Reading Time: 3 minutesThis blog looks at the impact of, and timeline for implementing, the McCloud remedy in terms of public sector pensions.
Social Security Scotland Benefits
Reading Time: 3 minutesQuick overview of Social Security Scotland benefit rates for 2024/25.
The Land Reform (Scotland) Bill: What do the proposals for large landholdings look like?
Reading Time: 9 minutesThe Land Reform (Scotland) Bill was introduced in the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday 13 March 2024. It is accompanied by the following key documents: The
Tackling the cost of living – Scottish Government Policy
Reading Time: 4 minutesThe Scottish Government has highlighted around £3 billion of spending per year on policies that help tackle the cost of living. This blog looks at those policies and how spending on them has changed over three years. It also looks at how people’s views of their own household finances have changed over the last two years.
Suicide deaths in Scotland
Reading Time: 7 minutesThe Equalities Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee is currently running an inquiry looking at the Scottish Government and COSLA’s Suicide Prevention Strategy 2022-2032. The Committee’s Call for Views is open until 29 March 2024. This blog provides some background information on suicide rates and sociodemographic inequalities.
UK Budget: the Hunt for votes?
Reading Time: 3 minutesThis blog summarises today’s UK Budget and the implications for Scotland’s budget.
Defence and foreign policy in an independent Scotland – the Scottish Government’s proposals for Scotland’s place in the world
Reading Time: 8 minutesOn 4 March 2024, the Scottish Government published the latest policy paper in its Building a New Scotland series which in the Scottish Government’s words “together form a prospectus for an independent Scotland”. To inform a debate in the Scottish Parliament on 5 March 2024, this blog outlines some of the key issues covered in Scotland’s Place in the World
A review of this year’s Budget process
Reading Time: 4 minutesThis blog provides some reflections on the 2024-25 Budget process.
Ukraine visa schemes – what has changed?
Reading Time: 4 minutesOn 19 February 2024, the UK Government made changes to three visa schemes it had established in the wake of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.
Does the end of Stage 1 bring clarity for the proposed National Care Service?
Reading Time: 5 minutesThe National Care Service (Scotland) Bill (NCS) has made unsteady progress through its first Parliamentary stage,since its introduction in June 2022. More than 18 months