Reading Time: 8 minutesThis blog talks about prevention as a method of delivery of public services. It also introduces some of the challenges with implementing prevention from a resource allocation point of view.
What’s Changing in Scotland’s National Performance Framework and Why It Matters
Reading Time: 6 minutesThis blog sets out what is changing with the National Performance Framework, why the reform matters, and what happens next as the Scottish Government prepares its final proposals for the next administration.
Campaign period and SPICe publications
Reading Time: < 1 minuteThe Scottish Parliament election is due to be held on Thursday 7 May 2026. The formal election timetable starts with the dissolution of The Scottish Parliament. The current five-year session of
Àm iomairt agus foillseachaidhean SPICe
Reading Time: 2 minutesTha dùil gun tèid taghadh Pàrlamaid na h-Alba a chumail air Diardaoin 7 Cèitean 2026. Bidh clàr-ama foirmeil an taghaidh a’ tòiseachadh le sgaoileadh Pàrlamaid na
Draft Climate Change Plan 2026-2040: scrutiny and academic engagement
Reading Time: 3 minutesThis blog provides an overview of how academic engagement supported parliamentary scrutiny of the draft Climate Change Plan (CCP), the statutory plan setting out how the Scottish Government intends to meet emissions-reduction targets.
Delivering a model for parliamentary scrutiny of climate change: reflections on scrutiny of the draft Climate Change Plan 2026-2040
Reading Time: 8 minutesThis blog outlines how scrutiny of the draft Climate Change Plan unfolded, the institutional support that enabled it, the diverse evidence that shaped it, and some lessons identified for Session 7.
Good Food Nation: we have a plan, but does it have any teeth?
Reading Time: 10 minutesThis guest blog details the latest developments in Scottish food policy, including the publication of the first National Good Food Nation Plan, the twist and turns around the secondary legislation meant to give it effect, and what may come next.
New Scottish Council Tax Powers for Empty and Second Homes
Reading Time: 4 minutesRecently approved regulations will, from 1 April 2026, allow councils in Scotland to set higher council tax charges for long-term empty homes and second homes.
Guest blog: The impact of financial challenges facing Scotland’s universities
Reading Time: 6 minutesThis guest blog from Dr Dely Lazarte Elliot and Professor Sajjad Hussain of the University of Glasgow looks at their research carried out as part of the SPICe Academic Fellowship Scheme. As with all guest blogs, what follows are the views of the author and not those of SPICe, or of the Scottish Parliament.
Measles in Scotland: Prevalence, prevention, and management
Reading Time: 4 minutesThis blog will explore the prevalence of measles in Scotland and the United Kingdom, following the recent World Health Organisation announcement that the UK has lost