NICOLA Sturgeon has promised that she will today unveil the SNP’s “most ambitious agenda” after a decade in power.
Setting out her legislative plans for the coming year, the First Minister will renew her promise to make improving education “a defining mission”.
She is expected to set out new powers for headteachers in a bid to drive up classroom standards and close the so-called attainment gap between poorer pupils and those from better-off backgrounds.
Sturgeon will announce her programme for government for 2017/18 at Holyrood this afternoon and MSPs will debate her proposals following her statement.
Scrapping the one per cent public-sector pay cap and reforms in health, justice, the economy and climate change are among other policies expected in 16 new bills being unveiled. These will be added to 11 existing bills going through Holyrood.
Speaking ahead of the publication, the First Minister said changes to the powers of headteachers would be set out in an Education Governance Bill to be introduced next year.
“Improving the education and life chances of our children and young people remains a defining mission of this Government,” she said.
“In the year ahead, this Government will take steps to give children the best start in life. From the Baby Box to the expansion of free high- quality early learning and childcare, and from our work to tackle child poverty to school reforms that give more power to teachers, this Government will build on our record of achievements in the year ahead.
“For changes that need legislation, we will bring forward an Education Governance Bill in 2018. Our priority is to ensure that teachers are given the confidence and the space to teach to the highest standards. We’ll give our headteachers new powers and make sure parents, families and communities play a bigger role in school life and in their children’s learning.”
Sturgeon added: “And we will all – government, councils, and agencies – support our schools to do what they do best: transform the life chances of our children.
“When I address Parliament later today, I’ll be presenting the most ambitious plan ever to be brought forward by this government. I am proud that, 10 years on, we are once again proving that Scotland is leading the way as a progressive nation.”
The First Minister is also expected to address Brexit, underline her commitment to keep Scotland in the single market and customs union, and to make the case for the protection of human, environmental, employment and consumer rights.
She is also due to pledge to resist any “power grab” by the UK Govern- ment over the repatriation of powers from the EU, and make the case for extending the powers of the Scottish Parliament in areas such as immigration, social security, employment rights and trade.
The First Minister is under pressure to refresh her policies after losing 21 MPs at the General Election in June. While remaining the biggest party with 35 MPs, the loss of seats held by senior figures such as Alex Salmond and Angus Robertson was a shock.
Anti-poverty campaigners have been calling for the Scottish Government to increase child benefit by £5 per week to combat child poverty. The policy is supported by Scottish Labour and the Scottish Greens, but to date the Scottish Government has maintained it would be too expensive after its cost was estimated at £225m a year.
Labour has called for the Scottish Government to scrap the council tax, bring the railways into public ownership, increase the top rate of tax to 50p and end cuts to local government.
Speaking ahead of the programme for government launch, Scottish Labour interim leader Alex Rowley said: “The Scottish Parliament is one of the most powerful devolved administrations in the world. It has the ability and the flexibility to make real, radical changes to people’s lives.
“The SNP can use these powers to stop Tory austerity and change Scotland. Yet, this Government has delivered little.”
Last night the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) outlined three key issues for its members: increasing affordable housing development, tackling fuel poverty and mitigating the effects of welfare reform.
Chief executive Sally Thomas said: “It is vital that housing is kept centre stage of debates at the Scottish Parliament as having a warm, energy efficient, affordable home is vital for a person’s health and wellbeing.
“We would also like to see the Government commit to housing investment beyond the lifetime of the current parliament as this will allow for long-term planning.”
She added: “We welcome the call by the opposition parties for the forthcoming Warm Homes Bill to include a new target for ending fuel poverty as well as increased funding.”
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