SB 08-42 Food Security (Updated) (337 KB pdf)

Global food prices have risen by 83% over the last three years, and the World Bank predicts that the surge in prices will have significant impacts for the world's poorest people. This briefing gives an introduction to recent changes in food production and prices and considers the factors causing food price increases.  It also provides some information on global, European and UK responses to what has become known as the food crisis.

SB 08-41 Offences (Aggravation by Prejudice) (Scotland) Bill (138 KB pdf)

The Bill extends hate crime legislation, providing 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.

SB 08-40 Damages (Asbestos-related Conditions) (Scotland) Bill (116 KB pdf)

The Bill is intended to ensure that people negligently exposed to asbestos, who go on to develop certain asymptomatic asbestos-related conditions, can continue to raise and pursue actions for damages. 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.

SB 08-39 Economic Indicators (190KB pdf)

SB 08-38 Amended ScotRail Franchise (202 KB pdf)

This briefing outlines the changes to the Scottish passenger rail (ScotRail) franchise agreement. This is the key document governing the provision of passenger rail services in Scotland, which were announced by the Scottish Government on 3 April 2008.

SB 08-37 Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (243 KB pdf)

In recent decades, global land use change has made a significant contribution to increasing greenhouse gas levels and related climate change. This briefing outlines the Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) sector and its contribution to storing and releasing greenhouse gases in Scotland. It provides a brief introduction to what is included in the LULUCF sector, and the methods used to estimate emissions from these sources, and removals from the atmosphere.

SB 08-36 Impact of the Credit Crunch on the Scottish Economy and the Scottish Housing Market (259 KB pdf)

This briefing has been prepared at the request of the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee.  It outlines the origin and global nature of the current credit crunch; assesses the impact on the Scottish economy to date with particular reference to the housing market; and considers possible implications for the Scottish housing market and the Scottish economy over the next two years.

SB 08-35 The Scottish Parliamentary Pensions Bill at Stage 1 (175 KB pdf)

This Briefing has been compiled for the purpose of the Stage 1 Debate on the draft Scottish Parliamentary Pensions Bill. It sets out in table form the work of the Committee established to consult on and draft the Bill.

SB 08-34 Scotland Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 (175 KB pdf)

The Scottish Government is in the process of implementing the Scotland Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 following the Programme’s approval by the European Council in February 2008. This briefing provides an overview of EU rural development policy and outlines the key elements of the new Programme and its funding. It also considers comments on the Programme by various organisations.

SB 08-33 Sexual History and Character Evidence (114 KB pdf)

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.

SB 08-32 Rape (252 KB pdf)

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.

SB 08-31 Disabled Persons' Parking Places (Scotland) Bill (208 KB pdf)

The Disabled Persons’ Parking (Scotland) Bill is a Members Bill, introduced by Jackie Baillie MSP on 2 June 2008. The aim of the Bill is to is to make disabled persons’ parking places legally enforceable, preventing the misuse of such parking places by those not entitled to use them. This paper explains the current process for implementing disabled persons’ parking places and discusses changes proposed by the Bill. It also provides background information on parliamentary activity, research on transport and disability, and existing duties on public authorities under disability discrimination legislation.

SB 08-30 Food Security (298 KB pdf)

This briefing gives an introduction to recent changes in food production and prices and considers the factors causing food price increases.  It also provides some information on global, European and UK responses to what has become known as the food crisis.

(This briefing has been updated by SB 08-42 posted 28 August 2008)

SB 08-29 Public Health etc. (Scotland) Bill: Parliamentary Consideration Prior to Stage 3 (266 KB pdf)

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.

SB 08-28 Economic Indicators (371 KB pdf)

This briefing provides a selection of indicators on some aspects of the Scottish economy. 

SB 08-27 Comparative Budget Processes (156 KB pdf)

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. An earlier version of this paper was written in response to a specific request from the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee.

SB 08-26 The Treaty of Lisbon and Scots Law (186 KB pdf)

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.

SB 08-25 Scottish Civil Courts Review (151 KB pdf)

The Scottish Civil Courts Review was announced in February 2007 with the task of investigating ways of improving access to justice for people in Scotland. This briefing is intended to contextualise the Review’s on-going work and to inform readers in advance of the report’s publication in 2009.

SB 08-24 Glasgow Commonwealth Games Bill: Parliamentary Consideration prior to Stage 3 (92 KB pdf)

Stage 3 proceedings on the Glasgow Commonwealth Games Bill will take place on 30 April 2008. This briefing summarises the Stage One recommendations of the Local Government and Communities and the Scottish Government response. It also summarises the key amendments passed at Stage 2. SPICe briefing 07/57 Glasgow Commonwealth Games Bill provides an overview of the Bill as introduced.

SB 08-23 Creative Scotland Bill (214 KB pdf)

The Creative Scotland Bill follows a lengthy process of consultation and consideration of the vision and governance structure for cultural policy in Scotland firstly through the work of the Cultural Commission and later through consultation on the previous administration’s draft Culture (Scotland) Bill. This paper considers the findings of these previous exercises insofar as they relate to the Bill prior to considering the content of the Bill as introduced.

SB 08-22 Scottish Register of Tartans Bill (127 KB pdf)

This paper provides a brief history of tartan, before outlining the previous Bill, considering a recent economic impact assessment of the tartan industry in Scotland and then the current Bill in the context of previous debates on this issue.

SB 08-21 The Subsidiarity Protocol in the Treaty of Lisbon (118 KB pdf)

This briefing provides an overview of the provisions contained in the Treaty of Lisbon (2007) on the principle of subsidiarity. It also provides an analysis of what the subsidiarity protocol means for national and regional parliaments across the European Union and gives details of the reaction to the proposals.

SB 08-20 Rural Housing - International Perspectives (108 KB pdf)

The Scottish Parliament Rural Affairs and Environment Committee will undertake an inquiry into Rural Housing, starting in April 2008.  This briefing provides a short overview of rural housing in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Norway.

SB 08-19 The School Estate (263 KB pdf)

This briefing provides an overview of the issues surrounding the management of the school estate. It gives an overview of the legislative and policy framework and the condition and capacity of the school estate. It goes on to examine funding improvements to the school estate and design issues.

SB 08-18 Class Sizes (147 KB pdf)

The debate around smaller class sizes is a longstanding one. Policies on class size reduction were pursued by the previous Scottish Executive and the current Scottish Government has now committed to reducing class sizes to 18 pupils or less in P1-P3. 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.

SB 08-17 The Licensing of Medicines in the UK and their Use in the NHS (251 KB pdf)

This briefing is an update of SB 06-51 ‘The Licensing of Medicines in the UK and their use in the NHS’, published on 14 June 2006. It 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.

SB 08-16 Carbon Capture and Storage (482 KB pdf)

In Spring 2008 the Scottish Parliament Economy Energy and Tourism Committee will undertake an inquiry into Scotland’s Energy Future. This briefing paper provides an introduction to carbon capture and storage and its role in future energy and climate change policy.

SB 08-15 The Home Report (113 KB pdf)

From 1 December 2008 anyone marketing a house for sale will have to provide a Home Report to potential buyers. The Home Report will consist of a single survey, an energy report and a property questionnaire. The Home Report requirements are a result of provisions contained in the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006. The briefing provides an overview of the development of the Home Report and what it will mean in practice.

SB 08-14 Rural Housing (425 KB pdf)

The Scottish Parliament Rural Affairs and Environment Committee will undertake an inquiry into Rural Housing, starting in April 2008.  This briefing provides an overview of housing in rural Scotland and outlines relevant policy initiatives.

SB 08-13 Organ Donation (223 KB pdf)

‘Organs for Transplants: A report from the Organ Donation Taskforce’, published on 16 January 2008, seeks to build on the existing organ donation and transplantation structures, within the current legal frameworks that exist in the UK. This briefing outlines the current legislative framework, describes the role of various Scottish and UK bodies, provides key data in terms of organ donation and transplant in the UK and Scotland and outlines the key themes and recommendations of the Taskforce’s report.

SB 08-12 Local Government Elections 2007 (2.4 MB pdf)

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 post May 2007.

SB 08-11 Prescription Charges: Proposed Phased Abolition (207 KB pdf)

Briefing on the National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) (Scotland) Regulations 2008 (SSI 2008/27) which proposed to progressively reduce prescription charges.

SB 08-10 Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Bill (238KB pdf)

On 30 January 2008, the Scottish Government introduced the Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Bill in the Scottish Parliament. The Bill aims to strengthen the independence of the judiciary by providing a statutory commitment to uphold judicial independence, modernising the organisation and leadership of the judiciary, and reducing the involvement of central government in the day to day running of the court system.

SB 08-09 Key Economic Indicators (165 KB pdf)

This quarterly briefing provides a selection of indicators on different aspects of the Scottish economy.

SB 08-08 The School Curriculum - Proposals for Change (197 KB pdf)

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.

SB 08-07 Biofuels (320 KB pdf)

This briefing updates SPICe Briefing 06/108.  It provides an introduction to biofuels and describes current EU, UK and Scottish biofuels policy frameworks. 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.

SB 08-06 Pigs (144 KB pdf)

This briefing has been prepared for Members of the Rural Affairs and Environment Committee. It briefly 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.

SB 08-05 Child Poverty (232 KB pdf)

This briefing provides an overview of child poverty in Scotland. The different methods of measuring child poverty are outlined, and figures are provided on the numbers of children living in poverty in Scotland. The causes and effects of child poverty, and the policy responses from the Scottish and UK governments, are discussed. The briefing also highlights some of the recent debate on child poverty, including previous parliamentary consideration and the views of stakeholders.

SB 08-04 Local Government Financial Settlement 2008-11 (197 KB pdf)

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. The additional financial allocations to local authorities should they agree to freeze their council tax levels are also detailed.

SB 08-03 Kinship Care (194 KB pdf)

This briefing sets out what is meant by kinship care, the relevant legal framework and policies intended to support kinship carers.

SB 08-02 Productivity (196 KB pdf)

This briefing provides background on productivity and its measurement, facts and figures on productivity in Scotland and elsewhere, summarises some of the reasons suggested for Scotland’s “productivity gap” and presents some of the international “best practice” on improving productivity.

SB 08-01 UK Energy Bill (107 KB pdf)

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). This briefing outlines the Bill, and considers some implications for Scotland. Energy will be debated in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday 17 January 2008.