Two environmental groups are challenging the decision, claiming it was unlawful - but the companies behind the developments claim they're needed for future energy security.

Steven Brown

The argument from campaigners is that the regulators failed to consider the climate impact of the emissions.

Legal challenge begins against Rosebank oil field development

A woman who desperately needs to find a stem cell donor after being diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of blood cancer is pleading with Scots to check if they are eligible to join the register.



Rachael Nixon was diagnosed with myelofibrosis, just months after giving birth to her first daughter.

Lewis Michie

Just 2.4% of the eligible population of Scotland are registered as potential stem cell donors.

Mother in need of stem cell transplant urges Scots to register

Menopause can cause difficult symptoms at work, and a lack of support can force some women to end their careers early.



But with new employment laws on the way, male MPs have been getting a taste of what menopause feels like, with the help of vests that mimic one of the symptoms many women deal with day to day.

New guidance and regulations on menopause will be subject to consultation.

New employment laws could give women more rights around menopause

''It's a miracle'' - the words of two runners saved by the same defibrillator after suffering cardiac arrests within weeks of each other in Glasgow Green.



And now the duo are joining calls for more of the life-saving devices to be publicly registered in an effort to improve response times.

A defibrillator in the park was used to restart both of their hearts.

Two runners call for more defibrillators after being saved by the same device

Boxing is considered a great way to stay fit, but how can it help with mental wellbeing?



Well a boxing club in West Pilton is offering free fitness sessions to help people struggling with mental health while also providing a space to talk.

Once the gloves are off - there's always time for a cup of tea and a catch up.

Boxing club offering free sessions to help with mental health

Wildfires are becoming an increasing threat in Scotland, due to environmental and climate changes.



Experts say the skills required to tackle them need constant review and development



A two day conference with delegates from across the world is being held in Aberdeen, to look at their devastating impact, and what can be done to prevent them.



Rescue crews say public awareness is the best way to stop fires in the first place.

A tiny spark has the potential to devastate miles of Scotland's countryside. 


Wildfire conference hosted in Aberdeen as climate change raises risk

A charity providing a lifeline to those living below the poverty line is facing an uncertain future.



COG Aberdeen provides crucial services to more than 200 people a month, experiencing poor mental health, addiction or homelessness.



But with the majority of its funding cut, the charity fears what will happen if its services cease to exist altogether.

COG Aberdeen hopes itcan raise the vital funds to save services as the busiest time of year approaches.

Charity fears it may have to close as funding cut

The sight of ambulances queued up outside A&amp;E departments because there is no space for patients to be admitted is the biggest challenge facing the service in Scotland - according to the people who run it.



The Scottish Ambulance Service has told an annual review it is working together with hospitals to manage the problem, but the figures for the year so far are getting worse.

Senior Reporter

Gordon Chree

The target time, from handing over patients to departing, is 40 minutes.

Number of ambulances waiting outside hospitals rises, review finds

People around Scotland fell silent this morning, on Armistice Day, to honour those who have died in conflicts around the world.



The day is commemorated every year to mark the signing of the armistice between the allies and Germany in 1918.



Veterans and members of the public gathered at events around the country to remember those who sacrificed their lives.

Vanessa Kennedy

The agreement to end the fighting of the First World War was signed in 1918.


Scotland falls silent to mark Armistice Day and honour the fallen

A woman who has struggled with anorexia and anxiety for most of her life has told STV News social media is to blame for a spike in the number of Scots with mental health conditions.



According to the latest census, Scotland is in the grip of a mental health epidemic, which showed young women were twice as likely as men to struggle with their mental wellbeing.



The Scottish Government said it is focused on tackling mental health inequalities.



Help and support is available now if you need it. Details of services available can be found at stv.tv/advice&nbsp;



The Samaritans can be contacted any time, from any phone, free on 116 123, email at jo@samaritans.org, or visit samaritans.org to find your nearest branch. Details of other services and more information can be found on the NHS website here.&nbsp;

The Scottish Government said it is focused on tackling mental health inequalities.

Young women twice as likely to face mental health issues

New research shows that nursing, physiotherapy and midwifery are among the most popular career choices amongst Scottish school pupils.



Mechanical and electrical engineering remain high in the rankings, as do aspirations to be musicians and photographers.



But are systems in place to help youngsters achieve their dream jobs?

Being a nurse, musician or engineer are among the most sought after roles.



New research reveals pupils’ most popular career choices

Just over a week on from the death of a man who sustained catastrophic injuries after being hit by a coach on Edinburgh's Cowgate, the council has passed an emergency motion for a special report addressing safety concerns around the busy street.



It follows calls from campaigners after a report eight years ago found it was the "worst street in the city for pedestrians".

It comes after a man was killed after being struck by a coach.

Emergency measure passed over safety fears on Edinburgh’s Cowgate

Residents in Dundee say they've been left in limbo living under rooves riddled with the potentially dangerous concrete RAAC.



A family who bought their flat 15 years ago say they face huge repair bills and can't sell their home because the lightweight concrete, used widely from the 1950s to the 1990s, has rendered it worthless.



The city council said most dwellings are in a satisfactory condition.

Lynne Rankin

800 homes across Dundee are affected by Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete.

Residents say they’ve been left in limbo over RAAC in homes

Three decades after a mother was murdered just yards from her home in Ayrshire, a reward for information to catch her killer has been doubled to £20,000.



Shona Stevens was found badly beaten in the Bourtreehill Park area of Irvine on November 10, 1994.

Detectives are now re-appealing for people who were in there on that day to come forward.

Reward for murderer of woman killed in 1994 doubled to £20,000

It was brought in as an emergency measure during the Covid pandemic but has never been overturned. 



But time could soon be called for a ban on drinking alcohol on ScotRail trains.



The Scottish Government said it is "actively considering" the future of the measure, which is widely regarded as unenforceable.

Then ban was brought in during the Covid pandemic in November 2020.

Calls for end to ‘unenforceable’ ScotRail alcohol ban

When Glasgow’s 43-year-old subway fleet was replaced with new trains this year, attention turned to what would happen to the old carriages.



Most were sent to be broken down into parts or sent to scrap, but some have been saved, with around a dozen now being transferred to new homes across the city.

Fraser Nicoll

Around 20 have been saved after the fleet was taken out of service earlier this year.


Retired Glasgow subway carriages find new homes across the city

People living next to a quarry in Newbridge say the noise from blasts from the site is "unbearable."



The quarry owners' application to remove limits on the strength of the blasts has been rejected by the council, but it is understood that they plan to appeal the decision.



Campaign group Stop the Quarry said the blasts are "shaking houses and causing distress".

They say the controlled explosions cause their homes to shake and have left them feeling distressed.

People living next to quarry say blasts are ‘unbearable’

The Scottish Government has dropped restrictions on the installation of wood-burning stoves in newbuild homes or conversions.



In a U-turn decision by ministers, wood-burners, bioenergy, and peat heating will now be allowed after rules banning them were initially introduced earlier this year.

Felicity Clifford

It comes after concerns were raised that the ban would impact people living in rural areas.

Holyrood U-turns on wood-burning stoves restrictions

A North East charity hopes a new screening unit will speed up the diagnosis process for prostate cancer.



A fundraising campaign is underway for a new centre at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary to help cut waiting times.



It comes as Olympic cycling champion Sir Chris Hoy called for the NHS to lower the age for prostate screenings after his diagnosis.

1 in 3 men in Scotland are diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer, when it's too late to be cured. 

Charity hopes new screening unit will speed up cancer diagnoses

An energy industry body has warned that the next six months will shape the success of North Sea oil "for decades to come".



It comes as US oil firm Apache said it would end production in the North Sea in the next five years.



The Texas-based business said the windfall tax had made operating in the region 'uneconomic' and had resulted in an 'onerous financial impact'.



Tonight, one business group says it must act as a wake-up call to the UK Government to reverse the changes to the levy.

The Chancellor confirmed at the recent budget the levy would increase by 3%.

Calls for windfall tax to be scrapped as oil firm to leave North Sea

The lives of trans people "are on hold while they're on the waiting list for treatment, say campaigners.



Thousands of people are facing up to a five year wait for an initial appointment at Scotland's Gender Clinics.



As new figures reveal a rise in people coming forward for treatment, we hear from one student who travelled to England and paid more than £10,000 to get surgery and hormone treatment.

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