This virus can’t define our futures

Every year in September the Scottish Government comes to parliament and details the Programme for Government for the following year.

This year is a bit different of course, with the last six months or so being a strange time for all of us, with all efforts going to beat the Covid-19 threat. That has meant delays in previous commitments, postponement of initiatives and special measures being taken to try to alleviate some of the hard knocks that many are having to bear.

These are not normal times, so we don’t have a normal Programme for Government. What is crucial is to take the necessary steps to rebuild an economy that is stronger, fairer and more sustainable. We have an opportunity, not simply to go back to how things were, but to address many of the deep-seated challenges Scotland faces.

So, the Programme for Government 2020-21 is based on a determination to recover from this virus and deliver a fairer, greener and more prosperous Scotland for everyone. Headline commitments cover health of course, as well as boosting Scotland’s economy and putting help in place for those who have been very badly affected.

In health, Protect Scotland, a tracing app, will be launched later this month to enhance and support the Test and Protect programme.

Access to communitybased health services will be improved through Pharmacy First, with Community Treatment and Assessment Centres and Covid-19 Hubs.

There will also be a review of adult social care. In education many have concerns about schools having been closed for so long, exams missed and uncertainty about the coming year, so additional investment has been put in place to make sure that young people catch up of any lost education.

1400 additional teachers and 200 support staff are being recruited.

The Scottish Youth Guarantee will ensure that every young person has the opportunity of work, education or training.

Here in East Kilbride, we’re already hearing sad news of redundancies and closures. I am pleased therefore about the announcement of a National Transitional Training Fund to provide support for up to 10,000 people facing redundancy and unemployment. Also, an Inward Investment Plan to create 100,000 high value jobs over the next decade. We have to look to the future with investments in heat and energy efficiency in our homes and buildings as well as industrial decarbonisation, meaning a Green Jobs Fund to enhance skills and recruit operatives to carry out this ambitious plan. I hope that our town will play a large part in this. Folks are facing a hard time right now, so the news that the Scottish Child Payment will be accepting its first applications in November is welcome.

This fund is a new one through Social Security Scotland and gives support to families with children under six years old who are in receipt of existing low income benefits.

Before the pandemic it was estimated it could support up to 170,000 children, though that is likely to increase due to more people applying for the likes of Universal Credit.

Covid-19 has had a profound impact on our health, economy and society, indeed on our whole way of life.

Individuals and businesses have made extraordinary sacrifices to tackle this pandemic.

It’s so important to keep this virus under control. At the same time we must look to the future and think about how we can help our communities recover and prosper.

We cannot let this virus define our futures. That’s the thinking behind the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government.