Category: Culture & Sport
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Dredging in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)
Reading time: 4 minutes
A recent report by BBC Scotland highlighted evidence of alleged illegal scallop dredging (uncovered by divers from Open Seas) in the Firth of Lorn; part…
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SPICe FAQ – MSPs and FOI
Reading time: 2 minutes
We are regularly asked if Members of The Scottish Parliament (MSPs) and their staff can be required to release information under Freedom of Information (FOI)…
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A Low Carbon Scotland – Progress, Plans and Paris
Reading time: 3 minutes
Next week the Scottish Government are due to publish their latest climate plan charting a path to cutting Scotland’s emissions over the next 15 years.…
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What is next for the Scottish Crown Estate?
Reading time: 4 minutes
In the midst of a period of substantial constitutional debate and change, one significant piece of devolution has been (relatively) quietly underway. The devolution of…
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Public sector pay: an end to the squeeze?
Reading time: 3 minutes
As part of the 2018-19 Draft Budget, the Scottish Government announced an easing of its policy on public sector pay. Starting in 2011-12, public sector…
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Brexit and health – Who cares?
Reading time: 3 minutes
It is not often that the NHS steers clear from the centre of the political fray, but Brexit might just be one of those occasions.…
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Fixing human rights breaches in legislation: criminal record disclosures, protecting children and the right to privacy
Reading time: 3 minutes
Getting the right balance between protecting children and respecting individual rights to privacy is almost always a difficult policy issue. Last year the courts found…
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Budget Stage 1 – what is the impact on local government?
Reading time: 3 minutes
After yesterday’s Stage 1 announcements, we have published three blogs on the Budget on SPICe Spotlight today – a blog on income tax, a blog…
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Budget Bill Stage 1 – What are the changes to income tax?
Reading time: 3 minutes
What was proposed at Stage 1? Stage 1 of the Budget Bill for 2018-19 was debated at Holyrood yesterday afternoon. The Government reached a deal…
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Budget Bill Stage 1 – Deal!
Reading time: 2 minutes
The Budget Bill for next year was debated at Holyrood yesterday. Derek Mackay, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Constitution provided details of the deal…
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Private financing of Scotland’s infrastructure
Reading time: 4 minutes
The National Audit Office recently published a report looking at the role of the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) and its replacement, PF2, in funding infrastructure…
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Brexit – Negotiating a transition
Reading time: 5 minutes
Both the EU and the UK agree that a transitional phase governing the EU-UK relationship is needed to govern the time between the UK leaving…