The blueprint for a more successful Scotland will be overhauled
to “match ambition with action”, Deputy First Minister has announced.
The National Performance Framework (NPF), which launched in 2007,
sets out a vision for improved economic, social and environmental
conditions alongside ways in which progress can be measured.
It is currently undergoing statutory review but Ms Forbes has now
told the Scottish Parliament that more substantial reform is
needed to drive public sector reform, improve collaboration
between local and national governments and empower communities.
The process will involve input from organisations including COSLA
and the NPF expert advisory group. The Scottish Parliament will
be kept updated.
Ms Forbes said:
“To create the country the people of Scotland deserve, to make it
a better place to live, we all need to roll our sleeves up.
“When work on the current review of the NPF started in 2022,
emerging from COVID and in the early stages of the Ukraine
conflict, no one could fully appreciate the impact those global
crises, combined with the aftermath of Brexit, would have on
Scotland.
“Over this next year, the Government proposes to look again at
every aspect of the NPF. To be clear, reform will mean change -
change to better match ambition with action.
“I hope by taking the time to develop the NPF for the longer term
– to make a major contribution to the First Minister's call to
all of Scotland to tackle the hard things now - that, in
the next review, Parliament can debate Scotland's progress as a
nation and focus less on operational issues with the framework
itself.”
Background
The National Performance
Framework launched in 2007 as Scotland Performs and
renamed in 2018.
Following the introduction of the Community Empowerment
(Scotland) Act 2015, Scottish Ministers have a duty to consult
on, develop and publish a new set of National Outcomes for
Scotland and to review them at least every five years.
The NPF expert advisory group comprises external stakeholders
with expertise of wellbeing frameworks and community
engagement.
