Vision for a more progressive country
The past decade has seen significant changes in Scotland, both politically and socially.
Whether in minority or majority government the SNP has always sought to further Scotland’s interests whilst, at the same time, striving to deliver social and economic benefits, as well as major improvements to our national infrastructure.
At the recent SNP conference in Glasgow, the first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, expanded on the progressive vision for Scotland.
One of the key announcements was the establishment of a publicly owned, not-for-profit energy company that will work for the collective good by delivering low-cost renewable energy.
The company will buy energy wholesale or generate it here in Scotland and sell it to customers as close to cost price as possible.
On housing, the first minister reiterated our commitment to deliver a further 50,000 affordable homes over this parliamentary term – including 35,000 for social rent.
However, she went further by putting councils on notice that we will ensure that the funding given to them to help deliver this target is used for that purpose.
In terms of early years’ education and childcare, by the end of this parliament we will have doubled spending to £840 million.
We have already increased free, high quality childcare to 16 hours a week for all three and four yearolds and extended provision to vulnerable two year-olds.
We will now extend provision to 30 hours per week – saving working parents around £350 a month on the costs of childcare.
Recruiting teachers in the “STEM” subjects of science, technology, engineering and mathematics has proved challenging in recent years.
To encourage entry into the profession, the cabinet secretary for education and skills, John Swinney, announced the introduction of a bursary of £20,000 for applicants who are currently working in business or industry.
Last year the first minister announced an independent, root-and-branch, review of the system that supports children in care.
That review is already underway but, in the interim, we will help young care leavers financially by exempting them from council tax.
In this day and age no girl or woman should have to struggle to obtain sanitary products because of financial constraints.
I was, therefore, delighted to hear the announcement that free sanitary products will be provided in schools, colleges and universities from the beginning of the next academic year.
As a nurse I am acutely aware of the risk that Brexit poses to the stability of our NHS workforce, with many EU nationals uncertain of their future after 2019.
We will protect our public services from Brexit, by ensuring we continue to benefit from the estimated 20,000 EU citizens who help deliver them.
In a guarantee to our valued EU citizens the first minister announced that, should the UK Government impose charges to apply for settled status, we will ensure that devolved public bodies meet these costs for those working in our public sector.
In delivering this progressive programme for government we are addressing the issues people care about the most, whilst putting forward an ambitious plan to build a new Scotland.
We will not simply trail in the wake of change that is coming.
We will work to shape our own future, rather than let others decide it for us, and we will do that by putting Scotland firmly in the driving seat and working towards the nation we can be.
No girl or woman should struggle to obtain sanitary products