Charities and voluntary groups on new legislative agenda
Scotland’s third sector has been responding to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s programme for government.
The FM set out a series of policy pledges which she said her administration would try to enact over the coming legislative year.
Among the commitments made were the launching of a child poverty bill which will make Scotland the only place where childhood deprivation is measured in relation to household income.
This will provide a more accurate picture of poverty levels – and it follows the Tory government at Westminster scrapping UK wide income measurements.
This is a new parliament, with new powers, operating in a new political, economic and constitutional context
Legislation will also be drawn up allowing a second independence referendum.
Other pledges include giving a "baby box" to every newborn, containing items essential for its first few weeks, proposals to cut Air Passenger Duty (APD), which won’t find favour with green groups, and plans to promote gender equality on public boards.
Sturgeon said her government will double the amount of free care available to all three and four-year-olds and the most disadvantaged two-year-olds to 1,140 hours a year and will allocate an additional £750 million to help close the education attainment gap, including £100m going directly to schools.
She also made a pledge that a domestic abuse bill will be brought which will aim to eradicate violence against women and children, though the details of this were not made known.
The Land Reform Act will be implemented and the measures in the Community Empowerment Act taken forward as first steps towards making it easier for people to develop their local economies and environments.
Sturgeon said: “This is a new parliament, with new powers, operating in a new political, economic and constitutional context.
“This programme for government sets out how we will use those powers and adapt to that new context.
“It recognises that government is about more – much more – than legislation. It therefore sets our legislative programme in the context of our wider ambitions and, crucially, it sets out how we will seek to protect Scotland’s interests, particularly our economic interests, in the wake of the EU referendum. Today’s statement is about the nuts and bolts of delivery - the hard graft of turning our commitments into reality.
“Most importantly of all, it demonstrates how we will implement the mandate the people of Scotland gave us to drive sustainable economic growth, reform education and create opportunities for all, transform our public services and empower local communities.”
A climate bill which will set new targets for reducing emissions will also be introduced.
Dr Richard Dixon, Director of Friends of the Earth Scotland, welcomed this, saying: “It is quite right that the new climate bill is one of the early priorities of this government. Nicola Sturgeon’s strong words on the need for action on climate change are very welcome.
“The new bill needs to increase Scotland’s ambition in light of the Paris climate agreement, set new targets for 2020 and beyond, and pave the way for every sector of the economy to deliver carbon savings.
"It is great news that the SNP have reaffirmed their manifesto commitment to deliver the first Low Emission Zone by 2018. This is a vital tool in reducing the air pollution death toll in our cities and there are 200 of these zones across Europe. We expect there will be tough competition between Scotland’s cities get the first Low Emission Zone.”
However, he added: “It is disappointing that the government plan to halve and eventually abolish Air Passenger Duty. Their own figures show that reducing APD would increase climate change emissions, and all the other parties in the parliament are opposed to reducing it.”
WWF Scotland director Lang Banks said:“It was great to hear the First Minister highlight the importance of Scotland’s low-carbon economy as part of her government programme. Commitments to new climate change and warm homes legislation will provide opportunities to bring forward new policies that will put us on track for securing the full benefits of a zero-carbon future. Money for energy efficiency in the First Minister’s post EU Referendum stimulus package is a welcome recognition that tackling cold homes can create jobs, boost the economy and cut our climate emissions.”
NUS Scotland welcomed many of the commitments to students and young people. It particularly welcomed the announcement of the imminent appointment of a fair access commissioner, which NUS Scotland has been urging to be a priority, and further confirmation of the timescale and scope of the proposed review of further and higher education student support.
Vonnie Sandlan, president of NUS Scotland, said: “There was strong progress made during the last parliament on improving fair access to education, and now it falls to this parliament to ensure that goes even further.”
The Scottish Federation of Housing Association (SFHA) welcomed the proposed housing (amendment) bill, social security bill and warm homes bill.
Andrew Jackson, head of public affairs, said: “It is of paramount importance that everyone in Scotland can have a warm, energy efficient, affordable home in order to improve their health, wellbeing and life chances, and we trust that key elements of today’s programme of government will help to realise this.”
This article will be updated with reaction as we get it - keep checking back.
