THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT’S PROGRAM FOR GOVERNMENT IS FOCUSED ON SEIZING SCOTLAND’S ECONOMIC POTENTIAL AND REDUCING POVERTY.

Click Today First Minister, Humza Yousaf announced a Programme for Government (PfG) for 2023-24 that builds on the three missions to deliver: equality; opportunity; community.

Commenting on the PfG, Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh said
“This PfG will benefit my constituents in Midlothian North and Musselburgh as it puts us on a path towards tackling some of the big issues facing the country.  

Many of the announcements made today by First Minister Humza Yousaf deal with the issues that are areas of concern for my constituents.

I welcome plans to ban single use vapes in Scotland as part of plans to protect public health, our young people and the environment.

I am pleased that Private and voluntary sector staff working in Adult Social Care, Children’s Services and Early Learning will now receive at least £12 an hour from April.

I am encouraged that we will make further preparation for the expansion of universal Free School Meals for all pupils in primaries six and seven.

These are just some of this years program that will build upon the success of the Scottish Child Payment, that benefits 11,495 children in East Lothian and Midlothian.

By making choices in Scotland that are socially just, we have used the Scottish Government’s fixed budget and limited powers to tackle inequality and poverty and protect people, as far as possible. This has protected us from the harm inflicted by UK Government cuts and austerity, as well as the ongoing cost of living crisis.

This government continues to support key pillars that were long abandoned elsewhere in the UK, such as free education, free prescriptions, free personal care and so much more. Despite the increasingly challenging context that we face, the SNP Government has successfully balanced the Scottish Budget every year; and this Programme for Government continues our mission to protect the most vulnerable “.