Briefings are listed in the order they were published, with the most recent appearing first.
Emissions Trading is a market based mechanism that regulates emissions using a system of exchangeable allowances. This Briefing introduces the concept, explores how it has been used in the past, and considers how the mechanism is currently used.
This paper provides a range of local government finance statistics covering local government revenue funding, capital funding, non-domestic rate income and council tax.
This briefing provides an overview of recent trends in energy prices and highlights the key factors influencing the general price of energy and the price of oil, domestic gas and electricity.
This briefing has been prepared for the Scottish Government debate on the “Scottish Government’s response to the Pre-Budget Report”. It notes some of the effects of the 2008 Pre-Budget Report on Scotland.
This briefing describes the current legal framework surrounding common property management and the management of open spaces, including the appointment, function and dismissal of property managers (factors).
This briefing has been prepared for the European and External Relations Committee and provides background information on Scotland’s relationship with China and a summary of the Scottish Government’s plan for engagement with China.
This briefing looks at the changes to additional support needs legislation proposed in the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill 2008 introduced to the Parliament on 6 October.
This briefing gives an overview of the first World Summit of Regions on Climate Change.
This briefing provides a selection of indicators on aspects of the Scottish economy. The indicators include: economic growth (Gross Value Added); the labour market; the housing market; UK inflation, interest and exchange rates; retail sales.
This briefing looks at some of the ways in which Scotland’s communities are moving towards sustainable living.
This briefing considers current responsibilities and legislation related to flood risk management and recent government and parliamentary work in this area. It introduces the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Bill & summarises selected stakeholders’ views.
This briefing provides a short overview of the capital projects currently underway within the further education college sector and identifies Scottish Government and individual FE college capital investment and allocations.
This briefing has been prepared for the Stage 1 debate on the Scottish Parliamentary Pensions Bill. It considers the background to the drafting of the Bill itself and the setting up of the Scottish Parliamentary Pension Scheme Committee.
This briefing addresses a Bill which seeks to pilot elections to NHS boards in order to test whether this will improve accountability and public involvement in the NHS.
This briefing provides background information in advance of the autumn 2008 fisheries negotiations at which decisions by the EU on fishing quotas and days at sea will be made for 2009.
This briefing considers various provisions relating to children in the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Bill. A separate SPICe briefing looks at the Bill in more general terms – SB 08-48 Sexual Offences (Scotland) Bill.
8 October 2008
This paper provides an overview of the parliamentary consideration which has been given to the Scottish Register of Tartans Bill prior to Stage 3.
The purpose of this briefing paper is to provide a summary of the broad trends in the Scottish Government’s Draft Budget 2009-10 relating to Economy, Energy and Tourism.
This paper provides an overview of the budget proposals for the local government, housing, regeneration and wellbeing budget lines set out in the Draft Budget 2009-10.
This briefing considers the health and sport elements of the Health and Wellbeing portfolio of the Scottish Government’s ‘Draft Budget 2009-10’.
This briefing provides an overview of social work services in Scotland. It provides background information on the legislative framework underpinning social work services, the key policy themes and the organisation and funding of social work services.
This briefing has been prepared to assist the Justice Committee in looking at the Scottish Government's draft budget for 2009/10.
This briefing examines the issues arising during the EU budget review which is taking place as a result of the agreement of the 2007-2013 Multi-annual Financial Framework.
This briefing summarises broad trends in the Scottish Government Draft Budget 2009-10. More detailed presentation of the budget numbers can be found in the accompanying spreadsheets.
This briefing considers the main provisions of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Bill as introduced in the Parliament in June 2008.
This briefing provides an overview of the Single Outcome Agreements which have been signed between the Scottish Government and local authorities over the summer.
This briefing gives an overview of the development of policy from special educational needs to additional support for learning. It briefly describes the new legal framework introduced in 2005 and considers some of the issues that have arisen from it.
This briefing compares and contrasts the public audit structures in Scotland with those in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, primarily focusing on the governance structure of the respective Auditors General and Audit Offices.
This briefing summarises the main recommendations made by the Justice Committee in its Stage 1 Report, as well as the Scottish Government’s response to that report.
8 September 2008
This briefing outlines some of the key technologies behind high speed rail operations. It also highlights some of the costs and benefits of high speed rail and charts the development of high speed rail in the UK.
This briefing gives an introduction to recent changes in food production and prices and considers the factors causing food price increases.
The Bill provides for new statutory aggravations which may be applied in cases where there is evidence that a crime has been motivated by malice or ill-will based on a victim's actual or presumed sexual orientation, transgender identity or disability.
The briefing describes the background to the Bill, explains the health implications of asymptomatic asbestos-related conditions and considers the broader legal and financial implications of the Bill.
This briefing provides a selection of indicators on aspects of the Scottish economy.
23 July 2008
This briefing outlines the changes to the Scottish passenger rail (ScotRail) franchise agreement.
This briefing outlines the Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) sector and its contribution to storing and releasing greenhouse gases in Scotland.
This briefing outlines the origin and global nature of the current credit crunch and assesses the impact on the Scottish economy to date with particular reference to the housing market.
This briefing has been compiled for the purpose of a debate on a proposal for a Scottish Parliamentary Pensions Bill. It sets out in table form the work of the Committee established to consult on and draft the Bill.
This briefing provides an overview of EU rural development policy and outlines the key elements of the new Programme and its funding.
Looks at legislative provisions which seek to restrict the circumstances in which evidence can be led regarding the sexual history and character of complainers in sexual offence trials.
Provides information on the crime of rape, including: (i) the current legal definition; (ii) proposals for legislative reforms; (iii) the investigation and prosecution of rape; and (iv) statistics relating to rape.
13 June 2008
This paper explains the current process for implementing disabled persons’ parking places and discusses changes proposed by the Bill.
This briefing gives an introduction to recent changes in food production and prices and considers the factors causing food price increases.
This briefing summarises Parliamentary scrutiny of the Public Health etc. (Scotland) Bill prior to stage 3, the proceedings for which will take place on Thursday 12 June 2008.
This briefing provides a selection of indicators on some aspects of the Scottish economy.
This briefing has been written to assist the Finance Committee and the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee who are currently undergoing a review of the Scottish Budget Process.
This briefing looks at how the Treaty of Lisbon approaches the ‘area of freedom, security and justice’ and the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the implications of these for Scotland.
This briefing is intended to contextualise the Scottish Civil Courts Review’s on-going work and to inform readers in advance of the report’s publication in 2009.
29 April 2008
This briefing summarises the Stage One recommendations regarding the Commonwealth Games of the Local Government and Communities and the Scottish Government response.
28 April 2008
This paper considers the findings of consultations for cultural policy including those for the previous administration's draft Culture (Scotland) Bill insofar as they relate to the Creative Scotland Bill.
24 April 2008
This paper provides a brief history of tartan, outlinines the previous Bill and considers a recent economic impact assessment of the tartan industry in Scotland.
This briefing provides an overview of the provisions contained in the Treaty of Lisbon (2007) on the principle of subsidiarity.
This briefing provides a short overview of rural housing in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Norway.
This briefing provides an overview of the issues surrounding the management of the school estate.
This briefing provides an overview of the debate on class sizes. It considers the national policy framework, research on the subject and the financial considerations involved.
This briefing explains the process for licensing new drugs and treatments in the UK, and the process for issuing advice/guidance on their use in the NHS in Scotland compared to England and Wales.
This briefing paper provides an introduction to carbon capture and storage and its role in future energy and climate change policy.
The briefing provides an overview of the development of the Home Report and what it will mean in practice.
This briefing provides an overview of housing in rural Scotland and outlines relevant policy initiatives.
This briefing outlines the current legislative framework regarding organ donation, provides key data in terms of organ donation and transplant and outlines the key themes and recommendations of the Taskforce’s report.
This briefing details the results of the 2007 elections to Scottish local authorities. It considers the election in terms of the number of candidates standing, turnout, share of the preferences cast and political control of local authorities.
Briefing on the National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) (Scotland) Regulations 2008 (SSI 2008/27) which proposed to progressively reduce prescription charges.
This briefing summarizes the objectives of the Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Bill.
This quarterly briefing provides a selection of indicators on different aspects of the Scottish economy.
This briefing provides an overview of the school curriculum in Scotland and details of the on-going review of the curriculum. It updates the SPICe briefing 07/18 published in April 2007.
The briefing also considers the growing biofuel sector in the UK, and some of the complex and diverse arguments surrounding their use and the development of a global biofuels market.
This briefing describes some of the main features of modern pig production, and includes some information on the size and production of the industry in Scotland, and the price for pigmeat.
This briefing provides an overview of child poverty in Scotland. The causes and effects of child poverty, and the policy responses from the Scottish and UK governments, are discussed.
This paper provides an overview of the local government settlement within the context of the overall Spending Review and then outlines the capital and revenue allocations to individual local authorities.
This briefing sets out what is meant by kinship care, the relevant legal framework and policies intended to support kinship carers.
This briefing provides background on productivity and its measurement, facts and figures on productivity in Scotland and elsewhere.
The UK Energy Bill was introduced to the House of Commons on 10 January 2008. Parts of the Bill may require consideration by the Scottish Parliament through a Legislative Consent Memorandum (LCM).