Eradicating child poverty, building prosperity, improving public
services and protecting the planet will be the top priorities of
the Scottish Government, First Minister has pledged.
Outlining his first Programme for Government (PfG) as First
Minister, Mr Swinney set out how the Scottish Government will
deliver commitments that are ‘affordable, impactful and
deliverable'.
The First Minister highlighted that child poverty is his ‘first
and foremost' priority and that he will reform support for whole
family services to make them ‘easy to access, well-connected and
responsive to families' needs.'
Key announcements include:
- the expansion of Fairer Future Partnerships ensuring services
work to help families by maximising their incomes – supporting
parents back into work and improving their wellbeing
- ensuring the NHS has the resources it needs, today and in the
years to come, freeing up 210,000 outpatient appointments and
delivering around 20,000 extra orthopaedic, ophthalmology and
general surgery procedures annually in Scotland's new National
Treatment Centres
- making Scotland more attractive for investment and promoting
home-grown entrepreneurs and innovators
- delivering faster planning decisions for renewable energy
schemes, protecting the planet by speeding up the transition to
net zero
The First Minister said:
“This Programme for Government will ensure that the people of
Scotland have every opportunity to live well, thrive, and see
promise in their future.
“This year's commitments are affordable, impactful and
deliverable. Together, they reflect my optimism that out of every
challenge, we gain an invaluable opportunity to adjust our
course, to interrogate our priorities and to renew our
partnerships.
“I have been clear about the financial limitations surrounding
this Programme for Government due to UK Government spending
decisions. In the face of these significant challenges, it is
critical that we direct available funding towards our four
priorities – eradicating child poverty, building prosperity,
improving our public services and protecting the planet.”
In his statement, the First Minister added:
“No child should have their opportunities, their development,
their health and wellbeing, and their future curtailed by the
material wealth of their family. Not ever, and certainly
not, in a modern, prosperous society like Scotland.
“This is not only the moral compass of my Government, it is the
greatest investment in our country's future that we can possibly
make.”
Background
Read the Programme
for Government 2024-25
Read the First Minister
statement to the Scottish Parliament, 4 September
2024
The First Minister also confirmed Scottish Government plans to
introduce 14 Bills over the course of the 2024-25 parliamentary
year – alongside 12 Bills already before the Scottish Parliament
– including:
Adults with Incapacity Bill
The annual Budget Bill
Building Safety Levy Bill
Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) Bill
Community Wealth Building Bill
Criminal Justice Modernisation and Abusive Domestic Behaviour
Reviews Bill
Crofting Bill
Heat in Buildings Bill
Leases (Automatic continuation etc.) Bill
Misogyny Bill
Natural Environment Bill
Post-School Education Reform Bill
Prisoners Bill
UEFA EURO 2028 Bill
More information about the planned new Government Bills can be
read on gov.scot
