A sharp slice of what matters in Scottish law

David Hamilton, Scotland's Information Commissioner, is challenging the Scottish Government over transparency issues. He has taken the Government to the Court of Session for failing to provide information related to the Hamilton report, which cleared Nicola Sturgeon in the Alex Salmond investigation. Hamilton has also raised concerns about NHS Fife's handling of Freedom of Information (FoI) requests, stating: "It's really quite ridiculous" that members of the public wait years for information. He aims to improve accountability and transparency within public bodies, highlighting a culture of secrecy that undermines public trust.

 

The Herald

 

The Law Society of Scotland, alongside the Law Societies of England and Wales, and Northern Ireland, has successfully lobbied UK Finance to drop its proposal to charge for access to its Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook. The proposed annual charge of £50 plus VAT per person could have added significant sums to firms’ operating costs. Fiona Alexander, Convener of the Law Society of Scotland Property Law Committee, said: "We are very pleased that UK Finance has reversed its position," adding: "We will continue to press UK Finance on it plans regarding the new handbook, including how it intends to use the data obtained from the platform, and will keep Law Society members updated."

 

Press Release

 

Officers from the road policing team in Argyll and West Dunbartonshire reported 36 motoring offences, the lowest in Scotland. The majority involved drivers exceeding blood alcohol limits, with 15 cases, followed by 11 for controlled substances. The Police Scotland campaign, running from December 1 to January 4, included 3,021 breath tests and 626 drug tests. Chief Superintendent Scott McCarren said: "Police Scotland will continue to target drink and drug drivers." He emphasised the dangers of impaired driving and the potential consequences, including fines and driving bans.

 

Helensburgh Advertiser

Writing in the Herald Scotland, John McLellan, director of Newsbrands Scotland, argues that Scotland’s freedom of information system is in urgent need of reform, warning that the likely collapse of the Freedom of Information Reform Bill represents a serious setback for transparency. He criticises the Scottish Parliament’s Standards Committee for agreeing that reform is necessary but refusing to back the bill’s principles, effectively delaying change for years. McLellan says concerns about costs are being used as an excuse, despite evidence that obstruction and delay by public bodies already waste public money. McLellan illustrates the problem through whistleblowers’ experiences with Edinburgh Council, citing withheld information, excessive delays and appeals to confidentiality. Inconsistent FoI performance between councils further highlights systemic failure. Overall, McLellan contends that political reluctance, not practicality, is undermining the public’s right to know.

 

Herald Scotland

Sex workers have appealed to John Swinney, urging him to oppose Ash Regan's Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill, which seeks to criminalise the purchase of sex. The Scottish Government is still deliberating its stance ahead of a parliamentary vote. Some SNP MSPs oppose the bill, citing potential harm to women and insufficient time for amendments. In contrast, others, including Michelle Thomson and Annabelle Ewing, support it. A letter from sex workers warns that the bill could increase violence against them, stating: "Our most urgent concern in all of this is our safety."

 

The Herald

Mark Ruskell, a Scottish Greens MSP, is advancing a Bill to ban greyhound racing in Scotland. The Greyhound Racing (Offences) Scotland Bill passed its first stage in the Scottish Parliament. If successful, it will make racing greyhounds on oval tracks illegal. Thornton Greyhound Racing Stadium, the last remaining track in Scotland, has not hosted races since early 2025. Owen Sharp, chief executive of Dogs Trust, pointed out: "Each year, hundreds of dogs die or are seriously injured... this is completely unacceptable." Ruskell emphasised the need for urgent action before the upcoming May elections.

 

Fife Today

Authorities are investigating the deaths of seven patients at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) in Glasgow, amid concerns about the hospital environment. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) is examining cases, including that of Molly Cuddihy, who developed an infection linked to the hospital. A spokesperson stated: "The Procurator Fiscal is examining the circumstances of this death." The investigation follows claims of political pressure during the hospital's development and acknowledges a probable connection between patient infections and the hospital's water system.

 

thenational.scot

The Scottish Government has reiterated its opposition to new nuclear power plants, despite calls from West Scotland MSP Jamie Greene. During a session at Holyrood, Greene questioned the SNP government's stance, advocating for nuclear energy as a complement to renewables. Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy, Gillian Martin, remarked: "We do not support the construction of new nuclear power stations in Scotland under current technologies." She highlighted the long timelines and high costs associated with nuclear projects, emphasising a focus on renewable energy instead.

 

Irvine Times

People smugglers promoting illegal crossings into the UK on social media may face up to five years in prison under new legislation introduced through the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act, which was passed last year. The new rules mean immigration authorities will no longer have to prove online ads had led to crossings, as under the previous regulations. The National Crime Agency will monitor social media for such posts, having already shut down over 10,000 accounts last year. The crackdown aims to disrupt the operations of middlemen facilitating dangerous crossings. Border Security Minister Alex Norris said: "To the people smugglers peddling this content, whether you are selling your vile trade online through 'golden package deals', supplying boat equipment or researching routes, we are coming after you." 

 

Sky News

The Independent

Daily Mail

Scottish Legal News profiles Kirk Dailly, head of the business services group at Blackadders LLP, who transitioned from aspiring footballer to successful lawyer. After earning a first-class honours degree from the University of Dundee, he joined Blackadders as a trainee and became a partner in 2013. Dailly specialises in technology, healthcare, and IP law, advising on M&A and data privacy. He noted the importance of collaboration within the firm, which recently reported a 46% profit increase to £6.76m.

 

Scottish Legal News

Staff at Digby Brown raised a record £59,506 for charity last year, surpassing the firm’s previous total. Employees across its seven offices took part in fundraising activities ranging from endurance challenges to community events. The firm said the total reflected strong staff commitment to supporting local causes, with senior leaders praising the efforts as central to Digby Brown’s values and community focus.

 

Scottish Legal News

Burges Salmon has been named the 'Best Law Firm to Work at 2025', sharing the top spot with Michelmores. This marks the fourth consecutive year the firm has achieved this recognition, based on a survey by RollOnFriday. The survey evaluates factors such as leadership, culture, and work/life balance. Roger Bull, Managing Partner, commented: "This is fantastic news... our culture requires continuous effort and engagement." The firm also retained its Platinum IiP accreditation, ranking in the top 5% of organisations engaging with Investors in People.

 

LawFuel

Garry Clark, area development manager for the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), has warned that Fife's proposed visitor levy could unfairly tax essential workers alongside tourists. He argued: "It would be deeply unfair to tax a Rosyth dockyard worker in exactly the same way as a golfer enjoying a luxury break in St Andrews." The FSB advocates for exemptions for temporary workers and cautions that the levy could harm small accommodation providers already facing financial pressures. They urge Fife Council to conduct a full economic impact assessment before moving forward with the levy.

 

Herald Scotland

Campaigners in Scotland are intensifying their efforts regarding Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) issues. Brian Leishman, Labour MP for Alloa and Grangemouth, presented their petition to MPs in Westminster this week. Wilson Chowdhry, national chair of the UK/RAAC campaign, called it "an important milestone" for affected homeowners. The petition seeks a national support fund, a public inquiry, and legislative measures for homeowner protection. Kerry Macintosh, vice-chair of the campaign, emphasised the urgency, claiming: "This petition ensures our voices are formally heard and places a clear responsibility on Government to act."

 

The Daily Record

Glasgow City Council's housing convener, Cllr Ruairi Kelly, has called for the redirection of Edinburgh's £60m underspend to address Glasgow's housing emergency. He stated that housing pressures in Glasgow are "undeniably more acute than anywhere else in Scotland." The City of Edinburgh Council reported unspent funds of £14.3m for new council housing and £45m for purchasing existing homes. Cllr Kelly emphasised the need for collaboration across local authorities to tackle the national housing crisis effectively. Edinburgh's finance convener, Mandy Watt, assured that the underspent funds would still be allocated to housing in the coming year.

 

STV

The Investigation and Commencement of Repair (Scotland) Regulations 2026 aim to improve housing conditions by mandating landlords to address reports of damp and mould promptly. This initiative, part of Awaab's Law, is named after Awaab Ishak, who tragically died due to mould exposure. Almond Valley MSP Angela Constance stated: "Everyone deserves to live in a home that is safe, warm and healthy." The regulations seek to enhance accountability and ensure tenants in both social and private sectors have healthier living environments.

 

The Daily Record

John Grady MP is advocating for enhanced regulation of e-bike use by the Scottish Government, citing police struggles to enforce existing laws effectively. Concerns from community members about hazardous driving on sidewalks prompted Grady's call for better resources for Police Scotland. He supports the UK's Road Safety Strategy aimed at improving road safety and has proposed regulations, including potential registration for e-bikes. MCTCC expressed satisfaction with the UK Government's efforts to empower police in addressing unsafe e-bike practices. Local residents have long requested stricter measures, such as classifying e-bikes as motorised vehicles.

 

Glasgow Evening Times

Edinburgh City Council has issued 9,467 Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) for pavement parking since the ban began on January 29, 2024. The initiative aims to enhance safety and accessibility on city streets. The number of fines decreased from 5,100 in 2024 to 4,369 in 2025, indicating a positive trend in compliance. Niall Foley from Guide Dogs Scotland noted improved safety for pedestrians with sight loss.

 

Herald Scotland

AI tools like Google Gemini and ChatGPT predominantly cite a limited number of major news brands, according to a report by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR). The BBC leads with 52.5% of citations in Google AI Overview answers, while the Guardian follows closely. In contrast, right-leaning publications like the Daily Mail are underrepresented. "If AI companies are going to profit from journalism and shape what the public sees, they must be required to pay fairly for the news they use and operate under clear rules that protect plurality, trust and the long-term future of independent journalism," said Roa Powell, senior research fellow at IPPR and the report's co-author.

 

Daily Mail

Press Gazette

The Guardian

The Times

Ofcom has raised concerns about Royal Mail and Evri's handling of complaints and treatment of disabled customers. The regulator warned that fines could reach 10% of revenues if performance does not improve. Ofcom's research revealed that 25% of customers were dissatisfied with parcel operators, with Evri ranked as the worst delivery service for the third consecutive year. Evri could face fines up to £190m, while Royal Mail's potential penalty could reach £400m.

 

The Daily Telegraph

Grant Laing, former leader of Perth and Kinross Council, has had embezzlement charges against him dropped. He resigned in September 2022, citing personal reasons. The allegations involved incidents from January 2017 to March 2025. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service reviewed the evidence and decided not to proceed with the case. A spokesperson remarked: "After careful consideration of the facts and circumstances... the Procurator Fiscal decided that there should be no proceedings taken at this time."

 

STV

BBC News