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26/05/2011
Scotland's First Minister Sets Out Priorities
In his first major policy speech to the Parliament since being re-elected as First Minister, Mr Alex Salmond said the new Government has an 'ambitious agenda'.
The agenda focuses on a new partnership - the Social Wage - between politicians, public services and people to create the social and economic circumstances to allow Scots to meet their ambitions.
The First Minister said priorities during the next five year term include: Growing the economy; Tackling sectarianism; Addressing alcohol issues; The reform of public services; Jobs; and Internationalisation.
Mr Salmond said: "Already within the Scottish Government, we have secured a no compulsory redundancy deal. Our commitment is to extend this first to the tens of thousands of workers in our NHS, before working to ensure no compulsory redundancies across the public sector.
"And the steps this Parliament has already taken: free personal care, the abolition of tuition fees, the scrapping of tolls and the delivery of free prescriptions are our side of the bargain. As are the next steps, including the freezing of the Council Tax until the end of this Parliament. We know the pressures on family budgets. We know that these tough times are forcing difficult decisions in homes the length and breadth of our nation. Many have accepted a wage freeze. People understand that public spending must be restrained."
Mr Salmond told the Chamber that his continued aim was to deliver a better society for the people of Scotland.
He said: "To make this progress, we need sovereign powers, like any state, but it's the purpose we put them to that is important, the path we choose, the horizon we aim for that counts for me."
(BMcN)
The agenda focuses on a new partnership - the Social Wage - between politicians, public services and people to create the social and economic circumstances to allow Scots to meet their ambitions.
The First Minister said priorities during the next five year term include: Growing the economy; Tackling sectarianism; Addressing alcohol issues; The reform of public services; Jobs; and Internationalisation.
Mr Salmond said: "Already within the Scottish Government, we have secured a no compulsory redundancy deal. Our commitment is to extend this first to the tens of thousands of workers in our NHS, before working to ensure no compulsory redundancies across the public sector.
"And the steps this Parliament has already taken: free personal care, the abolition of tuition fees, the scrapping of tolls and the delivery of free prescriptions are our side of the bargain. As are the next steps, including the freezing of the Council Tax until the end of this Parliament. We know the pressures on family budgets. We know that these tough times are forcing difficult decisions in homes the length and breadth of our nation. Many have accepted a wage freeze. People understand that public spending must be restrained."
Mr Salmond told the Chamber that his continued aim was to deliver a better society for the people of Scotland.
He said: "To make this progress, we need sovereign powers, like any state, but it's the purpose we put them to that is important, the path we choose, the horizon we aim for that counts for me."
(BMcN)
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