Protections for tenants have changed in recent weeks, with many Scots reporting significant increases in their monthly rents after the end of the so-called 'rent cap'. Ferret Fact Service explains what is going on. What was the rent cap? The Scottish Parliament passed emergency legislation in 2022 in response to the cost-of-living crisis, which introduced a cap on rent increases for existing tenants. It meant that private landlords could increase rent for tenants by three per cent every year. In some cases, landlords could apply to increase rents by up to six per cent to "help cover certain co ..read more

A Scottish investment giant upped its shares in a host of US fossil fuel firms last year, while also claiming millions of taxpayer money for a carbon offsetting scheme to plant trees in the Highlands. Analysis by The Ferret found that Edinburgh firm, Abrdn, increased the amount of US shares it owned in 33 coal, oil and gas firms between the end of 2022 and the end of 2023. The value of its US shares in these companies increased by nearly £234m last year. Abrdn also became a new shareholder in three companies drilling for oil in Texas in 2023, purchasing over£44m of their shares. The investment ..read more

Animal welfare campaigners claim new laws to prevent illegal fox hunting with packs of dogs are being flouted. Footage taken by activists from the League Against Cruel Sports show hunts out with packs of foxhounds during the latest hunting season, which ended in March. Hunts can get round fox hunting rules by claiming to be "drag hunting" - a form of equestrian sport, where horses, riders and hounds follow the trail of an artificial scent laid down by human volunteers. It offers an alternative to fox hunting and because the route is predetermined the hounds can be kept safely away from livesto ..read more

Scotland's climate strategy has led to significant policy changes in recent years. Homes and heating are part of the Scottish Government's commitment to reductions in carbon emissions, and recently claims about a change to rules around wood-burning stoves went viral on social media. Wood-burning stoves have now been banned by the Scottish Government. Social media posts Ferret Fact Service looked at this claim and found it Half True. Evidence The media coverage of this issue was ignited when a thread was posted by an architecture firm on social media platform, X, about changes to heating standa ..read more

Aberdeen University's senate has condemned Israel's "systematic destruction of Palestinian educational institutions" and the "censorship of expressions of solidarity" with Palestine. The senate - the highest academic governing body at the university - is responsible for teaching and research. It has 86 members and the motion was carried with 56 in favour. The move was welcomed by Aberdeen University Students' Association (AUSA) which said it condemns violence towards Palestinians by the Israeli government, and the terrorist attack in Israel by Hamas on 7 October 2023. AUSA also called for the ..read more

Ineos has been branded as 'greedy' for taking over £400,000 in Scottish taxpayer 'handouts' months after the firm announced it was closing the Grangemouth oil refinery - a move that could cost hundreds of jobs. The Scottish Government's business agency, Scottish Enterprise, told The Ferret it paid £428,000 to Jim Ratcliffe's firm for work at Grangemouth in March. The payment was made four months after Petroineos - a joint venture between Ineos and Chinese state-owned firm PetroChina - announced the looming closure of its oil refinery at Grangemouth. Although a final closure date is yet to be a ..read more

A far right group behind anti-asylum seekers protests in Erskine was trying to recruit "disgruntled locals" and is a "threat and risk" to public safety, according to a police intelligence report. A briefing by the National Police Coordination Centre (NPoCC) marked "official sensitive" reveals protests held by Patriotic Alternative were under surveillance and the white nationalist group is viewed as a "national priority". The Ferret revealed last year that PA was hijacking protests in Erskine and trying to exploit concerns over asylum seekers being housed in a local hotel. Two PA members who tr ..read more

Scotland's new hate crime bill has been extremely controversial, with critics lambasting the law for perceived restrictions on freedom of speech and expression. But what is actually changing and how will Scotland differ to the rest of the UK? Ferret Fact Service explains. What is the new legislation? Scotland's new hate crime legislation, the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021, came into force on 1 April 2024. It was brought in after a review of Scotland's existing hate crime laws by a senior Scottish judge, Lord Bracadale. The new law aims to consolidate existing laws, and it ext ..read more

The Scottish Government's wildlife agency withdrew an objection to proposed new salmon cages near the island of Barra after intensive lobbying by the fish farming industry. NatureScot had concerns that waste from the cages would harm rare seabed wildlife. But it agreed to ditch its objection after the industry body, Salmon Scotland, put pressure on a senior Scottish Government official. The industry lobbying was condemned by the Scottish Greens as "absolutely unacceptable". Campaigners said it was "highly worrying" and "shocking" - and criticised NatureScot for "rolling over". NatureScot said ..read more

The multinational salmon farming industry privately lobbied the Scottish Government at least 20 times in the last year, calling for regulations to be relaxed, consents to be streamlined and companies to be given public subsidies. Internal correspondence seen by The Ferret reveals that industry bosses have written 18 times to ten senior ministers and officials since March 2023 pleading for action on nine issues. They have also met with ministers twice, once pressing for "more financial support". Most of the lobbying was done by Tavish Scott, the former LibDem MSP and minister who now heads the ..read more