First Minister’s Statement: Programme for Government 2023-24
First Minister’s Statement: Programme for Government 2023-24
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00:00 I have often talked about my paternal grandfather, Muhammad Yusuf, over the last few months.
00:26 I have commented on his journey from Pakistan to Paulette Shields, where he first lived
00:31 upon arrival to this country.
00:34 What I have not spoken about is the difficult circumstances that followed shortly after
00:40 he arrived here in Scotland, in a country where he could barely speak the language and
00:44 he had little to his name.
00:47 Unfortunately, five years after arriving in Scotland, my grandmother, Muhammad Yusuf's
00:53 wife, died at the age of 33, leaving my grandfather having to raise five children.
00:59 He got remarried but was left with five devastated children, including my father and my uncle,
01:06 one of whose children is still a young baby.
01:09 My grandfather went on to become a successful small business owner.
01:13 Although he has now passed away, his wife, my step-grand, still to this day works in
01:18 a convenience store in Mayfield, and she tells me that Daniel Johnson is one to pop in on
01:23 occasion.
01:24 I mention his story because there is no way that my grandfather, all those decades ago,
01:32 could have supported his five children and been a successful small business owner if
01:38 it were not for the support of society and the state.
01:41 At a time when he really needed it, the Government was there to support him financially.
01:46 That, in turn, helped to unleash his entrepreneurial spirit.
01:51 Over the decades, he created jobs and contributed significantly to society, not least through
01:57 the taxes that he paid.
02:00 There is no doubt in my mind that economic growth goes hand in hand with tackling poverty,
02:07 as it did for my grandfather all those years ago.
02:10 The programme for government that I am publishing today is unashamedly anti-poverty and pro-growth.
02:17 It has a focus on supporting women who are disproportionately affected by the pressures
02:23 of modern life, including through expanding our childcare offer.
02:29 When I became First Minister, I promised that I would lead a Government for the whole country.
02:35 In this chamber, we must never forget that, although we disagree sometimes—and, quite
02:39 rightly, passionately—there is far more that unites us than divides us.
02:44 Over the past two years, the SNP and Scottish Green parties have successfully worked together
02:49 to build a greener, fairer Scotland.
02:53 In a world full of uncertainty, people rightly expect their elected representatives to work
02:59 together constructively, and that is exactly what we have done.
03:05 To all the parties represented in this chamber, I repeat the offer that I made upon becoming
03:10 First Minister.
03:12 You will sometimes disagree with things that we do, but when you can, work with us.
03:17 You will find that my door is always open.
03:20 I have already shown my willingness to work with others in recent months.
03:25 We should also remember the words of the late David McCletchie.
03:30 He warned about worshipping the false god of consensus.
03:35 In that vein, the Government that I lead will not simply coalesce around the lowest common
03:40 denominator.
03:41 For the good of society, for our future and for our children, we will pick a side where
03:44 we need to.
03:48 In particular, while other political parties are abdicating their responsibilities to tackle
03:53 the climate emergency, we will be unapologetic in taking the action needed to ensure a sustainable
04:00 future for our children and for our planet.
04:06 This programme is an opportunity to be explicit about the driving mission of this Government.
04:13 Let me make it abundantly clear that we are a Government that will maximise every single
04:19 lever at our disposal to tackle the scourge of poverty in our country.
04:26 We have adopted progressive tax and spending policies to face those challenges.
04:31 I will never shy away from the belief that those who earn the most should pay the most.
04:37 However, let me be equally clear that, without any equivocation, we also need to support
04:44 economic growth—not for its own sake, but so that we can tackle poverty and improve
04:50 our public services.
04:52 The unfortunate reality is that the Scottish Government is currently operating with one
04:56 hand tied behind our back.
04:59 Scotland has had no control over the fallout from the UK Government's disastrous mini-budget,
05:05 or Brexit, or over a decade of austerity.
05:09 However, we still have to deal with the devastating consequences of those actions.
05:15 To give just one example, in the past five years we have spent more than £700 million
05:23 encountering the impact of Westminster welfare cuts alone.
05:28 That is why this Government will never stop believing that decisions about Scotland should
05:33 not be made by a Government based in Westminster, but by the people of Scotland.
05:43 I remind Members that there should be no interventions or interruptions of any kind during the statement.
05:49 Independent countries comparable to Scotland are wealthier and fairer than the UK.
05:54 With our abundant resources, the question we must ask ourselves is why not Scotland?
06:00 In proposing the case for independence, we will set out a positive vision for Scotland's
06:05 future, and there is much to be positive about.
06:09 Scotland's economy already performs better than most parts of the UK.
06:12 We have world-class universities and colleges and significant strengths and potential in
06:17 many of the key economic sectors of the future.
06:21 Today's programme sets out how we will build on those strengths to make people's lives
06:26 better.
06:29 Tackling poverty is deeply personal to me.
06:32 Growing up in the Islamic faith, one of the core beliefs of our faith, and one that I
06:37 was taught, is that you are not a true Muslim if you have a full stomach while your neighbour
06:42 goes to bed hungry.
06:44 Tackling poverty is not straightforward, given the restrictions of devolution, especially
06:49 in the face of a cost-of-living crisis and challenging budget settlements, but it is
06:54 absolutely essential.
06:57 Whether it is faith or humanism or an ingrained sense of social justice, we must all surely
07:03 unite in saying that, in 2023, with the abundance of wealth we have as a society, it is morally
07:11 indefensible that people in our country—frankly, our planet—go to sleep hungry.
07:19 My first announcement today is that, by February, we will remove income thresholds for our best
07:25 start food programme, meaning that a further 20,000 pregnant mothers and children will
07:31 benefit from financial support for milk and healthy food.
07:35 This is a further demonstration of this Government giving our children the best possible start.
07:42 We will invest more than £400 million in the Scottish child payment to help more than
07:48 300,000 children across the country.
07:52 For many families, the payment, which is worth £25 per child per week, ensures that food
07:57 is on the table or that the heating is on at home.
08:01 We can already see the benefits of this policy now, but its true legacy will last for a lifetime.
08:09 Through our actions and through this Government's actions, an estimated 90,000 children are
08:17 expected to be lifted out of poverty. That is the difference that this Government is
08:23 making.
08:24 The Scottish child payment is part of a total investment of more than £5 billion in Scottish
08:30 Government social security payments, which supports more than 1.2 million people the
08:35 length and breadth of Scotland. I can confirm that funding will increase by almost £1 billion
08:42 in the year ahead, and we will continue to explore what more can be done to tackle poverty
08:48 during the budget process.
08:51 We have also convened an expert group to look at how we can make progress towards a minimum
08:55 income guarantee. Today, I am calling on the UK Government to use its reserve powers to
09:01 establish an essentials guarantee, to ensure that the value of universal credit payments
09:07 is always sufficient for people to afford essential items such as food, transport and
09:12 energy.
09:13 In addition to those actions, we will continue to reduce some of the costs that affect households
09:20 right across the country. This Government has led the way in the provision of universal
09:26 free school meals for primary school children. I can confirm that, working with councils,
09:32 we will roll out universal free school meals for all pupils in primary 6 and 7, starting
09:37 with those children in receipt of the Scottish child payment.
09:42 From October, we are introducing a pilot project to remove peak fares on ScotRail services.
09:48 In addition, we recognise that housing costs are a key factor in determining people's
09:54 standard of living. During the cost of living crisis, this Government took prompt action
09:59 to introduce emergency rent caps for most private tenants and to introduce additional
10:05 protections against eviction. We have now laid regulations to ensure that those measures
10:12 will remain in place until 31 March next year.
10:17 We will also introduce a housing bill to introduce long-term rent controls and new tenants'
10:23 rights, and to establish new duties for the prevention of homelessness. We will continue
10:29 to work to reduce the number of people living in temporary accommodation. We will invest
10:35 £750 million to support the delivery of affordable homes and meet our target of securing 110,000
10:44 affordable homes by 2032. Ten per cent of those homes will be located in rural and island
10:50 communities, because we know that those communities are facing significant housing challenges.
10:56 We also know that those communities are not passive. We see in the lights of the Arran
10:59 Development Trust, the Mull and Iona Community Trust and Staff and Community Trust real ambition
11:05 in supporting new housing. We have been working with local government, business, the third
11:09 sector and, crucially, local communities to publish an action plan for housing in rural
11:15 and island areas later this year.
11:18 We have established a £20 to £25 million fund to provide homes for key workers in rural
11:24 areas. Across Scotland, we will invest £60 million this year to acquire empty properties
11:31 for use as affordable homes. Following consultation, I can confirm that we will also enable councils
11:37 to apply a premium on council tax rates for second homes—a demonstration of our desire
11:44 to empower local government to tackle the challenges that it faces.
11:49 We will introduce a cladding remediation bill and ask that this Parliament be given the
11:53 powers to introduce a levy in Scotland mirroring the UK Government's building safety levy
11:59 for England.
12:02 The protection of and, where possible, the advancement of rights is a collective obligation
12:09 for each and every one of us. I have spoken about the racism and Islamophobia that I have
12:15 and continue to face. Many others in this Parliament have spoken about the bigotry,
12:19 homophobia, ableism and misogyny that they have been on the receiving end of.
12:25 As part of our mission to promote equality and eradicate hatred, we will improve human
12:31 rights protections through a human rights bill. There are those in this Parliament who
12:36 have said recently that we concentrate far too much on social policy. It is our job—every
12:42 MSP's job—to help protect marginalised communities from the hatred that is far too
12:48 pervasive in our society. A population that has its rights protected is one that can thrive.
12:55 It is not just good for society—that it is—but it is also good for our economy.
13:02 On the theme of equality, we recognise that helping people into good, fairly paid work
13:10 is also a key part of tackling poverty. We will work with local authorities and employers
13:16 to help people who face barriers to starting or restarting work. We will support care leavers
13:24 into employment. That is just one of the ways in which we will help to keep our promise
13:29 to those with experience of care. I will personally convene a dedicated Cabinet sub-committee
13:36 for the promise. We will not let those with care experience down.
13:43 This Government also recognises the crucial role of childcare in helping parents to return
13:48 to work, benefiting not just them but the wider economy. The Scottish Government has
13:55 expanded ELC to 1,140 hours a year for all three and four-year-olds, and around a quarter
14:01 of all two-year-olds. I am pleased to announce that we will go further. First, we will provide
14:08 funding in six early adopter council areas to increase access to childcare from nine
14:13 months old through to the end of primary school. Secondly, we will accelerate the next phase
14:19 in our expansion of childcare for families with two-year-olds, reaching thousands more
14:24 families. Thirdly, we will give parents and carers more scope to manage their childcare
14:30 so that it meets their specific needs. Some parents may want to use a mix of provision
14:36 and may find arranging and keeping track of their childcare stressful, so we will simplify
14:40 that process, enabling parents, through digital means, to have more control over their childcare
14:46 choices. Fourthly, we will support efforts to recruit and retain more childminders, with
14:51 an aim to recruit 1,000 more childminders by the end of this parliamentary session.
14:57 Fifthly, we know that one of the biggest challenges that the sector faces is recruitment. I can
15:03 confirm today that we will provide funding so that staff in the private, voluntary and
15:08 independent sector who deliver funded early learning and childcare are paid a minimum
15:13 of £12 an hour from April next year. High-quality early education and childcare are a perfect
15:22 example of a policy that is anti-poverty and pro-growth. I am proud that Scotland has the
15:28 most generous childcare offer in the UK, and I am committed to ensuring that we stay ahead
15:34 and provide families with the crucial support that they need.
15:40 One of my earliest actions as First Minister was to develop a new and stronger relationship
15:45 with business so that we can work together to create jobs and opportunities. In the year
15:51 ahead, we will implement the recommendations made by the new deal for business group. Where
15:57 we can, we will also work with the UK Government to support growth. In fact, I wrote to the
16:01 UK Government just yesterday to request discussions on this very issue.
16:06 One idea that I am keen to explore with it is a recommendation in the recent report from
16:11 the Hunter Foundation about using tax incentives and wider economic policy to support investment
16:17 in key sectors such as renewables. Scotland has long been a nation of innovation and invention,
16:25 but for all the excellent success that we have had, we have to be honest that we have
16:29 not always managed to retain that entrepreneurial talent and the jobs that they create here in
16:35 Scotland.
16:36 The programme for government sets out a £15 million plan to support innovation and entrepreneurship.
16:43 It includes increased support for Scottish EDGE and the Scottish Ecosystem Fund, continued
16:49 work to implement Mark Logan's excellent review of our technology ecosystems, a blueprint
16:55 to make our colleges and universities stronger bases for entrepreneurs, and a programme to
17:00 deliver the recommendations of Anna Stewart's equally excellent report on supporting women
17:05 into enterprise.
17:06 We will also work to continue to attract international investment and promote exports. We will support
17:13 small businesses. For example, we will work with local government and our enterprise agencies
17:18 to transform the support that we provide them. We will work with business organisations to
17:24 help small businesses improve their productivity, and we will build on the work of the new deal
17:30 for business group, for example in considering improvements to the non-domestic rates system.
17:37 These early actions demonstrate our determination to listen and to act as we build a new relationship
17:45 with business to support economic growth for our purpose.
17:50 In the year ahead, we will continue investment in important infrastructure, including, of
17:53 course, continued investment in the construction of six new ferries by 2026. Alongside our
18:01 record investment in active travel, we will reopen the Levenmouth rail line, electrify
18:06 the Glasgow to Barr headline and open a new rail station at East Linton.
18:11 We are, of course, committed to improving the A96, including dualling the road from
18:15 Inverness to Nairn with a Nairn bypass. Let me be crystal clear, Presiding Officer. This
18:21 Government—my Government—will dual the A9 from Inverness to Perth. I can confirm
18:26 today that we have launched the procurement for the Tomatum to Moy section as the next
18:31 step in that work.
18:34 We are also helping the rural economy. In the coming year, we will help to create a
18:40 new framework for rural support through the Agriculture Bill. We will promote our food
18:44 and drink industry. We will press the UK Government to honour its obligations to our fishing sector.
18:51 When it comes to Scotland's land, it is clear that too much of our land is in the
18:56 hands of too few. Our Land Reform Bill will make land ownership more transparent and will
19:02 also give communities more opportunities to own their land.
19:06 We will step up to the challenge. We will seek to be bold and radical, and we will continue
19:11 to develop proposals for crofting law reform. We will continue to support Scotland's thriving
19:17 tourism sector and to promote major events.
19:22 We will publish further details of our future support for culture in the forthcoming budget.
19:27 This sector should be assured that this Government values the role of culture, not just for the
19:32 substantial economic impact that it has, but for the incredible joy that it brings people
19:37 in Scotland and right around the world.
19:41 The final part of our economic plans is also one of the most important. The Presiding Officer
19:49 needs only to look at the United States or the European Union to see the way in which
19:54 ambitious Government and state support for green industries is helping to create new
19:59 jobs. The inactivity of the UK Government risks us falling behind in an increasingly
20:04 competitive race, so the Scottish Government is taking action to boost green industries
20:10 with the limited powers that we have.
20:13 One important area where I can announce change is through the consenting processes for renewable
20:19 technologies. We will agree a sector deal with the onshore wind industry to half the
20:25 consenting time for new section 36 wind farms. As part of that deal, we will maximise the
20:31 benefits that onshore wind can create for local communities and for Scotland's economy.
20:36 We will also streamline offshore wind consenting processes and continue to implement our hydrogen
20:43 action plan.
20:44 I continue to appeal to the UK Government, which holds the substantial levers over tax
20:49 and financial incentives, to use those powers to unleash and accelerate the renewables potential,
20:55 which is our country's. Our economy—indeed, our planet—deserves better than Westminster
21:00 inertia.
21:02 We will also take forward our work on a green industrial strategy. We will consult on a
21:10 heat in buildings bill, and we will continue to promote a circular economy. We will publish
21:16 our final energy strategy and just transition plan, and we will continue to protect and
21:22 enhance our natural environment. Crucially, we will continue to show global leadership
21:28 in international climate discussions.
21:33 As well as the enormous economic opportunity created by climate action, there is an overwhelming
21:39 moral imperative. The terrifying impacts of climate change are not something to worry
21:44 about in the distant future; they are here today. In that context, some of the actions
21:51 of the Westminster parties over the summer, such as the UK Government's reluctance to
21:55 support onshore wind, its commitment to more than 100 new oil and gas licences and Labour's
22:00 U-turning on low-emission zones, are baffling as they are dangerous.
22:06 The Scottish Government will take a responsible approach and show climate leadership. Tackling
22:12 the climate crisis will be hard, but in the long run doing nothing or, even worse, acting
22:19 far too slowly is the more expensive choice. It is a choice that will see far more lives
22:25 lost on our planet. It is a choice for which we would rightly never be forgiven by our
22:30 children or our grandchildren.
22:35 This programme also sets out how we will support strong and high-quality public services. The
22:42 National Health Service is already making progress in recovering from the pandemic.
22:47 We have the best-performing accident and emergency departments in the UK, and in the last year
22:53 the number of people waiting more than 18 months for treatment has almost halved. We
22:57 will work with health boards to reduce waiting lists further in the year ahead. A fourth
23:02 national treatment centre will open in Forth Valley in the coming year, and the centre
23:06 at the Golden Jubilee hospital will increase our capacity. We will continue to work with
23:12 local authorities on the introduction of the national care service.
23:18 During the summer, I spent a considerable amount of time hearing directly from people
23:22 from all walks of life, right across the country, about the challenges that they are struggling
23:27 with. One group who is inspirational is the Purple Poncho Players, a theatrical group
23:34 made up of disabled people who put on gripping performances that challenge Governments and
23:39 all of us in society to confront the uncomfortable truth of life as a disabled person in Scotland.
23:47 I heard very moving testimony from them, the Glasgow Disability Alliance and others who
23:52 have been affected by the closure of the independent living fund, which assists disabled people
23:58 with especially complex needs to get the support they need in order to live independent lives.
24:04 I am therefore pleased to announce today that I will reopen the independent living fund
24:09 in the next financial year, with an initial investment of up to £9 million.
24:15 In the year ahead, we will also improve access to GP services, and we will launch the national
24:21 centre for remote and rural health and care. We will also publish a new delivery plan for
24:26 mental health and wellbeing. We will continue with our mission to reduce drugs deaths, and
24:30 we will invest in alcohol and drugs partnerships. Recent drug deaths figures show that we are
24:35 heading in the right direction, but no more than that. The scale of the challenge in front
24:40 of us requires us to take radical approaches, and those approaches must be grounded in the
24:48 evidence of what works. That is why we will support a proposal to establish a safer drug
24:54 consumption facility and argue for drug law reform.
24:59 In light of the latest Home Office select committee report, I urge the UK Government
25:04 to listen to the evidence and either support a safer drug consumption facility or at least
25:09 devolve the power to us so that we can more easily take the bold action that is required.
25:15 We are also reviewing the responses to the alcohol marketing consultation. We will always
25:21 support jobs and the economy, and we will also work with industry where appropriate.
25:25 However, be in no doubt that we will take further action to reduce alcohol harm and,
25:31 in particular, to protect children from its ill effects.
25:35 Talking of children, I hear too often about how common vaping is among our young people.
25:41 In the next year, we will take action to reduce vaping, particularly among children. I am
25:46 pleased to announce that the Government will also consult on curbing the sale of disposable
25:51 single-use vapes, including on an outright ban.
25:57 This Government also recognises the vital importance of supporting our health and care
26:02 workforce. Scotland is, and remains, the only part of the UK where there has been no industrial
26:08 action in the health service. That is because we never questioned the motivations of our
26:12 workforce in seeking higher pay in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, and we were prepared
26:18 to face up to some very challenging negotiations. We worked with unions, we agreed deals that
26:24 benefit patients and staff, and, as a result, we have ensured that NHS Scotland staff remain
26:29 the best paid anywhere in the UK.
26:32 I am pleased to confirm that today I will fulfil a promise that I made to social care
26:36 staff before becoming First Minister. We will provide funding to enable an increase of pay
26:43 of social care workers in direct care roles, so that they can be paid at least £12 an
26:49 hour. For those on full-time contracts, that could lead to a pay increase from April of
26:54 up to £2,000 a year. That increase of more than 10 per cent values our social care staff,
27:02 helps them to support their families and helps us to recruit and retain staff. It is good
27:08 for individual employees, our social care services and our society as a whole.
27:16 Another issue that is close to my heart as First Minister, as a husband and as a father,
27:21 is the issue of miscarriage. I have spoken before about the personal loss and trauma
27:27 that my wife, Nadia, and I have faced through multiple miscarriages. It is a health issue
27:31 that society is now more open about, but I think it is still less talked about than perhaps
27:37 maybe it should be. I know how that sense of loss, regardless of when it happens during
27:42 a pregnancy, is certainly one that stays with you for life. Each loss that Nadia and I have
27:48 suffered has been difficult. There is no doubt in my mind that we can better support those
27:53 who experience miscarriage.
27:55 The programme for government today outlines how we will continue to improve care and support
28:00 for miscarriage, including ensuring that women do not have to wait until a third miscarriage
28:05 to receive tailored support. We will also help to provide access to progesterone prescriptions
28:11 and secure separate spaces in hospitals within maternity wards for women who suffer a miscarriage.
28:18 I am also pleased to say that, later this month, we will launch a certificate memorial
28:22 book of pregnancy and baby loss prior to 24 weeks. I pay tribute to my predecessor for
28:28 the work that she has done on that particular issue.
28:33 This Government will also continue to support our schools and promote excellence in education.
28:39 We will introduce an education bill to establish a new qualifications body in Scotland and
28:43 to create an independent education inspectorate. We will set out plans for reforming our education
28:49 and skills bodies, and we will deliver the pay deal that we have reached with our teachers.
28:54 We will continue our work to widen access to university. That work is now seeing record
28:59 numbers of students from disadvantaged backgrounds—around 5,600 in the latest official statistics—enter
29:06 our universities.
29:07 We will also rejoin key international education studies, and we will continue to focus on
29:13 closing the attainment gap and improving outcomes for young people with additional support needs.
29:19 We will also continue to support equality and diversity in schools, for example through
29:23 our anti-racism education programme and through promoting a decolonised curriculum. We will
29:29 invest in our police, fire and justice services. The introduction of body-worn cameras is a
29:36 priority for the police and for this Government, so we will start introducing that technology
29:41 next year.
29:42 We have already reduced the backlog of cases in our justice system by more than a third,
29:47 and we will aim to end the backlog in summary cases during 2024. We will invest in our prisons
29:55 while also working with community justice partners to reduce reoffending and create
30:00 safer communities. We will continue to focus on ensuring that victims and witnesses of
30:06 crime are at the very heart of our justice system.
30:11 We live in times when the rights of women in many parts of the world are regressing.
30:18 It is important that Governments that believe passionately in taking a stand against misogyny,
30:23 including state and institutional misogyny, stand up and be counted. That is why we will
30:29 work with Gillian Mackay to support her bill for safe access for abortion. It simply cannot
30:35 be right that women feel in any way impeded in accessing healthcare. We will bring forward
30:42 legislation to criminalise misogynistic abuse, following the public consultation and Baroness
30:48 Kennedy's report into the issue.
30:52 Just before I close, I want to expand on that point. The #MeToo movement, the claim the
30:56 night marches and the response to the murders of Sarah Everard and Sabina Anessa have instigated
31:03 a movement of women sharing their stories about everyday sexism, harassment and the
31:07 tragic and violent crime to which women are too often subjected. The steps that the Scottish
31:14 Government is taking to criminalise misogynistic abuse and improve our criminal justice system
31:19 are, in part, a response to that, but they cannot be the only response. There is a much
31:25 bigger responsibility on our society as a whole, and particularly on all men, to create
31:31 a positive change. Men—all of us, myself included—need to do more than simply call
31:36 out negative male behaviour. We need to tackle what is often called toxic masculinity, which
31:43 harms men and boys, as well as women and girls. We must build a society where men feel confident
31:50 in taking a stand against misogyny. To do so, we must also promote the positive and
31:56 highlight to boys and men the benefits that positive masculinity can provide for their
32:01 everyday lives, how it can build respectful, healthy relationships with their partners,
32:07 their families, their colleagues and society, and lead to better mental health and wellbeing
32:12 for men and boys.
32:14 The Scottish Government does not have all the answers on this. We cannot take it on
32:18 alone, but it is a challenge that we will return to. As First Minister, I am committed
32:23 to leading on this issue in my own actions and in those of the Government that I lead.
32:30 At the start of this statement, I made it clear that the Scottish Government will always
32:34 be on the side of the people we serve. Scotland is, and certainly should be, a land of opportunity,
32:42 but I know that it does not always feel like that. To people bearing the brunt of a Westminster
32:47 cost-of-living crisis, to families living in poverty, to struggling businesses, to those
32:52 who still face consequences of discrimination and inequality—I get that. That is why this
32:59 programme for government tackles poverty and inequality head on.
33:03 As part of our work to create opportunities and build strong communities, in the year
33:08 ahead we will help more than 300,000 children with more than £1,000 a year through the
33:13 Scottish child payment. We will increase social security spending by almost £1 billion. We
33:18 will expand free school meals. We will widen access to financial advice. We will help more
33:23 parents buy healthy food. We will help disabled people with the most complex needs so that
33:28 they can live independent lives. We will safeguard the rights of tenants. We will promote payment
33:33 of the living wage. We will increase the pay of childcare and social care staff. We will
33:38 expand high-quality childcare. We will do all of this, first and foremost because it
33:43 is the right thing to do, but also, as I know from my own family history, because providing
33:49 people with support and security helps them to contribute to society and create opportunities
33:55 for others.
33:56 The programme for government sets out how we will work with partners to tackle poverty,
34:01 to promote growth and to strengthen the public services that we all depend on. The people
34:08 of Scotland should be left in absolutely no doubt whatsoever. This Scottish Government
34:13 is on its side. The programme for government shows how we will make progress towards a
34:19 fairer, wealthier and greener Scotland, and I am delighted to commend it to the Parliament.