Reading Time: 4 minutesWhat impact has the 2015 Community Empowerment Act had on community planning partnerships (CPPs)? The Scottish Parliament’s Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee hopes to find out over the next few weeks.
Green freeports in Scotland: opportunities and challenges as we transition to a net zero economy
Reading Time: 7 minutesOn 13 January 2023 the Scottish and UK governments announced that the Inverness and Cromarty Firth and Forth Green Freeports had been jointly selected to
Progress with a Scottish Deposit Return Scheme – where are we now?
Reading Time: 8 minutesThis blog summarises the Scottish DRS scheme, concerns raised recently about its implementation and how the Scottish Government has responded. At the time of writing the Scottish Government remains committed to the August 2023 start date.
Seeking effective operation of the Northern Ireland Protocol: The Windsor Framework
Reading Time: 9 minutesThis blog provides a brief overview of events leading up to the announcement of the new Windsor Framework, summarises key elements of the Framework and examines what this means for Scotland.
Register of Persons Holding a Controlled Interest in Land – What is it and how does it work?
Reading Time: 5 minutesSPICe has recently received enquiries about the Register of Persons Holding a Controlled Interest in Land (RCI), its history, the process for registration, who it
The Icelandic Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers – The Nordic Region: A force for peace
Reading Time: 6 minutesThis blog sets out the priorities of the Icelandic Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers.
Social Security in Six Charts – update
Reading Time: 5 minutesScottish social security is growing fast. In December 2022, David Wallace, Chief Executive of Social Security Scotland said that: We are just past the midway
Transparency and the Scottish Budget
Reading Time: 9 minutesThis blog summarises issues around the transparency of Scottish budgetary information.
Explainer: How will the Scottish Parliament nominate and select a new First Minister?
Reading Time: 3 minutesThis short blog explains the parliamentary process for nominating and selecting a new First Minister when a First Minister resigns.
Wood burning stoves FAQs: updated November 2024
Reading Time: 8 minutesAs the cost crisis continues and energy bills remain a concern, SPICe has received an increasing number of enquiries and visits to our blog from