From: Estimated numbers of people prescribed opioid substitution therapy in Scotland2025/2026 published yesterday, the above and: It is estimated that a minimum of 26,851 people in Scotland were prescribed an opioid agonist therapy (OAT) medication for the treatment of opioid dependence. This was a 4%decrease compared to 2024/25 (28,015). https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/prescribing-for-opioid-dependence-in-scotland/prescribing-for-opioid-dependence-in-scotland-2025-to-2026/ Public Health Scotland’s multi-parameter estimates show that in the 15-34 age group, dependence fell from about 17,000 in 2014/15 to 9,100 in 2023/24—a reduction of 7,900. That is approximately a 46% drop in the estimated number of people aged 15–34 with opioid dependence between 2014/15 and 2023/24. ⁠Publichealthscotland 2024-2026 data … Continue reading Massive, almost 50% fall in opioid dependency among 15-34 year-olds

From Excel Tables: Social housing stock, published today, the above and: These figures provide the total number of social housing stock in Scotland. They are updated each year using information from Housing Statistics Annual Returns and stock figures from the Scottish Housing Regulator. https://www.gov.scot/publications/housing-statistics-social-housing-stock/ Comparisons with England Per capita: Scotland has 45–50% more social housing relative to population (115 vs 78 per 1,000 people). Ownership split: Scotland’s local authorities still hold a slight majority of social stock (52%). In England, private registered providers hold the large majority (65%). Recent trends: Scotland’s total social stock has been relatively stable to gently … Continue reading After 20 years Scotland has almost 50% more social housing per head with an extra 30 000 in last 5 years

From Homicide in Scotland 2025-26 published yesterday: In 2025-26, 56 victims of homicide were recorded, 19% (or nine victims) more than the 47 victims recorded in 2024-25 (Table 1). This is the fourth lowest number of recorded homicide victims since comparable records began in 1976. Over the latest 10 year period from 2016-17 to 2025-26, the number of victims fell by 14% (or nine victims) from 65 to 56. Over the latest 20 year period from 2006-07 to 2025-26, the number of homicide victims in Scotland fell by 54% (or 65 victims) from 121 to 56. The greatest reduction in … Continue reading Homicide in Scotland trend still significantly down, 37% in last 5 years, 60% since last Labour government and only 25% among the young of that 20 years ago

From BBC Scotland, today, the above and: Councillors have approved a £21m repair scheme for RAAC-affected homes in Dundee. Work will be carried out on council-owned properties and in buildings where the local authority retains an interest. The council has agreed to write to both the UK and Scottish governments seeking financial support and a dedicated funding mechanism for homeowners. Almost 1,000 homes in the city contain the defective concrete – the highest number in Scotland. The material was used in flat roofing, floors and walls between the 1950s and 1990s. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm78pxj4jn8yo Here are the facts they will not report: … Continue reading As Reporting Scotland return to the Labour RAAC controversy a reminder of the facts they won’t tell you

In the Guardian today, the above, and: Plans by the government to give the public free access for the first time to information on who owns England’s land are at risk of being scuppered by landowners, campaigners have said. The Guardian has previously revealed that there are internal rifts between the government and the Land Registry – an “arm’s length body” that comes under the oversight of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government but acts largely independently – over how far to open it to scrutiny. and: Gavin Lane, president of the Country Land and Business Association, which … Continue reading Scotland is well ahead on land reform and legislative foundation is too strong to scupper progress now