Scottish Government
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Programme for Government
The Scottish Government today laid out its programme for the year ahead.
In a statement to the Scottish Parliament, First Minister Alex Salmond set out the priorities - both legislative and non-legislative - contained in a document Moving Scotland Forward. This comprises 15 Bills including proposals for Council Tax Abolition, tackling Climate Change and strengthening the Criminal Justice system.
Mr Salmond said:
"Over the next 12 months, we will govern with the same energy as characterised our first year in office, and with absolute confidence in Scotland's ability to succeed.
"This is an ambitious programme to benefit individuals, families and society as a whole - with key legislative measures such as abolition of the oppressive council tax in favour of a fair local income tax, bringing much needed relief to household budgets; a Criminal Justice Bill to make Scotland safer and stronger; and a world-leading climate change Bill.
"And we will continue to deliver measures which do not require legislation, and which make Scotland a better place for everyone to live in - as we demonstrated this week with the abolition of car parking charges at NHS hospitals, the launch of the cervical cancer vaccination campaign for girls; and plans for a major expansion of hydro power in Scotland.
"Our core purpose as a government is to promote higher levels of sustainable economic growth. And in doing so we must harness the new confidence and optimism in this country, enabling all of Scotland's people to achieve their full potential. Our new legislative programme fully reflects this ambition.
"We are moving forward to a future where success belongs to Scotland. And this year's programme for Scotland marks an important step on that journey."
The full list of proposed bills is:
- Additional Support for Learning (Amendment) Bill
- Arbitration Bill
- Budget Bill
- Children's Hearings Bill
- Scottish Climate Change Bill
- Council Tax Abolition Bill
- Criminal Justice and Licensing Bill
- Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Bill
- Health Bill
- Legislative Reform Bill
- Legal Profession Bill
- Marine Bill
- Public Services Reform Bill
- Rural Schools Bill
- Scottish Parliament and Local Government Elections Bill
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