Winter Fuel and Cold Weather Payments explained - how Scots can claim up to £300 to help with heating bills

Rishi Sunak announced today.The furlough scheme comes into forced from November, which is after the new round of hospitality closures in Scotland.Sunak said the new plan offers a safety net over what could be a "difficult winter".The UK Government will pay two thirds of wages of staff in pubs, restaurants and other business if they have to shut under new coronavirus restrictions.Devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will benefit from a £1.3bn increase to agreed funding

schools to ensure they were complying with guidance on reopening.Over 80% of the 500 schools sampled were "likely" to have met the standards, but compliance levels in 100 was “less certain”.The Scottish Government initially argued for the return of schools to be based on ‘blended’ learning, which combined home and classroom-based learning.However, a backlash led to Ministers ditching this plan and instead endorsing a return to full time schooling.This was dependent on strict public health

Martin Compston appealed to Scots to 'follow the basic guidelines' to help stop the spread of Covid-19. Greenock -born Martin pleaded with fans through NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde's social media accounts on Thursday.

Snapchat messages to two former students. He was this week sentenced to 27 months in prison at Dundee Sheriff Court and was placed on the sex offenders’ register for a decade.

coronavirus. The First Minister said the Scottish Government is still working out how to respond to soaring infection levels, with a statement at Holyrood expected tomorrow.

Brian Cox should have had some proper instruction before handling a gun.

NHS could face the most difficult winter since it was founded in 1948. The chairman of BMA Scotland's GP committee said the pressure caused by coronavirus could cause the system to "overheat".

colder nights descend on the country. Some believe that you have to break the bank to catch sight of the Aurora Borealis by travelling to the likes of Norway and Alaska to see it.

seasonal temperatures will start dropping as daylight hours shorten and nights get longer. While we’re hopefully still a few weeks away from temperatures plummeting towards zero, many Scots are unaware that cold weather could spell good news for some households by providing £25 to help with the cost of heating bills.

Nicola Sturgeon delivered an address to the nation with an impassioned plea for Scots to stick together and follow new restrictions aimed at beating the spread of coronavirus. The First Minister kicked off her broadcast this evening by thanking the public for months of effort in turning the tide against the deadly bug.

flu vaccine has been described as being “more important than ever before” amid the coronavirus pandemic. It is for this reason that the Scottish Government announced that it will be expanding its free vaccination programme to protect those most a risk during the outbreak of Covid-19.

homeless.Callum Coulson, 33, was left on the street after council officials ordered an ­evacuation of his Glasgow home.He was among dozens of people affected after council building standards officers and structural engineers ruled the tenement unsafe.The St Andrew’s ­Ambulance driver says he felt “abandoned” by the authorities as lockdown restrictions were reintroduced in the city and he was left ­struggling to find shelter.Council officials admitted only one person from the block of six

Ibrox backline has yet to concede a league goal in seven outings – breaking a 114-year-old Scottish record – ahead of today’s trip to face Hibs at Easter Road.Gerrard says his coaching staff and players must share the credit.But the former Liverpool hero insists his squad can still improve in terms of being hard to break down –
something he learned from the likes of Rafa Benitez, Gerard Houllier and Roy Hodgson at Anfield.He said: “I’ve got nothing but admiration for Rafa but I’ve tried to lean

Amal Clooney has exited her role as the UK’s special envoy on media freedom in protest.

Naman Ramachandran Human rights lawyer Amal Clooney has resigned from her position as the U.K.’s special envoy on media freedom.Clooney’s decision is in protest against the U.K.’s intention to pass the Internal Market Bill that is designed to ensure barrier-free trade between the four U.K. nations of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland after the Brexit transition period concludes Dec.