Last week, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon MSP announced the SNP Government’s 2019/2020 Programme for Government (PfG), which sets out priorities for the coming year.

This PfG focuses on Scotland’s response to the Global Climate Emergency and securing a positive future for the generations to come. This ambitious programme for change stands in stark contrast to the political paralysis at Westminster.

A Scottish Green Deal sets stringent targets for decarbonising all domestic flights by 2024, rail services by 2030 – five years ahead of the UK – and phasing out new petrol and diesel cars by 2032. The SNP Government is also committed to developing a Future Skills Action Plan to equip our workforce with the skills needed for new techniques in construction, energy efficiency, manufacturing and transport in order to create a truly sustainable economy.

In relation to oil and gas, Scottish oil is of much higher quality than Saudi, for example, so damaging our own oil industry would paradoxically cause more carbon pollution. The switch from fossil fuel production will therefore only be phased as renewables take over, to prevent excessive emissions caused by high carbon imports.

The SNP Government will invest an additional £5 million to increase tree planting from 10,000 to 12,000 hectares annually. Last year, 84% per cent of trees planted in the UK were planted in Scotland.

The Public Sector will be mobilised to ensure Scotland meets ambitious climate change targets, through the assignment of our £11 billion procurement budget. To challenge Scotland’s throw-away culture, a Circular Economy Bill will reduce waste and prioritise the reuse and recycling of materials, such as single use plastics. The First Minister also announced a Green Investment Portfolio, a package of projects in renewables, waste and construction worth £3 billion.

Building upon the £500 million investment in energy efficiency measures, all new build homes will be heated from renewable or low carbon sources from 2024.

The SNP Government will invest £500 million in NHS primary care services, to increase the number of GPs, enhance General Practice Nursing and recruit more paramedics and pharmacists. We will provide an additional 800 mental health professionals by March 2022 in hospitals, GP surgeries and prisons. An additional £10 million annual investment will help tackle drug misuse.

In Education, 30 hours of free early learning and childcare delivered to all three and four-year-olds and all two-year-olds from poorer families, will save parents up to £4,500 per child per year. Around 50,000 Scottish pupils will benefit from a £1 billion school investment programme and 30,000 modern apprenticeships each year will ensure our workforce matches the demands of the modern labour market.

The PfG outlined 14 new pieces of legislation, ranging from the UEFA European Championship Bill which will ensure Scotland’s participation in the UEFA European Football Championships to the Redress (Survivors of in Care Abuse) Bill which compensates survivors of historic child abuse whilst in care to the Rural Support Bill, which will replace the Common Agricultural Policy and support our farmers once we’ve left the EU.

To create a more fair and equitable society, Scotland’s new Social Security Agency, which currently assists more than 91,000 people, will deliver vital support through an increased annual budget of £350 million, up from £190 million. To end homelessness, £32 million will be invested in Rapid Rehousing and Housing First programmes over the next three years.

To secure a better, more prosperous country, the SNP Government will progress plans for an independence referendum and demand that the UK Tory Government allows Scotland to decide its own future.

This is just a flavour of SNP Government plans for the coming year. More details are available at: www.gov.scot/programme-for-government/