Scotland produces 5-6 times more gas than it consumes annually, making it a net exporter.
In the Guardian today: Report detailing risk to UK gas security was not one to bury on budget day – In short, Neso found there is an “emerging” risk of Britain running out of gas if an important piece of kit were to be out of action at a bad moment. It modelled five “pathways” for gas demand out to 2030 and 2035 and tested against a prolonged spell of very cold weather. Here is the key sentence: “In the unlikely event of the loss of the single largest piece of gas infrastructure, gas supply falls short of demand for all pathways … Continue reading Scotland produces 5-6 times more gas than it consumes annually, making it a net exporter.
England and Europe’s hidden landfills at risk of leaking toxic waste into water supplies but Scotland’s sites are all known and level is now only one third, of that under Labour
Professor John Robertson OBA The Guardian today has two big reports on leaking landfill sites in the UK (sic): UK and Europe’s hidden landfills at risk of leaking toxic waste into water supplies – Thousands of landfills across the UK and Europe sit in floodplains, posing a potential threat to drinking water and conservation areas if toxic waste is released into rivers, soils and ecosystems, it can be revealed. and ‘I kept smelling a horrible nasty smell’: the risks of England’s old dumping grounds – For some, the smell brings on nausea and headaches. Others fear ‘forever chemicals’ seeping into the water … Continue reading England and Europe’s hidden landfills at risk of leaking toxic waste into water supplies but Scotland’s sites are all known and level is now only one third, of that under Labour
Nearly £300 for carers only in Scotland in run-up to Christmas
Professor John Robertson OBA From December payment for thousands of Scots carers published yesterday: Carer’s Allowance Supplement will be paid to more than 96,000 carers across Scotland from 4 December. Carer’s Allowance Supplement is an extra payment, currently made twice a year, for people in Scotland who get Carer Support Payment or Carer’s Allowance on the qualifying dates. The payment of £293.50, which is only available in Scotland, will be made automatically from 4 December to people who were paid Carer Support Payment or Carer’s Allowance on 13 October 2025. Carers due to get the payment will get a letter … Continue reading Nearly £300 for carers only in Scotland in run-up to Christmas
UK Labour Health Minister seems unaware that US tech firm which supplies Israeli forces and which risks patient safety will not allow his scheme to make money out of patient data but has no presence in Scotland
Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks to Dorothy for this. From the FT yesterday: The UK should “leverage” its new health data storage service for the “benefit of the Treasury coffers”, a health minister has said, as well as accelerating the discovery of new treatments for NHS patients. Zubir Ahmed said in an interview that the government’s new Health Data Research Service (HDRS) will give researchers a single access point to national datasets for the first time and unlock “the power” of NHS data. “There is no shame in saying, we have world leading examples of high quality care and high … Continue reading UK Labour Health Minister seems unaware that US tech firm which supplies Israeli forces and which risks patient safety will not allow his scheme to make money out of patient data but has no presence in Scotland
13 000 privately owned empty homes brought back into use by Scottish Government portal
Professor John Robertson OBA From Finding new owners for empty homes published yesterday: A new online portal has been launched to bring empty homeowners together with prospective buyers or developers with the aim of facilitating more properties to be used as homes again. Covering the whole of Scotland, this builds on the success of local pilots, referred to as “matchmaker schemes”, which allow owners of empty homes to upload details of their properties to a website through which anyone, such as first time buyers, families, developers or local authorities, can make purchasing enquiries. The portal is hosted by the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership and has been developed as part of a £2 million investment this year to recruit additional empty homes officers and fund initiatives that will accelerate the pace and … Continue reading 13 000 privately owned empty homes brought back into use by Scottish Government portal
SNP has planted nearly 20 times as many new trees as Labour Wales and more than 3 times as many as still-Conservative England
Professor John Robertson OBA The Herald today, has: Leading scientists, land managers and environmental campaigners have set out what must be done to save Scotland’s ancient forest, saying, “we must not stand by and see them lost”. The group have published a paper outlining the steps required to overcome threats to Scotland’s “magnificent formations of nature”, Caledonian pinewoods. The risks it details include overgrazing by excessive deer numbers, inappropriate fencing, mounding and planting, and the invasion of non-native species, including rhododendrons. https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/25657586.snp-tree-planting-policy-threatens-caledonian-pinewoods/ I’m with the campaigners on this but, as often before, the Herald’s selective bias is revealed here. Why have they not offered … Continue reading SNP has planted nearly 20 times as many new trees as Labour Wales and more than 3 times as many as still-Conservative England
Sunday Mail makes dishonest use of an English hospitals-only survey to deceive Scots but NHS Scotland’s greater resilience is preventing a flu crisis here
Professor John Robertson OBA Last week Jackie Baillie was trying to tell us ‘the SNP‘ was not preparing for winter infections despite evidence that Scotland leads the rest of the UK on winter preparations with more flu vaccines delivered, more GPs, more nurses and more beds. For more, see: Yesterday, the Sunday Mail had the above based on a survey by the RCN but entirely in English hospitals – https://www.rcn.org.uk/news-and-events/Press-Releases/growing-number-of-flu-cases-threatens-to-overwhelm-an-nhs-and-workforce-already-in-crisis Flu in Scotland From Viral respiratory diseases in Scotland surveillance report published 27 November 2025 (Latest release): Influenza levels continued to rise in Scotland in week 47, with a sharp rise in laboratory-confirmed … Continue reading Sunday Mail makes dishonest use of an English hospitals-only survey to deceive Scots but NHS Scotland’s greater resilience is preventing a flu crisis here
As worrying increases are reported in England, Scotland to be first country in the World to end new HIV cases
Professor John Robertson OBA From BBC England today, the above and: Women aged in their 50s and 60s have been urged to practise safe sex after a rise in new cases of HIV in heterosexual groups. Remarkably, the BBC Report above seems unaware of this in October 2025, only two months ago, from the London-based European Aids treatment Group: New data shows Scotland could still be first country to end new HIV cases. New data from Public Health Scotland shows the country has made progress toward ending new HIV cases. In 2024, 116,981 people tested for HIV in Scotland. This … Continue reading As worrying increases are reported in England, Scotland to be first country in the World to end new HIV cases
Submissive Ayr MP feeds English Health Secretary with lies about her own NHS which is far better than his and betrays all the staff in her constituency
Professor John Robertson OBA On 25 November, Elaine Stewart, MP for Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock, joined the tragic trail of Scottish Labour MPs prepared misrepresent their own NHS boards in order to win favour with the UK Labour leadership. Here are the facts she dare not mention: From NHS waiting times – stage of treatment published yesterday, the above impressive signs of progress. with increasing numbers treated yet plummeting longer waits. https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/nhs-waiting-times-stage-of-treatment/stage-of-treatment-waiting-times-inpatients-day-cases-and-new-outpatients-25-november-2025/ Important note – These latest statistics up to 31 October 2025 cover all patients waiting for a new outpatient appointment or treatment as an inpatient or day case, as well as … Continue reading Submissive Ayr MP feeds English Health Secretary with lies about her own NHS which is far better than his and betrays all the staff in her constituency
Memories of famous conservationist, Peter Scott, confirm heart-breaking abandonment and deliberate sacrifice of 51st Highlanders in 1940 to buy time for ‘Dunkirk Miracle’
I’ve been getting more feedback than usual on my song and reporting on the the capture of and brutal treatment of the 51st Highland division in 1940. Some has been angry and disputatious. Reader Legerwood has written of three uncles: I have often wondered how many young men from the village, who had joined the TA, ended up being killed or captured at Dunkirk and, like my uncles, spending the rest of the war in a POW camp. As a result of those years in a camp in Poland and the forced march back to Germany ahead of the advancing … Continue reading Memories of famous conservationist, Peter Scott, confirm heart-breaking abandonment and deliberate sacrifice of 51st Highlanders in 1940 to buy time for ‘Dunkirk Miracle’
Talking-up Scotland 