FM announces new childcare, poverty and housing plans

1. First Minister Humza Yousaf has announced his programme for government in Scotland
2. Childcare is at the centre of his government's agenda for the coming year, he says
3. There are 14 bills in this year’s plans - though three were introduced by Nicola Sturgeon a year ago
4. Yousaf confirms a consultation will take place on an outright ban of single-use vapes
5. The Tories say the government has an "obsession with independence" while Labour claim the government has lost its with with NHS and cost of living
6. A key promise to increase social care wages is seven months away - and a year since Yousaf first made the promise

That's all from our coverage of the programme for government

That brings our coverage of Humza Yousaf's inaugural programme for government to a close. Here's a reminder of the two main stories:

• Scotland could ban disposable vapes under plans unveiled by the country's first minister
• First Minister Humza Yousaf has confirmed new measures to improve childcare in Scotland

Thanks for joining us this afternoon. The editors were Mary McCool and Emily McGarvey. The writers were Thomas Mackintosh and Craig Hutchison.

Yousaf opts for 'big tent' collaborative approach

Philip Sim

BBC Scotland political correspondent

Almost as important as the big speech on programme for government day is the paperwork which goes along with it.

Humza Yousaf has followed the format he used in his “fresh start” launch, by having each of his cabinet secretaries take responsibility for their own portfolio, in their own name.

This “big tent” collaborative approach to government perhaps belies the fact there is no obvious Yousaf Doctrine among the proposals – the new first minister is mostly moving along with plans which have already been mooted or consulted on.

There are devils amid the detail too.

Mr Yousaf’s speech highlighted his pledge to roll out free school meals to pupils in primary six and primary seven.

But the document underlines that the goal is to do this in 2026 – two years later than the last target, which itself had been delayed from 2022.

WATCH: 'Scotland's public services are at breaking point' - Cole-Hamilton

Finally today we heard from Alex Cole-Hamilton, the leader of the Scottish Lib Dems.

He warned: "Scotland's public services are at breaking point".

You can watch that clip below.

'More needed' on NHS, mental health and long Covid - LibDems

Fierce reaction from Scottish government's opponents

While some of Humza Yousaf's pledges were welcomed by opposition parties, he also faced some fierce criticism from the three major opponents:

• Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said the programme for government "is pretty much the same as before"
• He argued the "discredited" agenda of Nicola Sturgeon is being continued, adding there is predictably and an "overwhelming focus on the SNP's obsession with independence"
• Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said the plans are not "bold enough" to tackle the cost of living and the NHS crisis
• He added there are one in seven Scots on NHS waiting lists insisting there is "more rhetoric" and "no plan" in Yousaf's programme
• Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said he was disappointed not to hear about Scotland's sewage problem. "We are massively behind England," he told Holyrood

What's in Humza Yousaf's programme for government?

As we've been reporting, Scotland's first minister has been setting out his programme for government.

Here's a recap of the key issues Humza Yousaf announced:

• Childcare will be at the centre of the Scottish government's agenda, and Yousaf said more than £400m would be invested into the Scottish Child Payment scheme
• He announced an expansion programme of free school meals meaning it will be rolled out to P6 and P7 pupils
• Yousaf announced a pilot for care from nine months to the end of primary school, plans to accelerate care expansion for two-year olds, improve childminder recruitment and boost pay to a £12 per hour minimum from April

• The FM also promised £750m for affordable homes – with 10% to be built in island and rural communities

• The government will consult on an outright ban of single-use vapes, he said
• Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said the "discredited" agenda of Sturgeon is being continued, and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said the plans are not "bold enough"

Will £12 an hour for care workers ease a crisis in the care sector?

David Henderson

BBC Scotland Business and Transport Correspondent

Just before he became first minister in April, Humza Yousaf promised to raise wages for social care workers to £12 an hour.

Right now they're paid just £10.90 an hour.

The care sector warns low wages fuel a staffing crisis, and make it impossible to fill many roles.

Today the FM's confirmed he'll fulfil his promise to increase those wages.

So for those on full time contracts, he says, this could lead to a pay increase from April of up to £2,000 a year.

But that's still seven months away, and a year since he first made the promise.

The cost of living is soaring.

With inflation rising at an annual rate of 6.8% in July, £12 an hour will be worth a fair bit less next April than it is now.

The care sector says the £12 hourly rate is the bare minimum needed NOW, to attract more workers.

So delaying this pay rise could cause problems for care staff and their employers.

WATCH: SNP has an obsession with independence - Ross

We also heard from the leader of the Scottish Tory Party in response to the first minister's address.

Douglas Ross accused the government's programme of showing the SNP's "obsession with independence".

You can watch that clip below.

SNP showing 'obsession' with independence - Ross

Few new ideas for cutting greenhouse gas emissions

Kevin Keane

BBC Scotland environment correspondent

The race is on and the speed is being measured in knots rather than miles an hour.

Both Rishi Sunak and Humza Yousaf are determined to boost the deployment of onshore wind with the PM expected to lift an effective ban and the FM committing to halve the consenting time.

It's hard to fathom that in about a decade wind farms have gone from being the enemy to the saviour with both leaders now aware they're a cheap and effective way to accelerate the transition to renewable energy.

But it's a marathon rather than a sprint with decades of new wind farms still needed as demand grows for electricity for heating and electric vehicles.

Beyond that there are few new ideas in the programme for government which might help reverse the trend of missing annual targets for cutting our greenhouse gas emissions.

A consultation will examine options for single use vapes which are both an environmental and health issue.

But campaigners are disappointed there's still no firm commitment to a ban despite more than 2.7 million vapes being littered last year alone.

Child poverty group urges more details over policy

Reaction to Humza Yousaf's programme is coming thick and fast - let's bring you some remarks from John Dickie who is the director of the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) in Scotland.

"The first minister is right to prioritise childcare as key to tackling child poverty," he says.

"We look forward to seeing the details but today’s announcements are welcome."

Dickie notes his "disappointment" at a lack of any further detail.

He adds it is vital childcare is "funded and delivered at scale in ways that ensure it is available where and when struggling families need it".

Labour and SNP already on election battlegrounds

Andrew Kerr

Scottish political correspondent

Some of the most dramatic moments during the programme for government came during the Labour leader’s speech.

The two men – who have known each other from their schooldays - clashed in fairly vitriolic exchanges.

Labour’s Anas Sarwar said the first minister can’t hide from reality - 16 years of incompetence and financial mismanagement in government.

He said the focus should be on the twin crises - cost of living and NHS.

Echoing the Conservative leader, Sarwar accused Yousaf of being the “continuity candidate”.

But, the first minister hit back - saying it would be helpful if his rival held on to one principle.

Sarwar said enough of the spin and the Scottish people would pass judgement on the government in the forthcoming Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election

That election messaging continued - with the Labour leader saying only his party can boot the Tories out of Number 10.

Perhaps even a year out from a Westminster vote, the parties are clearly on an election footing.

Federation of Small Businesses welcomes new programme

The Federation of Small Businesses’ (FSB) Scotland Policy has responded to Humza Yousaf's inaugural programme for government.

Its chair, Andrew McRae, said the FSB had called for an "unashamedly pro-growth, pro-small business" statement, and says the first minister was right to acknowledge his government "can’t deliver on any of its priorities unless we have a functioning, growing economy".

He highlighted the new £15m package of measures to back entrepreneurs and hopes the support is "meaningfully transformed" to better fit their needs.

“Any efforts to boost start-ups need to see some of the practical barriers to setting up in business removed.

"This includes childcare, so we welcome the announcement of much needed additional support here."

The list of bills to be introduced by the government

There are 14 bills in this year’s programme for government, however three of them, Education, Housing and the Scottish Aggregates Tax featured in the plans unveiled by Nicola Sturgeon a year ago.

Bills for introduction 2023-24

1. Agriculture
2. Budget (No. 3)
3. Cladding Remediation
4. Education
5. Electoral Reform
6. Gender Representation on Public Boards Remedial Action
7. Housing
8. Human Rights
9. Judicial Factors
10. Land Reform
11. Misogyny
12. Scottish Aggregates Tax
13. Scottish Languages
14. Social Security (Amendment)

WATCH: SNP has lost its way on NHS and cost of living - Sarwar

The Scottish Labour leader and the first minister clashed in Holyrood as Humza Yousaf set out his government's plan for the year ahead.

You can watch below as Anas Sarwar accuses the SNP of losing its way on the NHS crisis and the cost-of-living crisis.

SNP 'lost its way' on NHS and cost of living - Sarwar

Two leaders butt heads on Scotland's issues

Andrew Kerr

Scottish political correspondent

Three days of debate are now getting underway in the Scottish parliament on the first minister’s programme for government.

Douglas Ross, the Scottish Conservative leader, was first on his feet and he pointed out the first minister appeared not to be listening to him – and not listening to business either.

He used a parliamentary tactic – demanding the first minister intervene during his speech to answer: “When will you dual the A9 by?”

Huma Yousaf kept his seat – to Tory jeers.

Ross said it was a crucial infrastructure project for the Highlands - and he clearly couldn’t say when his promise will be delivered.

But when the topic moved on to the NHS - the first minister stormed in later to point out there had been no industrial action in Scotland’s health service.

The two men later butted heads again on Scotland’s drugs crisis and the Conservatives' Right to Recovery Bill.

Yousaf was back on his feet – and called for the devolution of powers from Westminster for a safe drug consumption room pilot.

The Conservatives’ main theme – which Yousaf would strongly argue against – is that this a continuity first minister with a continuity agenda.

'Scotland's public services are at breaking point'

Scottish Parliament

More from Alex Cole-Hamilton who says essential public services in Scotland have been "devastated" and are at "breaking point".

He talks about making rail fares cheaper, saying it would increase demand, fill carriages and allow for rail staff to get a better wage.

The Scottish Lib Dem leader also touches on the issue of sewage on Scottish beaches and off the coast, as he admits he is "disappointed to have heard nothing on this" in his remarks today.

"We are still massively behind England here," Cole-Hamilton says as he urges the government to publish every sewage dump.

Speaking about the health service, Cole-Hamilton also wants the government to consider establish long-covid clinics as he says those suffering with the condition have "been forgotten".

Scottish Lib Dems warned of RAAC 'before summer recess'

Alex Cole-Hamilton is next in challenging the first minister's programme for government.

The Scottish Lib Dem leader begins with concerns about dangerous concrete reminding the chamber he brought up RAAC in the last FMQs before the summer recess.

He says the summer was a "wasted opportunity" and RAAC was present in at least four health boards and 37 schools.

Cole-Hamilton says parents are anxious now children are back.

"I am not trying to frighten people but we need to take this seriously and recognise the urgency of this situation," he says.

"We cannot wait for tragedy to be the catalyst for meaningful government action."

Sarwar: We've got to put economic strategy and growth first

A defiant Sarwar finishes his response by saying Labour stands ready to pick up as he takes aim at the Conservative UK government and the SNP Scottish Government.

He accuses them of letting down the people of Scotland.

"We have got to put economic strategy and growth at the heart of this parliament," he says.

Sarwar cites taxpayer money being used and wasted on the deposit return scheme and the failed Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs).

"Only Labour believes our country's best days lies ahead, we're ready to deliver the change Scotland needs," Sarwar finishes to applause from his MSPs behind him.

Yousaf pressed on tackling rail and bus fares

Labour has asked to freeze rail travel and cap bus fares, but each time the SNP has "ignored its requests and instead proposed tax hikes", argues Sarwar.

He says Yousaf is "deluded to the reality facing households".

"Both of Scotland's government are distracted and divided," says the Scottish Labour leader.

He argues Scottish Labour are the only alternative for a fresh start.

Will today's announcements see cuts elsewhere?

Lisa Summers

BBC Scotland Health Correspondent

Figures published today show waiting times for the NHS at another record high.

Demand has been going up, but hospitals have really struggled to clear the backlog because they just don't have enough beds for the patients who need them.

The biggest reason for this is because shortages in social care mean too many patients can't get out of hospital when they are ready to be discharged.

Humza Yousaf is very familiar with these challenges, having spent almost two years as health secretary.

One of the first things he did when he became first minister was to set out a commitment to increase pay for social care workers to a minimum of £12 an hour.

He has announced today that he will fulfil that promise, with the hope it makes social care a more attractive career option at a time when there are many better paid options elsewhere.

What is unclear at this point, is where the money is going to come from and whether it will mean cuts elsewhere in health and social care?

Over £600 million has been found to fund pay increases for nurses, junior doctors, paramedics and other NHS workers, with Scotland the only part of the UK to avoid strike action.

But with over 100,000 people working in adult social care, the money will have to be found somewhere to fund this increase in pay.

Yousaf attacks Labour's 'summer of u-turns'

"We saw a summer of u-turns from Labour," Humza Yousaf intervenes.

Yousaf claims Anas Sarwar supports the two child limit.

"Labour is simply a party that does what head office tells them to do," argues the first minister.

Sarwar says he is pleased at the intervention and he says the first minister would rather attack the party that hasn't been in government than look at his own record.

He brings up record levels of homelessness applications and points to silence on the SNP backbenches.