SPICe

When is a strategy a strategy (or not)? Navigating a complex landscape

25 February 2026

Reading time: 9 minutes

This 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…
The 2026-27 Budget in ten charts

20 February 2026

Reading time: 7 minutes

This 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

17 February 2026

Reading time: 14 minutes

This blog considers the key issues raised at Stage 1 of the Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill and explains the changes made…
Labour market update: February 2026

17 February 2026

Reading time: 1 minute

Monthly update on the labour market in Scotland.
Intergovernmental activity update: Q4 2025

29 January 2026

Reading time: 1 minute

SPICe has published a new quarterly intergovernmental activity update, which covers quarter 4 (October to December) of 2025. You can find previous updates on our…
Draft Climate Change Plan – Transport: A vehicle for change?

28 January 2026

Reading time: 14 minutes

This 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…
The Strategic Integrated Impact Assessment – turning a corner in equalities budgeting?

27 January 2026

Reading time: 8 minutes

This 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…
The Scottish Government’s international development programme – 20 years on

27 January 2026

Reading time: 6 minutes

October 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

27 January 2026

Reading time: 6 minutes

This 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?

20 January 2026

Reading time: 10 minutes

This 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.
Labour market update: January 2026

20 January 2026

Reading time: 1 minute

Sources: UK Labour Market: January 2026 and Labour market in the regions of the UK: January 2026 For constituency-level labour market statistics, please visit the…
Climate Change Plan. Transport – Forever in electric dreams?

16 January 2026

Reading time: 9 minutes

This post looks at the policies and proposals set out in the Scottish Government’s draft Climate Change Plan aimed at encouraging electric vehicle uptake.