Major areas targeted
THE SNP’s Programme for Government for the year leading up to the May 2021 Scottish elections includes what the First Minister calls the “first step on road to National Care Service” in the wake of coronavirus crisis and a massive jobs investment programme to deal with the economic fallout of the pandemic.
She announced plans for a draft independence referendum bill and legislation to take the UN convention on Children’s Rights into Scots law.
Below is a summary of the main points from Sturgeon’s speech to the Scottish Parliament detailing what is in the Programme for Government: 1 Covid – a new coronavirus tracing phone app, “Protect Scotland”, which will notify people if they have been exposed to someone who has tested positive. 2 A Youth Guarantee – a £60million guarantee to give everyone aged 16 to 24 a job, a place in education or a place in training.
Also £10million to help employers recruit and retain apprentices. 3 Job retraining – a £25million National Transition Training Fund to help up to 10,000 people of all ages retrain for jobs in growth sectors. 4 A Green Jobs Fund – initially worth £100million, to help businesses increase employment in low carbon sectors. 5 Working from home initiative – a Centre for Workplace Transformation to look at how and where work takes place and what support employees and businesses need to make this work. 6 Infrastructure investment – setting out the framework for £32billion of infrastructure investment over the next five years.
Funding for tech start-ups and funding for broadband networks. 7 Digital exclusion – a plan to provide computers, unlimited data and two years of digital support and training to 50,000 people who would otherwise be without digital access. 8 Carbon zero targets – a further £60million to support the industry transition to net zero. A Grangemouth Future Industry Board to support one of Scotland’s biggest carbon emitters move to a low-carbon future. Mitigating Brexit – a new Inward Investment Plan with the aim of creating 100,000 high-quality jobs over the next decade. Draft referendum Bill – setting out the proposed terms and timing of an independence referendum, as well as the proposed question that people will be asked in referendum. 11 NHS patient care – a Patient Safety Commissioner to look after interests of patients following review of mesh implants. GP consultations using the Near Me video service to be the default option for patient consultations. 12 Social Care – a comprehensive review of adult social care to set out options for the creation of a National Care Service. 13 Legislation – a Domestic Abuse Bill for emergency protection orders to safeguard those at immediate risk of domestic abuse.
Three other new Bills include one to incorporate the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into law and seven bills held over from last session. 14 Housing – extend the protection against eviction for rent arrears until March and establish a £10million Tenant Hardship Loan Fund, to support people struggling to pay their rent because of the pandemic 15 Social Security – £10 a week Scottish Child Payment and a child winter heating assistance programme, providing £200 per child for families of severely disabled children.
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