Sturgeon ready to use Holyrood’s tax powers with series of new Bills
NICOLA STURGEON has unveiled “bold and ambitious” plans for the coming year aimed at making Scotland fairer, greener and more prosperous.
The First Minister announced the Scottish Government - which has been accused of focusing too much on independence and failing to get on with the day job – would introduce 16 new Bills to Holyrood in the next parliamentary year.
She confirmed plans to scrap the pay cap for public-sector workers and with the Scottish Parliament now having power over income-tax rates and bands, the SNP leader said the time was right for a discussion on how these could be used in a “responsible and progressive” way.
Ms Sturgeon restated that education and cutting the attainment gap between rich and poor was her government’s top priority.
The legislative programme included measures aimed at boosting Scotland’s environmental credentials, with Ms Sturgeon announcing she wants new petrol and diesel cars to be phased out in Scotland from 2032 – eight years sooner than the 2040 target set by the UK Government.
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson warned the First Minister was “opening the door on greater tax rises today”.
She said: “”We say stop taking ever more money from the pockets of Scotland’s workers – we must instead go for growth.”
She also raised concerns about plans to virtually end prison sentences of less than a year.
Ms Davidson said: “Right now, 17 per cent of all offenders done for attempted murder or serious assault received a sentence of less than 12 months. More than a quarter of all sex offenders are given jail terms of less than 12 months.”