100 days in office

27 Feb 2015 01:15 PM

First Minister’s ‘report card’ of achievements.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said that she is “more determined than ever” to create a Scotland fair for all, as she marks her 100th day in office.

Ms Sturgeon has reflected on some of the achievements since she was sworn in by the Scottish Parliament as First Minister – and spoken of what she has learned, and the work to be done in the weeks, months and years ahead.

On taking office, the First Minister confirmed her commitment to creating a fairer and more prosperous society by boosting the economy, tackling inequality and empowering our communities.

The First Minister also committed to creating the ‘most open and accessible’ government that Scotland has ever seen.

Now, meetings of the Cabinet are regularly held in towns and cities across Scotland – giving people the chance to raise issues directly with the First Minister and her top team.

The First Minister said:

“When I became First Minister I was clear that I wanted to create a Scotland where everyone has the same chance of success, whatever their background.

“That is how we not only improve lives but also grow our economy.

“In the first 100 days of my government we’ve begun work to achieve those aspirations.

“This week have demonstrated my commitment to helping to break down the barriers that prevent our young people from achieving their full potential.

“I am very proud of the work myself and my team have done so far – but I am also clear that we have much more to do.

“Everything I have learned over the first hundred days has made me more determined than ever - over the next 100 days and beyond – to make Scotland a better, fairer, more prosperous place for us all to live and work.”

Notes To Editors

Key achievements:

Government and increasing participation:

• The first gender-balanced cabinet in the UK;
• Online Facebook Q&As;
• Cabinet meeting outside Edinburgh – meetings taken to Dumfries and Aberdeen with Alloa this month;
• Abolished the poll tax;
• Launched consultation on Land Reform;
• Agreed delivery of votes for 16/17 year olds in Scotland.

Growing the Economy to help create more and better quality jobs:

• Confirmed the establishment of a Fair Work Convention between the Government, businesses, the trade unions;
• Set out a Scottish Business Pledge, which will see government and business work together to deliver better wages and improved working conditions;
• Now 120 accredited Living Wage employers in Scotland – an increase of 50 since the Programme for Government announcement was made. 100,000 employees of accredited companies are now benefitting from the Living Wage;
• £6 million invested in 1000 new job opportunities for unemployed and vulnerable people in the third sector and charities;
• Creating a jobs taskforce in Aberdeen to help the Oil and Gas industry, campaigning for changes to the UK tax regime and giving all apprentices in the industry a guarantee of continued training or employment;
• Confirmed the most competitive package of business rates;
• Next week we will be setting out our new Government Economic Strategy for Scotland – a strategy that will ensure strong and sustainable growth in the economy.

Key infrastructure projects across Scotland are well on their way:

• Forth Crossing past the half-way point – on time and under budget;
• Track-laying completed for Borders Rail;
• Work has now commenced on the AWPR;
• Delivered an extra £30 million to help people buy new homes from small and medium sized house-builders through our successful Help to Buy (Scotland) scheme.

Protecting Public Services and Tackling Inequalities:

Health:

• Protected Scotland’s health service with a budget of over £12 billion for the first time;
• Introduced a funding package to double the number of specialist MND nurses;
• Confirmed an additional £100 million to increase social care capacity and help reduce the number of people inappropriately delayed in hospital;
• Provided another £35 million to mitigate the ‘Bedroom Tax’.

Education:

• Introduced an Attainment Challenge backed by £100 million to drive forward attainment in areas of most deprived communities;
• Confirmed plans for a new Masters qualification for head teachers;
• Confirmed ambitious plans to almost double the number of free hours of childcare to 30 hours a week by the end of the next parliament;
• Completed the roll-out of ambitious plans for free school meals for every P1-P3 child in Scotland, benefitting an additional 135,000 children and saving families of every eligible child at least £330 a year;
• Secured a commitment from councils across the country to maintain teacher numbers across Scotland.

Justice:

• Introduced plans to end the automatic early release of all long-term prisoners;
• Confirmed support for women offenders who face prison by considering alternatives to a new women’s prison;
• Maintained 1000 police officers;
• Confirmed plans for legislation on domestic abuse and revenge porn.