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From YouTube: First Minister Statement: Scottish Government’s Programme for Government 2018-19 - 4 September 2018
Description
http://www.parliament.scot/
First Minister Statement: Scottish Government’s Programme for Government 2018-19
Read the full transcript of the First Minister's Statement in the Scottish Parliament Official Report: https://bit.ly/2Q51B6U
A
Concludes
topical
questions
we'll
move
on
now
to
the
next
item
of
business,
which
is
a
statement
by
Nicola
Sturgeon
on
the
Scottish
Government's
programme
for
government
2018-2019
and
the
First
Minister
statement
will
be
followed
by
debate.
So
there
should
be
no
interventions
or
interruptions
during
the
statement
and
I
call
on
the
First
Minister
Thank.
B
This
program
for
government
today
flows
from
that
vision
and
it
builds
on
the
progress
of
the
last
year
indeed
of
the
last
decade,
and
it
ensures
that
we
remain
focused
on
delivering
for
today
and
investing
for
tomorrow.
It
continues
and
accelerates
the
major
reforms
underway
in
our
health,
education
and
justice
systems,
underpinned,
of
course,
by
our
new
progressive
system
of
income
tax.
It
seeks
to
make
further
progress
on
tackling
inequality
and
reducing
poverty.
It
said
so.
B
The
next
steps
in
the
operation
of
our
new
social
security
system
and
it
builds
on
our
work
to
support
Scotland's
economy
and
encourage
innovation.
It
does
all
of
this,
of
course,
in
the
shadow
of
breaks
it
we
simply
cannot
ignore,
break
sit,
or
indeed
the
UK
government,
shamefully
shambolic
handling
of
these
negotiations.
For
our
part,
we
will
continue
to
make
the
case
for
EU
membership
short
of
that
we
will
press
the
UK
government
to
remain
in
the
single
market
and
the
customs
union
and,
as
terms
of
brakes,
have
become
clearer
in
the
months
ahead.
B
We
will
consider
and
set
out
our
view
on
how
Scotland's
interests
can
best
be
protected
and
advanced.
Of
course,
as
we
saw
just
yesterday,
it
is
clear
that
an
increasing
number
of
our
fellow
citizens
believe,
as
we
do,
that
the
best
future
for
Scotland
lies
in
becoming
an
independent
country
residing
officer.
B
This
program
for
government
will
be
impacted
by
brexit,
but
it
is
not
defined
by
it.
Instead,
it
sets
out
how
we
intend
to
deliver
on
our
vision
of
a
healthier,
wealthier
and
fairer
Scotland.
Let
me
turn
first
to
the
economy.
Economic
growth
in
Scotland
over
the
past
year
has
been
higher
than
in
the
rest
of
the
UK.
B
Exports
of
goods
have
increased
by
12%
the
fastest
growth
of
any
UK
nation
youth
and
women's
unemployment
are
lower
than
in
the
UK
as
a
whole,
and
in
the
last
decade
Scotland
has
significantly
narrowed
our
productivity
gap
with
the
rest
of
the
UK.
These
are
strong
foundations,
but
we
must
intensify
our
efforts
now
to
build
an
economy
fit
for
the
future.
Last
year
we
set
out
a
range
of
bold
measures.
This
year
we
will
continue
to
deliver.
B
Firstly,
we
will
ensure
that
the
business
environment
in
Scotland
remains
competitive
and
that
we
are
providing
the
support
that
business
needs
to
thrive.
We
have
already
implemented
key
recommendations
of
the
Barclays
review
on
business
rates,
such
as
relief
for
new
builds
and
property
improvements
and
for
Danish
cities.
I
can
confirm
today
that
we
will
introduce
a
non-domestic
rates
bill
to
implement
its
other
recommendations,
for
example
reforming
rate
reliefs
and
moving
to
a
three
year
valuation
cycle.
In
the
past
year.
We
also
established
the
enterprise
and
skills
strategic
board,
drawing
on
its
recommendations.
B
We
will
publish
a
new
economic
action
plan
in
October.
We
will
again
increase
the
number
of
modern
apprenticeships
than
laying
with
our
commitment
to
30,000
per
year
by
2020,
and
we
work
in
partnership
with
industry
and
trade
unions
to
produce
by
early
next
a
new
skills
action
plan
ensuring
a
skilled
and
productive
workforce
for
the
short,
medium
and
long
term.
B
We
will
continue
to
support
the
south
of
Scotland
economic
partnership
with
10
million
pounds
of
funding
and
I
can
announce
today
that
in
the
coming
year
we
will
introduce
legislation
to
establish
a
south
of
Scotland
Enterprise
Agency.
We
will
also
continue
to
invest
in
the
modern
infrastructure.
A
strong
economy
depends
on
around
this
time.
B
Last
year
the
Queen's
ferry
crossing
opened
and
the
m8
and
Central
Scotland
motorway
improvements
were
completed
this
weekend,
one
of
the
largest
new
sections
of
the
Aberdeen
Western
peripheral
route
will
open
to
traffic
and
the
road
will
be
fully
open
by
the
end
of
this
year
and
in
the
coming
year
we
will
continue
to
make
progress
towards
the
drilling
of
the
e9.
We
will
take
forward
important
projects,
including
the
Mabel
bypass,
and
we
will
continue
our
ongoing
road
maintenance
program.
B
Last
year,
I
announced
that
Scotland
would
aim
to
remove
the
need
for
new
diesel
and
petrol
cars
by
2032.
We
will
now
make
further
progress
towards
that
goal.
We
will
invest
15
million
pounds
to
add
a
further
1,500
electric
charge
points
and
homes,
businesses
and
council
premises
across
the
country.
B
We
are
increasing
our
low
carbon
transport
lewin
fund
from
8
million
pounds
to
20
million
pounds
enabling
more
businesses
and
individuals
to
make
the
switch
to
electric
and
other
ultra
low
emission
vehicles,
and
over
the
next
year
we
will
add
500
ultra
low
emission
vehicles
to
public
sector
fleets
in
the
coming
year.
The
benefits
of
our
massive
investment
in
rail
will
come
to
fruition
by
the
end
of
next
year.
B
There
will
be
a
20%
increase
in
seating
capacity
and
200
new
services
will
operate
in
eastern
and
central
Scotland
and,
of
course,
we
will
take
forward
plans
to
enable
a
public
sector
bid
for
the
next
Scott
Reil
franchise
when
active
travel
having
doubled
our
investment
in
active
travel
last
year.
I
can
confirm
that
we
will
continue
that
level
of
investment
in
the
year
ahead.
B
Digital
infrastructure,
of
course,
is
now
just
as
important
as
our
transport
links
we
have
exceeded
our
target
of
making
fibre
broadband
available
to
95%
of
properties
across
Scotland
and
I
can
confirm
today
that
the
three
main
contracts
from
our
reaching
100%
program
will
be
awarded
in
the
coming
year,
ensuring
that
superfast
broadband
is
available
to
every
business
and
residential
property
in
every
part
of
Scotland
presiding
officer.
That
is
a
600
million
pounds
pledge
of
truly
universal
coverage,
unmatched
elsewhere
in
the
UK,
and
it
will
give
Scotland
a
real
competitive
edge
in
the
economy
of
tomorrow.
B
The
infrastructure
investments
I've
talked
about
so
far
are
important
to
the
economy
in
the
here-and-now.
However,
it
is
worth
an
eye
to
the
long
term
that
I
note
on
potentially
transformational
commitments.
Last
year,
I
confirmed
our
intention
to
set
up
a
Scottish
national
investment
bank,
and
earlier
this
year
an
implementation
plan
was
published.
I
can
confirm
today
that
in
the
coming
year
we
will
introduce
the
legislation
that
will
formally
underpin
the
Scottish
national
investment
bank.
B
The
bank
will
provide
patient
finance
for
ambitious
companies
and
important
infrastructure
projects,
and
it
will
do
so
in
line
with
defined
national
missions
such
as
reducing
greenhouse
gas
emissions.
It
will
be
a
cornerstone
of
the
high
innovation
low-carbon
economy
we
want
to
create
here
in
Scotland,
and
the
finance
secretary
will
set
out
more
detail
tomorrow,
but
today
I
also
want
to
set
a
wider
investment
ambition
for
Scotland.
Traditionally,
the
level
of
government
infrastructure
investment
in
the
UK
has
lagged
behind
other
g7
countries
for
Scotland.
B
B
The
pledge
I'm
making
today
is
to
increase
capital
investment
on
year
so
that
by
2025
26
it
is
1.5
billion
pounds
higher
than
the
2019
20
baseline
of
around
5
billion
pounds
and
between
no
and
then
that
commitment
will
mean
investment
and
our
hospitals,
schools,
houses,
transport,
low-carbon
technology
and
digital
connections
will
be
around
7
billion
pounds
higher
than
our
current
spending
projections.
The
infrastructure
secretary
will
set
out
in
the
coming
months
the
detail
of
how
we
will
deliver
on
this
pledge
and
the
priorities
for
investment.
B
But
I
can
confirm
today
that,
in
addition
to
the
traditional
capital
in
borrowing,
the
Scottish
futures
trust
will
examine
new
profit-sharing
finance
schemes
such
as
the
Welsh
Government's
mutual
investment
model,
to
help
secure
both
the
investment
we
need
and
best
value
for
the
taxpayer.
So
letting
officer
I
hope
the
whole
Parliament
will
get
behind
this
national
mission,
a
level
of
investment
in
our
vital
economic
and
social
infrastructure
that
will
protect
and
create
jobs
in
the
short
term
and
support
growth
and
productivity
in
the
long
term.
B
Finally,
on
the
economy,
let
me
set
out
further
action
to
protect
and
enhance
Scotland
reputation.
As
a
trading
nation,
we
have
already
taken
steps
to
strengthen
our
presence
in
Europe
and
around
the
world,
for
example
by
doubling
SDI
representation
of
mainland
Europe
and
establishing
new
Scottish
government
offices
in
Dublin
and
Berlin.
Our
new
paris
and
ottawa
offices
will
be
open
this
autumn.
In
addition,
I
can
announce
today
that
we
will
launch
a
major
new
drive
to
increase
exports.
B
The
value
of
our
exports
has
grown
strongly
in
the
past
year,
but
we
need
to
do
more
right
now.
Around
70
businesses
account
for
approximately
50
percent
of
our
international
exports.
It's
vital
that
we
grow
that
base.
The
new
national
export
plan
will
be
published
and
filled
by
next
spring,
but
after
consultation
with
business,
I
can
announce
today
some
of
the
key
strands
that
we
will
start
on
immediately.
We
will
provide
intensive
support
for
50
high-growth
businesses
each
year
to
help
them
grow
their
overseas
activity.
B
We
will
create
100
new
business
to
Espio
mentorships
each
year
to
help
new
exporters.
We
will
expand
the
network
of
specialists
working
in
key
overseas
markets
to
identify
untapped
potential
and
we
will
increase
export
finance
support
for
companies
looking
to
enter
new
markets.
I
can
confirm
that
this
work
will
be
backed
by
20
million
pounds
of
new
funding
over
the
next
three
years,
helping
to
ensure
that
more
of
Scotland's
world-class
produce
and
innovations
had
enjoyed
across
the
globe.
With
the
benefits
realized
here
at
home
planning
officer,
we
must
also
continue
to
retain
and
attract
talent.
B
B
As
part
of
that,
we
must
protect
you,
citizens
who
already
live
here.
We
will
argue
that
they
should
not
have
to
pay
settled
status
fees,
pause,
brexit.
It
is
simply
wrong
that
people
already
making
a
contribution
to
our
country
should
have
to
pay
to
retain
rights.
They
currently
have
to
live
and
work
here.
However,
if
the
UK
government
persists,
I
can
confirm
that
the
Scottish
Government
will
meet
the
settled
status.
Fees
for
EU
citizens
who
work
in
our
devolved
public
services.
B
These
actions
will
provide
practical
help.
They
will
also
I
hope,
send
an
important
message
that
we
highly
value
the
contribution
of
EU
citizens
who
have
chosen
to
make
Scotland
their
home,
and
we
want
them
to
stay.
Supporting
growth
in
our
economy
is
essential,
but
sorter
is
ensuring
that
growth
is
environmentally
sustainable.
Many
of
our
actions
will
help
us
to
meet
the
targets
set
out
in
the
new
climate
change
bill,
which
will
progress
through
Parliament
in
the
coming
year.
Scotland's
greenhouse
gas
emissions
have
almost
halfed
since
1990
by
2050.
B
They
will
have
reduced
by
at
least
90
percent.
Achieving
that
target
will
mean
that
Scotland
will
be
a
carbon
neutral
country
by
2050
we
will
have
no
net
emissions
of
carbon
dioxide.
I
can
also
confirm
a
firm
intention
to
move
towards
zero
emissions
of
all
greenhouse
gases,
not
simply
carbon
dioxide.
As
soon
as
we
credibly
can.
It
is
I
think
worth
being
clear
about
the
scale
of
our
ambition.
B
The
targets
in
the
climate
change
bill
for
2020,
2030
and
2040
are
the
most
stringent
statutory
targets
anywhere
in
the
world
without
exception,
and
our
2050
target
is
the
most
ambitious
anywhere
in
the
world
that
is
based
solely
on
domestic
actions,
rather
than
relying
on
paying
other
countries
to
reduce
emissions.
For
us,
we
recognise
that
the
transition
to
a
low-carbon
economy
is
first
and
foremost
and
overwhelming
moral
imperative,
but
it
is
also
a
huge
economic
opportunity
and
we
are
by
any
reasonable
benchmark
a
global
leader
in
living
up
to
our
international
obligations.
B
This
programme
for
government
will
build
on
that
record
as
well
as
progressing
the
climate
change
bill.
We
will
continue
to
invest
in
projects
such
as
the
Central
Scotland,
Green,
Network,
and
the
water
environment
fund.
I
can
confirm
that
in
the
coming
year
we
will
ban
the
manufacture
and
sale
of
plastics
named
cotton
buds.
Following
recent
consultation,
we
will
design
and
implement
a
deposit
return
scheme
for
drinks
containers,
and
we
will
ask
the
expert
panel
on
environmental
charges
to
recommend
other
actions
to
reduce
plastic
pollution.
B
We
will
also
establish
an
see
Marine
Reserve
by
the
end
of
2019.
We
also
intend
to
establish
an
animal
welfare
Commission
to
ensure
that
high
standards
of
welfare
are
maintained
for
both
domesticated
and
wild
animals,
and
I
can
announce
today
that
we
will,
by
the
end
of
this
Parliament,
introduced
what
is
commonly
known
as
fins
law,
to
increase
the
available
sentences
for
the
worst
forms
of
animal
cruelty,
including
attacks
on
police
dogs.
In
addition
to
creating
a
wealthier
and
greener
Scotland,
we
will
also
create
a
fairer
country.
B
2018
is
Scotland's
year
of
young
people,
a
celebration
of
the
contribution
that
children
and
young
people
make
to
our
society,
but
the
most
important
thing
any
government
can
do
is
make
sure
that
all
of
our
young
people
have
a
fair
chance
to
succeed.
We
are
striving
to
do
that
at
all
stages
of
young
people's
lives.
The
baby
box
has
been
a
huge
success
with
more
than
56,000
already
delivered.
B
Our
plan
to
almost
double
child
care
will
help
give
every
child
the
best
possible
start
in
life
and
save
working
families
up
to
four
and
a
half
thousand
pounds
a
year
for
each
child.
I
want
to
deliver
this
commitment,
we'll
continue
in
the
year
ahead
with
almost
2000
people
starting
or
an
early
learning
and
childcare,
apprenticeships,
1,500
additional
college
places
and
400
extra
graduate
level
places
and
to
ensure
the
quality
of
our
early
learning
and
childcare
provision.
A
new
standard
for
funded
providers
will
be
published
before
the
end
of
this
year.
B
Losing
the
attainment
gap
and
raising
standards
in
our
schools
remains.
The
overriding
mission
of
this
government
progress
is
being
made,
but
in
the
coming
year
our
school
reforms
will
accelerate.
I
can
confirm
today
that
by
the
end
of
this
year,
a
new
headteachers
charter,
backed
by
new
national
guidance,
will
be
published.
The
Charter
will
put
headteachers
much
more
in
control
of
the
important
decisions
on
curriculum,
staffing
and
budgets
that
are
fundamental
to
the
performance
of
their
schools.
B
We
will
also
continue
to
invest
an
additional
180
million
pounds
a
year,
including
money
direct
to
schools
through
the
pupil
equity
fund,
to
help
close
the
attainment
gap.
We
will
commit
10
million
pounds
in
this
academic
year
to
enhance
the
high
quality,
practical
support
and
expertise
that
is
available
to
teachers
through
the
regional
improvement
collaborative
and
education
Scotland,
and
in
the
year
ahead
we
will
pilot
and
rule
out
a
new
national
survey
of
parents
and
carers
as
part
of
a
recently
published
parental
engagement
plan.
We
will
also
continue
to
protect
free
tuition
for
higher
education.
B
However,
as
part
of
our
work
to
widen
access
to
university,
we
will
also
take
the
first
steps
to
implement
the
recommendations
of
the
independent
review
of
student
support.
I
can
confirm
that
next
year
we
will
invest
16
million
pounds
to
increase
college
bursaries
and
university
grants
for
students
from
the
lowest
income
families.
We
will
also
invest
more
than
5
million
pounds
to
increase
bursaries
and
grants
for
carry
experienced
young
people
at
college
or
university
to
a
level
equivalent
to
the
real
living
wage
planning
officer.
B
Extensive
research
shows
that
adverse
experiences
in
childhood
aces
directly
affect
outcomes
later
in
life.
So
we
will
continue
to
embed
across
all
areas
of
our
work,
a
greater
focus
on
preventing
aces
and
also
in
supporting
the
resilience
of
children
and
adults
to
overcome
childhood
adversity
and
finally,
I
said
last
year
that
we
would
consider
how
to
further
embed
the
principles
of
the
United
Nations
Convention
on
the
Rights
of
the
Child
into
domestic
law
and
policy,
including
the
option
of
incorporation.
Having
no
carefully
considered
this
matter.
B
B
We
work
with
partners
and
with
Parliament
to
do
it
and
the
most
effective
way
possible,
but
in
this
year
of
young
people
there
can
be
few
more
powerful
symbols
of
this
government's
commitment
to
our
young
people.
Children
will
also
benefit
from
our
actions
to
address
poverty,
the
new
child
poverty
access
targets
for
2030
that
will
reduce
child
poverty
to
the
lowest
level
in
Scotland's
history.
We
are
now
investing
in
the
actions
needed
to
achieve
those
targets.
B
I
can
announce
today
that
by
June
next
year
we
will
report
on
progress
to
develop
a
new
income
supplement
in
the
coming
year.
We
will
also
invest
12
million
pounds
and
an
intensive
parental
Employment
Support
Program
to
help
parents
on
low
incomes
gain
employment
and
get
on
in
their
careers.
We
will
also
step
up
our
work
to
eradicate
holiday
hunger,
investing
a
further
two
million
pounds
to
tackle
food
insecurity
among
the
children.
B
The
coming
year
will
see
our
work
to
create
a
Scottish
social
security
system
based
on
dignity
and
respect,
step
up
Agia,
a
new
agency
social
security
Scotland
is
already
open
for
business
and
moving
firmly
into
its
delivery
phase.
It
is
with
great
prade,
therefore,
that
I
can
make
these
announcements
today.
Firstly,
I
can
confirm
that
the
first
payments
of
the
new
carers
allowance
supplement
will
begin
next
week.
The
supplement
will
benefit
more
than
75,000
Keeler's
increasing
their
allowance
by
more
than
four
hundred
pounds
a
year.
B
I
can
also
announced
that
the
new
young
Cara
grant
was
three
hundred
pounds.
A
year
will
be
paid
from
autumn
next
year
and
in
the
coming
year
we
will
provide
enhanced
assistance
for
those
and
lower
incomes
struggling
with
funeral
costs,
and,
finally,
the
year
ahead
will
see
us
deliver
the
new
best
start
grant.
B
This
will
provide
the
most
extensive
support
anywhere
in
the
UK
for
new
parents
on
low
incomes,
600
pounds
on
the
birth
of
a
first
child,
300
pounds
and
the
birth
of
any
subsequent
child
with
north
child
limit
or
abhorrent
rape
clause
and
250
pounds
for
each
child
when
they
start
nursery
and
again
when
they
start
school,
the
best
start
grant
will
benefit
around
fifty
thousand
families
each
year.
Setting
offs
that
I
said
last
year.
The
best
start
grant
would
be
paid
from
summer
next
year.
B
Want
to
build
a
fetus
Scotland
will
also
include
in
the
year
ahead
a
new
consumer
protection
bill
to
secure
fairer
outcomes
for
consumers
and,
as
part
of
our
efforts
to
tackle
fuel
poverty,
I
can
confirm
that
we
believes
with
key
stakeholders
this
year
before
formally
consulting
next
year
on
our
preferred
model
for
a
publicly
owned,
not-for-profit
energy
company.
We
will
also
continue
to
take
concerted
action
to
address
homelessness
and
eradicate
rough
sleeping.
Last
year
we
established
the
homelessness
and
rough
sleeping
Action
Group.
It
has
already
made
its
recommendations
with
some
of
them
already
implemented.
B
We
have
committee
21
million
pounds
of
additional
funding,
and
I
can
confirm
that
before
the
end
of
this
year,
we
will
publish
a
comprehensive
action
plan
setting
out
how
we
will
deliver
all
70
of
the
action
groups
recommendations.
However,
I
can
announce
today
that
implementation
of
the
housing
first
approach
will
be
central
to
our
plans.
This
ensures
that
homeless,
individual
or
household
is
moved
directly
into
their
own
settled
accommodation,
rather
than
through
a
variety
of
different
housing
options.
B
In
the
first
instance,
from
this
autumn,
we
will
work
with
social
bait,
the
Glasgow
homelessness
network
and
the
Cora
Foundation
to
support
housing
first
Pathfinder
projects
in
Edinburgh,
Glasgow,
Aberdeen,
Stirling
and
Andy.
We
will
also
continue
to
invest
in
the
supply
of
affordable
housing
in
this
financial
year.
We
will
increase
our
support
for
affordable
homes
by
more
than
a
quarter
from
590
million
pounds
to
more
than
750
million
pounds,
and
over
this
Parliament
we
will
ensure
that
more
than
50,000,
affordable
homes
are
delivered,
including
at
least
35,000
for
social
rent.
B
Within
this
we
will
work
with
councils
and
house
builders
to
increase
the
supply
of
accessible
housing
for
disabled
people.
We
will
also
work
with
local
governments,
communities
and
businesses
or
short-term
lakes.
We
want
to
ensure
that
councils
have
their
appropriate
powers
to
balance
the
needs
of
the
communities
with
wider
economic
interests,
of
course,
for
investment
and
housing
and
infrastructure,
more
generally,
to
benefit
communities
fully.
B
We
need
a
fair
and
effective
planning
system
and
the
coming
months
we
will
progress
the
new
planning,
both
through
Parliament
and
ensure
that
people
get
a
chance
to
have
an
early
C
in
shaping
developments.
In
their
area,
the
voice
of
local
communities
is,
of
course,
vital
to
our
partnership
with
local
government.
This
program
reaffirms
our
commitment
to
a
strong
partnership
between
national
and
local
government.
This
is
reflected
in
our
work
with
corslet
to
take
forward
the
local
governance
review
to
strengthen
local
decision-making.
B
I
can
also
confirm
today
that
we
will
extend
the
Community
Land
Fund
to
2021
to
enable
more
community
land
purchases
support
the
work
of
the
Scottish
Land
Commission,
as
it
shapes
land
reform
for
the
future
and
steer
the
Scottish
Kronus
t-bo
through
Parliament
I,
want
to
mention,
see
further
initiatives
that
will
contribute
to
the
strength
and
well-being
of
local
communities
into
a
week's
time.
The
new
V&A
museum
and
Dundee
will
open
to
the
public
a
stunning
reminder
of
the
potential
of
culture
to
both
regenerate
and
bring
joy
to
communities
across
the
country.
B
So
before
the
end
of
the
year,
we
will
publish
a
new
national
culture
strategy
which
will
demonstrate
the
intrinsic
value
we
attach
to
arts
and
culture
and
our
determination
to
ensure
that
everyone
can
participate
in
cultural
activities
before
the
end
of
2018.
We
will
also
publish
a
national
strategy
to
tackle
social
isolation
and
lonliness.
They
will
draw
on
the
results
of
a
recent
consultation
and
make
Scotland
one
of
the
first
countries
in
the
world
to
develop
a
strategy
to
address
an
issue
which
is
of
growing
importance
rates
around
the
world
and
by
March
2019.
B
We
will
publish
an
older
people's
framework
setting
out
how
we
will
achieve
better
outcomes
in
terms
of
services
for
older
people,
as
well
as
in
their
participation
in
the
labour
market
and
engagement
in
the
local
communities.
Setting
office
of
the
two
final
areas
I
want
to
talk
about
today.
Our
justice
and
health
recorded
crime
in
Scotland
is
now
at
its
lowest
level.
Since
1974,
the
reconviction
rate
is
at
its
lowest
level
in
almost
20
years
and
95%
of
people
in
Scotland
rate,
their
own
neighborhood
has
been
fairly
or
very
good
by
any
reasonable
measure.
B
This
is
a
significant
record
of
achievement,
but
we
are
determined
to
improve
on
it.
We
will
protect
the
police
revenue
budget
and
view
terms
throughout
this
Parliament.
In
addition,
31
million
pounds
will
be
provided
for
police
reform
in
this
financial
year,
helping
the
police
to
invest
in
new
technology
and
work
more
effectively
with
partners.
B
The
fire
service
budget
is
also
being
protected,
with
an
additional
15
million
pounds
of
spending
capacity
this
year
to
help
with,
amongst
other
things,
the
introduction
of
Rapid
Response
vehicles
and
more
full-time
posts
in
our
rural
communities,
so
I
think
officer
as
we
reform
the
justice
system,
it
remains
absolutely
vital
that
we
improve
the
support
we
give
to
the
victims
of
crime.
We
are,
of
course,
already
taking
important
steps
to
do
that
through,
for
example,
the
vulnerable
witnesses
bill
that
we
introduced
to
this
Parliament
last
year.
B
This
year
we
are
determined
that
we
will
go
even
further.
I
am
announcing
today
a
major
package
of
reforms
that
will
better
protect
victims
in
the
criminal
justice
system.
Firstly,
we
will
work
with
victims,
support
Scotland,
to
reduce
and,
where
possible,
eliminate
the
need
for
victims
to
retail
their
story
to
different
organisations
when
they
need
help.
We
will
also
expand
the
range
of
serious
offences
where
the
victim
has
the
right
to
make
an
impact
statement.
B
Setting
out
to
the
court
how
they
have
been
affected
physically,
emotionally
or
financially,
we
will
consult
on
the
details
of
this
early
next
year.
We
will
improve
the
information
and
support
available
to
victims
and
families
when
prisoners
are
released
from
prison
and
consult
and
proposals
to
increase
the
transparency
of
the
parole
system,
and,
finally,
we
will
establish
a
new
support
service
to
provide
more
and
better
help
to
families
who
have
been
bereaved
by
mod
R
or
culpable
homicide,
Trading
officer.
We
will
also
continue
to
improve
the
support
available
to
victims
of
rape
and
sexual
assault.
B
We
recently
over
the
summer
announced
a
dish
funding
of
1.1
million
pounds
to
enable
sexual
offense
trials
to
come
to
court
as
quickly
as
possible.
Today,
I
am
announcing
that
we
will
make
available
a
further
two
million
pounds
over
three
years
to
speed
up
access
to
support
for
those
affected
by
rape
or
sexual
assault.
B
1.5
million
of
this
additional
funding
will
go
to
rape
crisis
centers
starting
next
month,
with
the
remainder
available
to
meet
particular
local
needs
in
the
coming
year.
We
will
also
consult
and
proposals
to
ensure
that,
in
cases
of
rape
or
sexual
assault,
forensic
medical
examinations
and
access
to
health
care,
more
generally
at
a
priority
for
the
NHS
and
provided
consistently
across
Scotland,
we
intend
to
bring
forward
legislation
later
in
this
Parliament.
We
will
also
work
to
continue
to
reduce
and
eliminate
domestic
abuse.
B
The
legislation
already
passed
by
Parliament
to
make
coercive
or
controlling
behaviors
illegal
will
of
course
come
into
force
this
year.
I
can
confirm
today
that
we
will
now
consult
on
the
introduction
of
new
protective
orders
which
can
bar
perpetrators
of
domestic
abuse
from
their
victims
homes.
In
addition,
we
will
introduce
a
new
family
law
bill
to
provide
further
protection
for
domestic
abuse,
victims
in
contact
or
residence
cases
and
ensure
that
children's
best
interests
are
central
to
the
consideration
of
all
such
cases.
B
And,
finally,
we
will
introduce
a
female
genital
mutilation
bill
to
strengthen
the
protection
provided
to
women
and
ghettos.
There
are
a
range
of
other
important
measures
that
we
will
take
to
improve
the
justice
system.
We
will
consult
later
this
year
on
changes
to
modernize
and
improve
the
law
on
hate
crime.
We
will
extend
the
presumption
against
ineffective
short
sentences
from
3
to
12
months,
once
additional
safeguards
are
in
place
for
domestic
abuse
victims.
B
In
addition,
legislation
for
new
drug
driving
limits
covering
17
different
drug
types
will
be
introduced
and
will
come
into
force
in
2019
this,
together
with
Scotland's
already
law.
Drink-Drive
limit
will
ensure
that
we
continue
to
lead
the
way
in
the
UK
when
it
comes
to
improving
rule
safety.
A
biometric
data
bowl
provide
for
a
code
of
practice
for
acquiring
using
retaining
and
disposing
of
data
such
as
fingerprints
and
DNA
samples.
B
It
will
take
forward
the
recommendations
of
the
independent
advisory
group
and
modernize
the
law
in
an
area
of
huge
importance
to
the
entire
justice
system,
and
we
will
introduce
a
new
disclosure
bill
to
strike
a
better
balance
between
helping
people
with
convictions
to
gain
employment
and
providing
strong
safeguards
for
vulnerable
people
and
the
general
public.
I
can
also
announce
today
that
in
the
year
ahead,
we
will
consult
on
reforms
to
the
law
of
defamation
with
a
view
to
bringing
forward
legislation
later
in
this
Parliament
sailing
officer.
B
We
are
as
our
Parliament
indeed
as
a
country
proud
of
our
reputation
as
one
of
the
very
best
places
anywhere
in
the
world
for
LGBT,
I,
trust
people,
and
we
want
to
make
further
progress
in
the
months
and
years
ahead.
I
can
therefore
confirm
that
we
will
continue
work
to
develop
legislation
to
reform
the
law
on
gender
recognition
and
in
the
coming
year
we
will
introduce
a
census
bill
which
will
permit
the
national
records
of
Scotland
in
future
censuses,
to
ask
questions
on
sexual
orientation
and
transgender
status,
so
I
think
officer.
B
The
final
important
area
I
want
to
talk
about
today
is
health.
Last
week's
inpatient
survey
results
showed
that
satisfaction
with
our
National
Health
Service
remains
at
a
very
high
level
at
accident,
and
emergency
facilities
have
been
the
best
performing
in
the
whole
of
the
UK.
For
the
last
three
years.
Outcomes
like
this
are
I
believe
a
tribute
to
the
expertise,
the
dedication
and
the
compassion
of
NHS
staff
across
the
country.
It
is
therefore
absolutely
right
that
NHS
staff
will
receive
a
minimum
pay
rise
of
nine
percent
over
the
next
three
years.
B
Last
year
we
introduced
so
this
Parliament.
Two
important
health
bills,
which
are
due
to
come
into
force
next
year,
the
human
tissue
authorization
bill
will
implement
an
opt-out
system
for
organ
donation
and
the
health
and
care
staffing
bill
will
ensure
we
have
the
right
staff
in
the
right
places.
However,
all
of
us
know
that
our
national
health
service,
in
common
with
health
services
across
the
UK
and
elsewhere,
faces
significant
challenges.
The
key
challenge
is
adapting
to
an
aging
population,
which
is,
of
course,
a
good
thing
and
the
rising
demand
that
flows
from
that.
B
So
we
will
continue
to
meet
our
pledge
to
invest
record
sums
in
the
National
Health
Service.
However,
we
will
also
progress
important
reforms
to
how
care
is
delivered
and
take
further
action
to
improve
population
health.
Over
the
next
year
we
will
take
forward
work
to
implement
the
new
GP
contract.
We
will
support
integration
of
health
and
social
care
and
we
will
invest
a
higher
proportion
of
the
health
budget
in
primary
community
and
social
care
from
next
year.
B
We
will
also
implement
Frank's
law
extending
free
personal
care
to
eligible
under
65
year
olds,
and
we
will
continue
to
champion
a
preventative
approach
to
Scotland's
public
health
challenges.
In
May
we
became
the
first
country
anywhere
in
the
world
to
introduce
minimum
alcohol
pricing
this
year.
We
will
take
forward
plans
to
reduce
childhood
obesity.
Amongst
other
measures,
we
will
consult
on
restricting
the
promotion
and
marketing
of
food
and
drink
that
is
high.
B
In
fact,
sugar
or
salt
preventing
ill
health
and
building
up
community
services
are
absolutely
essential
to
ensuring
a
health
service
fit
for
the
future,
but
so
too
is
ensuring
that
acute
services
can
meet
the
demands
placed
on
them.
We
know
that
rising
demand
has
put
significant
pressure
on
waiting
times
and
we
recognize
that
current
performance
is
not
good
enough.
I
can
therefore
a
notice
today
that
the
health
secretary
will
later
this
month
publish
our
waiting
times
improvement
plan,
setting
a
range
of
short
and
medium-term
actions
to
substantially
and
sustainably
improve
waiting
times
performance.
B
Part
of
the
longer-term
plan
to
meet
waiting
time
targets
on
a
sustainable
basis
is
the
creation
over
this
Parliament
of
five
new
elective
treatment
centres.
I
can
therefore
confirm
today
that
work
on
the
new
West
of
Scotland
Center,
the
golden
jubilee
hospital
will
start
in
the
early
part
of
next
year
and
work
on
the
north
of
Scotland
Center
at
Rigg.
Morden
Inverness
will
be
underway
by
the
middle
of
next
year.
B
I
can
also
confirm
today
that,
as
part
of
our
work
to
create
a
specialist
major
trauma,
Network
new
major
trauma
centres
will
open
in
Aberdeen
next
month
and
in
Dundee
in
November.
Finally,
planning
officer
I
want
to
turn
to
mental
health
as
the
stigma
around
mental
health
reduces
demand
for
services
is
rising.
We
have
a
duty
to
meet
that
demand
quickly
and
to
meet
it
appropriately.
That
means
doing
more
to
support
positive
mental
health
and
prevent
ill
health.
B
It
means
delivering
greater
provision
of
mental
health
support
in
communities,
including
in
our
schools,
and
it
means
ensuring
that
those
experiencing
serious
illness
can
access
specialist
services
more
quickly.
Today,
I'm
announcing
a
package
of
measures
that
will
complement
our
mental
health
strategy,
it
will
be
backed
by
a
quarter
of
a
billion
pounds
of
additional
investment,
starting
this
year
and
progressively
increasing
over
the
subsequent
four
years.
The
Mental
Health
Minister
will
set
out
full
details
shortly,
but
let
me
cover
some
of
the
key
elements
now.
B
Firstly,
we
will
develop
a
stronger
network
of
care
and
support
for
the
one
in
five
new
mothers
around
eleven
thousand
a
year
who
experience
mental
health
problems
during
and
after
pregnancy.
This
will
include
greater
access
to
counseling
for
those
experiencing
mild
symptoms
and
an
expansion
of
specialist
services
for
those
with
moderate
or
severe
illness.
Secondly,
we
will
utilize
technology
to
extend
access
for
adults
to
a
range
of
support
services.
B
This
will
include
improvements
to
the
NHS
20
for
breathing
space
service,
extending
online
access
to
cognitive,
behavioral
therapy,
improving
access
to
psychological
assessment
and
therapy
in
our
rural
areas
and
strengthening
the
handling
of
mental
health
calls
to
the
one-one-one
service.
However,
most
of
our
additional
investment
will
support
improvements
to
the
provision
of
child
and
adolescent
mental
health
services.
The
Task
Force
on
children
and
young
people's
to
health,
we'll
report
this
autumn,
whoever
based
on
the
early
discussions
held
by
its
chair
dr.
B
Dame,
Denis
Koya-
that
are
a
range
of
actions
we
are
committed
to
taking
now.
Firstly,
we
will
invest
60
million
pounds
and
additional
school
nursing
and
counseling
services.
This
will
support
350,
counselors
and
250
additional
school
nurses
and
ensure
that
every
secondary
school
has
a
counseling
service.
We
will
enhance
support
and
professional
learning
materials
for
teachers
and
ensure
that,
by
the
end
of
academic
year,
2019
20
every
local
authority
has
access
to
mental
health.
First
aid
training
for
teachers.
B
We
will
fund
an
additional
80
counselors
to
work
across
further
and
higher
education,
and
we
will
develop
a
community
mental
well-being
service
for
5
to
24
year
olds,
offering
immediate
access
to
counseling,
self-care
advice
and
family
and
peer
support.
We
will
also
put
in
place
plans
to
fast-track
young
people
with
the
most
serious
mental
illness
to
specialist
services,
as
well
as
taking
targeted
action
in
the
short
term
to
reduce
the
longest
waits
for
services.
Setting
officer,
as
I
said
a
moment
ago,
more
detail
will
be
published
shortly,
but
I
hope.
B
The
package
I
have
an
owner
today
underlines
the
commitment
of
this
government
to
ensuring
that
our
health
services
value
and
support
mental
well-being.
Just
as
much
as
physical
well-being,
planning
officer
the
budget
bill
will
complete
and
indeed
underpin
our
legislative
programme
for
the
coming
year.
The
12
bills
we
will
introduce
in
the
coming
session
are,
of
course,
parts
of
a
much
wider
programme
of
work
to
tackle
the
major
social
and
economic
challenges
of
the
day
over
the
next
12
months.
B
This
government
will
also
make
progress
towards
doubling
free
childcare
provision
for
the
narrow,
the
attainment
gap
in
our
skills
and
weight
and
access
to
our
universities
pay
the
first
benefits
in
Scotland's
new
social
security
system
and
take
further
action
to
tackle
poverty
and
inequality.
We
will
help
at
NHS,
adapt
an
aging
population
and
begin
a
transformation
of
mental
health
services.
We
will
tackle
major
public
health
challenges
and
legislate
for
a
Scottish
national
investment
bank,
invest
for
the
future
and
support
more
businesses
to
sell
their
goods
across
the
globe.