Reading Time: 9 minutesThis blog will consider three health-related strategy documents in turn: the Operational Improvement Plan (OIP), the Population Health Framework (PHF) and the Health and Social
When is a strategy a strategy (or not)? Navigating a complex landscape
Reading Time: 9 minutesThis blog explores how strategic documents might be defined, and looks at three case studies and how these illustrate the variation in the Scottish Government’s approach to setting out its strategic plans.
The 2026-27 Budget in ten charts
Reading Time: 8 minutesThis blog includes 10 charts which set out the key messages related to the 2026-27 Scottish Budget
The Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill ahead of Stage 3
Reading Time: 14 minutesThis blog considers the key issues raised at Stage 1 of the Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill and explains the changes made to the Bill at Stage 2.
Labour market update: February 2026
Reading Time: < 1 minuteSources: UK Labour Market: February 2026 and Labour market in the regions of the UK: February 2026 For constituency-level labour market statistics, please visit the labour market in
Intergovernmental activity update: Q4 2025Â Â
Reading Time: < 1 minuteSPICe has published a new quarterly intergovernmental activity update, which covers quarter 4 (October to December) of 2025. You can find previous updates on our intergovernmental activity hub. ‘Intergovernmental activity’
SPICe Hub: draft Climate Change Plan
Reading Time: 2 minutesThe Scottish Government published a draft Climate Change Plan (CCP) on 6 November 2025, marking the start of 120 days of its parliamentary scrutiny (until 5 March).
Draft Climate Change Plan – Transport: A vehicle for change?
Reading Time: 14 minutesThis post looks at the policies and proposals set out in the Scottish Government’s draft Climate Change Plan aimed at reducing car use, encouraging people to walk, wheel, cycle, and use public transport. It also considers policies aimed at freight decarbonisation.
The Strategic Integrated Impact Assessment – turning a corner in equalities budgeting?
Reading Time: 8 minutesThis blogs sets out SPICe’s analysis of the Scottish Government’s Strategic Integrated Impact Assessment, and compares it to its predecessor, the Equality and Fairer Scotland Budget Statement.
The Scottish Government’s international development programme – 20 years on
Reading Time: 7 minutesOctober 2025 marked the 20-year anniversary of the Scottish Government’s international development programme. This blog looks at its evolution, what information is available about impacts