Legal Matters Scotland
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25th November 2025

A free early morning round up of news for legal professionals across Scotland.
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SENTENCING
Scottish police chiefs urge justice reform
Police leaders have criticised Scotland’s Justice Secretary, Angela Constance, for resisting calls to exclude those who assault officers from early prison release. Early release of 1,000 short-term prisoners has begun to ease overcrowding, but police groups want attackers of officers added to the existing exclusions for sex offenders and domestic abusers. ASPS says Constance has pushed back, arguing changes would delay releases. With nearly 20 daily assaults on officers, police representatives and opposition MSPs are urging tougher action. ASPS president Rob Hay accused the government of showing "apathy", while Constance condemned assaults but maintained that only low-risk prisoners nearing release are eligible, with governors retaining veto powers.

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INDUSTRY
SNP dodges inquiry into grooming gangs
The SNP Government is under increasing pressure to investigate grooming gangs after delays in initiating a national inquiry. Victims have shared harrowing accounts of abuse, highlighting that the issue extends beyond England and Wales. Justice Secretary Angela Constance faced criticism for allegedly misrepresenting an expert's opinion regarding the need for a Scottish inquiry. The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI) could potentially address these allegations, but the SNP has been reluctant to expand its remit. As a result, victims feel let down by the Government's inaction, which has compounded their suffering.
Scotland's public inquiry costs soar
Scotland's public inquiry costs have surpassed £250m, increasing by £28.8m in just nine months. The total bill, which includes five ongoing and five completed inquiries, reached £258.8m as of September 2025, according to the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Spice). Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes will face questions from MSPs regarding the rising costs and the effectiveness of these inquiries. The most expensive inquiry, the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry, has cost £102m. Forbes is expected to address the Government's approach to commissioning inquiries during her appearance today.
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SOCIAL
NSPCC demands action on child abuse
The NSPCC has urged the Scottish Government to take decisive action against child sexual abuse, highlighting a lack of understanding regarding its scale. Joanne Smith, NSPCC's Scotland Policy and Public Affairs Manager, stated: "Much more needs to be done," emphasising the need for ministerial leadership and better data on abuse. The call comes amid political tensions over the SNP's reluctance to initiate a grooming gang inquiry. Critics, including Labour MP Joani Reid, argue that the government's inaction resembles a cover-up, while the Scottish Government maintains it is assessing the situation.
WORKFORCE
AI threatens 3m low-skilled jobs
Up to 3m low-skilled jobs in the UK may vanish by 2035 due to AI and automation, according to the National Foundation for Educational Research. The report highlights that sales, customer service, administration, and machine operations roles are most at risk. Highly skilled professionals, however, are forecast to be in demand as AI and technological advances increased workloads "at least in the short to medium-term," with the UK economy expected to add 2.3m jobs by 2035.
HOUSING
Scotland's housing chief calls for action
Mairi McAllan, Scotland's Housing Secretary, is urging Rachel Reeves to support housebuilding in the upcoming Budget. She highlighted the Scottish Government's commitment of nearly £5bn to deliver 36,000 new homes. However, McAllan warned that planned cuts to capital funding could hinder these efforts. She stated: "These plans could be hampered by the UK Government's planned cuts to our capital funding." McAllan is in London to attract investment and has proposed writing off local authority housing revenue account debt to stimulate further investment in housing.
Skye and Raasay may see short-term lets control
A new report from Highland Council suggests that a short-term lets control area may be necessary for Skye and Raasay. Currently, 15.5% of new housing is being converted to short-term lets, higher than the overall Highlands rate. The area, home to about 10,500 residents, attracts nearly 800,000 tourists annually, generating £119m. Highland Council officers commented: "On balance, the evidence at this time indicates that the establishment of a short-term lets control area may be justified." Councillors previously agreed to allow local decisions on holiday lets, rather than a region-wide approach.
FINANCE
Tourist tax cash to tackle homelessness
Edinburgh's new tourist tax will generate funds for over 400 affordable homes. The city council has allocated £5m annually from the 5% transient visitor levy to a housing and tourism mitigation fund. This initiative aims to assist homeless households currently in temporary accommodation, allowing them to move out of B&Bs. By 2030, the levy is expected to raise £50m per year. Councillors are set to discuss a programme to support the construction of 361 social rented homes and 111 mid-market homes at a meeting on December 2.
ENERGY
Homeowners fight back against energy giant
Homeowners along a 70-mile pylon route are considering legal action against SSEN Transmission. They claim their property values have dropped by over £120,000 due to the proposed overhead line between Kintore and Tealing. One homeowner reported a £700,000 offer that fell through after the buyer learned of the plans, forcing him to reduce his asking price by £125,000. An SSEN spokesman claimed independent research shows no lasting impact on house prices.
TECHNOLOGY
Ofcom tells firms to target online abuse
Ofcom has urged technology firms to enhance measures against online abuse targeting women. The regulator highlighted that women in sports and politics face "significant and widespread abuse online every day." In response to concerns raised by Sport England chairman Chris Boardman, Ofcom's chief executive Dame Melanie Dawes said that "the digital world is not serving women and girls the way it should." The new guidance encourages platforms to implement user prompts, impose timeouts for repeat offenders, and simplify reporting processes for victims. The recommendations have been made under the Online Safety Act.
ECONOMY
OBR set to downgrade growth forecasts
The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is expected to downgrade its economic growth forecasts for each year to 2030/31 - the remainder of the parliament. While the OBR had previously forecast growth of 1.9% in 2026, economic forecasters have been less optimistic, with projections ranging between 0.9% and 1.4%, according to a survey of City analyst notes compiled by the Treasury. The Bank of England, meanwhile, has projected GDP growth to hit 1.2% next year. This comes with Chancellor Rachel Reeves looking to address a £20bn gap in public finances, with tax hikes expected in the upcoming Budget.
 


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