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
Category: Parliament & Government
Àm iomairt agus foillseachaidhean SPICe
Reading Time: 2 minutesTha dùil gun tèid taghadh Pà rlamaid na h-Alba a chumail air Diardaoin 7 Cèitean 2026.  Bidh clà r-ama foirmeil an taghaidh a’ tòiseachadh le sgaoileadh Pà rlamaid na
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: 5 minutesUpdated 19 May 2026. Recently approved regulations will, from 1 April 2026, allow councils in Scotland to set higher council tax charges for long-term empty
Explainer: what happens to public petitions at the end of a session?Â
Reading Time: 3 minutesThe Scottish Parliament’s public petitions system allows individuals and organisations to submit formal requests for the Parliament to act. The Parliament will go into campaign recess on 26 March, ahead
Explainer: Scottish Parliament Bills and what happens at the end of a parliamentary session?Â
Reading Time: 7 minutesThis blog explains what Bills are and what happens to them at dissolution.
SPICe Hub: draft Climate Change Plan
Reading Time: 2 minutesThe Scottish Government published a draft Climate Change Plan (CCP) on 6 November 2025, marking the start of 120 days of its parliamentary scrutiny (until 5 March).
When is a strategy a strategy (or not)? Navigating a complex landscape
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.
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.
Intergovernmental activity update: Q4 2025Â Â
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’