Reading Time: < 1 minuteAs the Session 7 Parliament gets underway, SPICe will publish a series of blogs to help to explain how devolution works. This mini blogpost provides a central hub for this work to assist Members and others.
SPICe Hub: the Session 7 Parliament
Reading Time: 2 minutesFollowing the general election to the Scottish Parliament on 7 May 2026, the Parliament is due to meet for the first time on Thursday 14th May as detailed in the Business Bulletin on Tuesday 24 March 2026.
As the Session 7 Parliament gets underway, SPICe will publish a series of blogs to explain what will happen in the first few meetings of the Parliament. This mini blogpost provides a central hub for this work to assist Members and others.
Disposable Barbecues FAQs
Reading Time: 5 minutesThis blog looks at current regulations and guidance on the use of disposable barbecues, and potential legislative approaches the Scottish and UK Governments could take to ban their sale.
Scottish Cabinet portfolios
Reading Time: 2 minutesThis blog provides a quick and accessible guide to the Scottish Cabinet and its responsibilities as overseen by the Cabinet Secretaries.
Long-term conditions in Scotland
Reading Time: 3 minutesThis blog discusses long-term conditions in Scotland, prevalence and future projections.
Intergovernmental activity update Q1 and Q2 2026
Reading Time: < 1 minuteSPICe has published a new quarterly intergovernmental activity update, which covers quarters 1 and 2 (January to June) of 2026. You can find previous updates on our intergovernmental activity hub. ‘Intergovernmental activity’
Bowel Cancer Screening
Reading Time: 3 minutesOn 12 July 2026, the Scottish Government announced that Public Health Minister Maree Todd had asked the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) to consider
Labour market update: July 2026
Reading Time: < 1 minuteMonthly update on the labour market in Scotland.
Promoting Healthy Ageing in Scotland
Reading Time: 4 minutesIn January 2026, SPICe published a briefing on Promoting Healthy Ageing in Scotland. The briefing looked at the influence that lifestyle and environment can have
New SPICe research – Access to Legal Aid and Advice in Scotland
Reading Time: 5 minutesSPICe has been working – through its academic fellowship scheme – with Dr Mustapha Douch from Edinburgh University. Dr Douch has used econometric techniques to
The Commonwealth Games 2026
Reading Time: 5 minutesA look at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026
Data Centres
Reading Time: 9 minutesThis post answers some key questions about data centres and their development in Scotland, with a focus on resources use and national planning policy.