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.
Author: SPICe
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 minuteMonthly update on the labour market in Scotland.
Intergovernmental activity update: Q4 2025
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’
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
Explainer: Orders made under section 30 and section 104 of the Scotland Act 1998
Reading Time: 6 minutesThis blog provides a brief explainer of Orders made under section 30 and section 104 of the Scotland Act.
Scottish Government responses to pre-Budget scrutiny: evidence of action, but few outcomes?
Reading Time: 9 minutesThis blog looks back at the recommendations made by committees during pre-budget scrutiny 2026-27 and the impact of committee scrutiny on the Scottish Budget 2026-27.