Welcome to the Scottish Parliament Information Centre’s Key Issues for Session 6 briefing – COVID, Climate and Constitution.
The Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) is the Parliament’s internal research centre. Its subject specialist researchers and information specialists provide impartial, factual, accurate and timely information and analysis to support MSPs in undertaking parliamentary business. This includes support to enable MSPs to respond to constituency enquiries, scrutinise legislation and support the work of the Parliament’s committees.
The Key Issues for Session 6 briefing illustrates the kind of briefing SPICe produces for parliamentarians. It outlines some of the key subjects likely to be of particular interest in the coming Parliamentary Session, providing tailored, expert, impartial analysis of the issues that matter to MSPs and the Parliament.
Whilst the Parliament will undoubtedly engage with a broad range of issues during the next five years, SPICe has identified three broad themes which are likely to feature heavily in the work of MSPs during Session 6.
These themes are:
COVID-19 - The road to recovery.
The climate and ecological emergency and green recovery.
The devolution settlement post EU exit and UK relations.
Alongside these three themes, SPICe has highlighted another 26 issues for Session 6, covering all major areas of devolved policy, from mental health provision to the business base in Scotland, and from changes to family law through to changing car use. You can read the briefing from cover to cover, or you can easily dip into the issues that interest you most. I hope it proves to be a thought provoking and useful reference tool for the months and years ahead.
SPICe is here to support the work of MSPs. If you have any questions about how SPICe can help you in your duties please contact SPICe Team Leaders – their contact details and much more can be found in the SPICe service guide, accessible on the Parliament's intranet.
David McGill, Chief Executive