19 December 2013
A briefing on the Office for National Statistics' December 2013 Regional Labour Market release for Scotland
19 December 2013
This briefing provides an overview of the decision making structures of local authorities in Scotland. The briefing includes the structure and role of decision making committees and recent developments in governance
This briefing outlines the nature and purpose of non-domestic (business) rates in Scotland and analyses the most recent data on businesses and revenues from business rates.
Stage 3 proceedings on the Landfill Tax (Scotland) Bill are scheduled to take place on 17 December 2013. This briefing summarises the main recommendations made by the Finance Committee in its stage 1 report and the Scottish Government response.
11 December 2013
This briefing sets out the background to the European Union’s Europe 2020 strategy for growth and jobs. It also describes the European Semester, a yearly cycle of economic policy coordination.
9 December 2013
This briefing considers a number of the key issues raised during the Justice Committee’s stage 1 consideration of the bill and subsequent recommendations made by the Justice Committee in its stage 1 report.
6 December 2013
A brief overview of Scottish, UK and international labour market statistics
5 December 2013
This briefing provides a summary of the parliamentary scrutiny of the Victims and Witnesses (Scotland) Bill prior to the Stage 3 proceedings, due on 12 December 2013
21 November 2013
This briefing explores the current student loan scheme. It sets out information on the main sources of student support available to full-time undergraduate students in the four countries of the UK.
20 November 2013
This paper sets out the reactions and emerging implementation decisions of the four countries of the UK, and also of Ireland, in relation to the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform package for 2014-20
15 November 2013
The Scottish Government is proposing to use stage 2 of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill to amend statutory provisions for consulting on school closures. This briefing gives background on school closure
13 November 2013
A briefing and infographic on the Office for National Statistics' November 2013 Regional Labour Market release for Scotland.
8 November 2013
This briefing gives an overview of wild deer in Scotland.
7 November 2013
This briefing outlines recent changes in the organisation and governance of Scotland‟s colleges. Specific attention is given to the development of college regions and the legislative underpinning to the new governance
7 November 2013
This briefing explores the challenges associated with meeting our resource demands; introduces the concept of a ‘circular economy’ where materials are retained in use for as long as possible
25 October 2013
This briefing provides an overview of funding arrangements for the police in Scotland before and after reform in April 2013 and progress in the budgetary process for the financial year 2013-14
25 October 2013
This briefing summarises the results of the Dunfermline by-election held on Thursday 24 October 2013.
24 October 2013
This briefing provides information about spending on the Justice and Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service portfolios, along with the central government grant to local authorities to pay for criminal justice social
24 October 2013
This briefing considers unconventional gas exploration and extraction in Scotland and the UK; including the technique known as hydraulic fracturing (fracking), which has attracted a significant amount of scrutiny in r
24 October 2013
The Procurement Reform (Scotland) Bill aims to establish a national legislative framework for public procurement in Scotland. This Briefing sets out the background to the Bill and summarises its main provisions.
21 October 2013
This guide outlines EU, UK, Scottish and local Government financial assistance available to new and existing businesses in Scotland as at October 2013
16 October 2013
A briefing and infographic on the Office for National Statistics' October 2013 Regional Labour Market release for Scotland.
9 October 2013
This briefing looks at the Scottish Government’s commitment in relation to long-term investment commitments, considers how it is defined and reviews the information available to support scrutiny of this commitment.
4 October 2013
This briefing looks at two different sources of information on tax revenue estimates: GERS and HMRC and highlights the key issues in comparing these estimates.
3 October 2013
Reviews the Scottish Government’s performance measures, indicators and targets for health and sport, and the extent to which they relate to the priorities and commitments in the ‘Draft Budget 2014-15’
20 September 2013
This briefing summarises the Local Government settlement in Draft Budget 2014-15, with a focus on the Local Government and Regeneration Committee’s stated remit for its scrutiny of the Draft Budget.
19 September 2013
The Bankruptcy and Debt Advice (Scotland) Bill is a Scottish Government Bill. It proposes to make a number of changes the personal bankruptcy regime in Scotland.
13 September 2013
This briefing summarises the main issues relating to the Financial Memorandum accompanying the Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill.
13 September 2013
Draft Budget 2014-15
11 September 2013
The Scottish Independence Referendum Bill is the second piece of legislation introduced by the Scottish Government in relation to the referendum on Scottish independence to be held on 18 September 2014.
11 September 2013
Briefing and infographic on the Office for National Statistics' September 2013 Regional Labour Market release for Scotland.
6 September 2013
The Scottish Government introduced the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill in the Parliament on 20 June 2013. This briefing considers the main provisions of the Bill.
5 September 2013
This briefing has been produced to provide the Parliament with information on the Scottish Welfare Fund, which replaced the discretionary elements of the Social Fund from April 2013.
4 September 2013
Given recent interest in the economic impact of a reduction in corporation tax on the Scottish economy, this paper analyses the modelling work that has been undertaken by the Scottish Government
30 August 2013
This short paper answers frequently asked questions about the freshwater pearl mussel and draws together information from a number of different sources.
30 August 2013
This Bill briefing has been produced to provide the Parliament with information on the provisions in the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill. It offers an overview of the provisions within this Bill.
30 August 2013
This briefing sets out the background to the Bill and its key provisions. It also provides a summary of the evidence received to the Health and Sport Committee’s call for evidence.
29 August 2013
This briefing outlines the background to the current regime and explains the main changes proposed by the Bill.
27 August 2013
This factsheet provides a short guide to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), how it is measured and a review of its strengths and limitations.
21 August 2012
This briefing for the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee sets out the development of the newly established Green Investment Bank, and describes some of its early activity.
16 August 2013
This briefing provides the latest data for a selection of indicators from which we are able to identify trends within the Scottish economy.
15 August 2013
Short briefing paper on the Office for National Statistics' August 2013 Labour Market release.
2 August 2013
The purpose of this briefing is to look at the key issues surrounding the Burrell Collection (Lending and Borrowing) (Scotland) Bill.
18 July 2013
Short briefing paper on the Office for National Statistics' July 2013 Labour Market release
26 June 2013
This briefing is one of six covering various aspects of the Scottish criminal justice system. It outlines the organisation, administration and funding of policing in Scotland.
25 June 2013
This briefing summarises the options for the treatment of residual waste (waste remaining once re-usable and recyclable materials have been extracted) in Scotland.
21 June 2013
This briefing summarises the results of the Aberdeen Donside by-election held on Thursday 20 June 2013.
20 June 2013
This briefing summarises the main recommendations made by the Finance Committee in its stage 1 report and the Scottish Government response to these recommendations
19 June 2013
This paper considers the main provisions in the Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill and provides brief policy and legislative context for some key areas.
19 June 2012
An introduction to the animal influenza risk to public health in Scotland and the governance structure in place during a national outbreak.
19 June 2013
The size of the public sector can be measured in different ways. This briefing explains the different measures, provides Scottish data, shows changes over recent years and provides comparisons with the whole of the UK.
19 June 2013
This paper describes and compares the current land use planning systems operating in the four UK countries.
13 June 2013
Short briefing paper on the Office for National Statistics' June 2013 Labour Market release.
11 June 2013
This briefing summarises the main legislative and non-legislative recommendations made by the Education and Culture Committee. It also summarises the key amendments passed at stage 2.
30 May 2013
The Landfill Tax (Scotland) Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament on 17 April 2013. This briefing explains the background to the Bill and the key proposals within it.
29 May 2013
This briefing has been prepared to assist the Local Government and Regeneration Committee in its scrutiny of the Scottish Government’s spending plans.
21 May 2013
Short briefing paper on the Office for National Statistics' May 2013 Labour Market release.
21 May 2013
This briefing explains the above Bill, the purpose of which is to remove a legal obstacle in order to allow the City of Edinburgh Council to use Portobello Park as the site of a new Portobello High School.
20 May 2013
The purpose of this briefing is to introduce the Benchmarking Framework and outline how it can be used, but also the limitations and caveats that need to be applied to the data.
20 May 2013
This factsheet provides a short guide to inflation, how it is measured, and why and how those measures are used.
16 May 2013
The Regulatory Reform (Scotland) Bill was introduced in the Scottish Parliament on 27 March 2013. This briefing provides background information on existing regulatory regimes, and the introduction of the Bill.
10 May 2013
The briefing provides some background on owner-occupier crofters; the Crofting Register, which is a map-based register of croft land; and on decrofting. It considers the problem; and describes the provisions in the Bill.
30 April 2013
This short briefing provides an introduction to community transport in Scotland, outlining the legislative framework governing its operation and providing information on community transport operator and driver licensing
29 April 2013
This briefing provides an introduction to the developments regarding press regulation in the UK and Scotland. It also provides information on the scrutiny as well as a summary of recent developments.
18 April 2013
Short briefing paper on the Office for National Statistics April 2013 Labour Market release.
10 April 2013
The Victims and Witnesses (Scotland) Bill was introduced in the Scottish Parliament on 6 February 2013 by the Cabinet Secretary for Justice. This briefing provides information on the Bill and the key proposals.
09 April 2013
This briefing has been prepared in advance of the Stage 3 debate on the Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Bill.
05 April 2013
This briefing contains the main elements of the European Commission’s proposals on CAP reform.
28 March 2013
The Scottish Independence Referendum (Franchise) Bill was introduced in the Scottish Parliament on 11 March 2013. The purpose of the Bill is to establish the franchise for the referendum on independence which is to take
27 March 2013
This paper addresses some of the issues surrounding passported benefits and how such benefits will be affected by the change to Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payments.
26 March 2013
Consideration of key issues raised and recommendations by Committee at stage 1 and the Scottish Government’s response.
22 March 2013
Short briefing paper on the Office for National Statistics’ March 2013 Labour Market release.
07 March 2013
Summary of the 2013 progress report on the Scottish Government’s Infrastructure Investment Plan.
01 March 2013
New qualifications will be introduced in school year 2013/14. This paper provides an overview of the new curriculum and qualifications and outlines some of the debate surrounding these changes.
26 February 2013
This briefing provides the latest data for a selection of indicators from which we are able to identify trends within the Scottish economy.
21 February 2013
The Labour Force Survey (LFS) records the ‘official’ unemployment rate along with a wide variety of other labour market statistics.
15 February 2013
This briefing discusses the current strategy for eHealth in Scotland.
13 February 2013
The National Trust for Scotland (Governance etc.) Bill was introduced by the National Trust for Scotland for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, on 7 January 2013.
6 February 2013
This briefing provides the third update on the Scottish Government’s progress against the Purpose Targets and National Indicators, set out in its National Performance Framework and the Scotland Performs website.
5 February 2013
The Scottish Government published “Low Carbon Scotland: Meeting our Emissions Reduction Targets 2013-2027: The Draft Second Report on Proposals and Policies”. This SPICe Briefing considers some key questions raised.
25 January 2013
The Labour Force Survey (LFS) records the ‘official’ unemployment rate along with a wide variety of other labour market statistics
24 January 2013
This Bill briefing has been produced to provide the Education and Culture Committee with information on the provisions in the Post-16 Education (Scotland) Bill.
24 January 2013
This briefing looks at Stages 1 and 2 consideration of the Scottish Civil Justice Council and Criminal Legal Assistance Bill, which was introduced in the Scottish Parliament on 2 May 2012.
22 January 2013
This briefing provides an overview of information on teenage pregnancy. It offers data on national level trends in Scotland and reflects on research evidence about the problems associated with early pregnancy.
18 January 2013
This briefing outlines the current SDLT regime and explains the main changes proposed by the LBTT Bill.
10 January 2013
The Forth Road Bridge Bill was introduced in the Scottish Parliament by Nicola Sturgeon MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities on 11 December 2012. This briefing discusses the Bill.