Summary

  • The first minister delivers the programme for government 2018-19

  • She pledges to increase capital investment year on year so that by 2025/6 investment in infrastructure will be £7bn higher than current projections

  • Programme for Government promises an increase of a quarter of a billion pounds for mental health provision over the next five years

  • The Scottish government pledges to meet settled status fees for EU citizens working in public services

  • £60m in funding for additional school counsellors

  1. Background: Child mental health waiting times worst on recordpublished at 15:10 British Summer Time 4 September 2018

    Child and adultImage source, Thinkstock

    Scottish child mental health waiting times were the worst on record between April and June, according to new figures.

    Only 67.8% of the 4,664 children and young people who started their treatment during the three month period did so within the Scottish government's 18-week waiting time target.

    The figure compares with 71.1% in the previous quarter and 80.7% for the same quarter in 2017, and is the worst on record since the target was set in 2014.

    The Scottish Liberal Democrats described the statistics as "horrendous and heartbreaking".

    Mental Health Minister Clare Haughey admitted they were "completely unacceptable".

    The government set a standard for the NHS to deliver a maximum wait of 18 weeks from a patient's referral to treatment for specialist child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) from December 2014.

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  2. £250m investment in mental healthpublished at 15:09 British Summer Time 4 September 2018

    Nicola SturgeonImage source, bbc

    Finally turning to mental health, Ms Sturgeon announces a network of care and support for new mothers will be developed, including improved access to counselling and an expansion of specialist services.

    Improvements to NHS24 Breathing Space and online Cognitive Behavioral Therapy will be made, she adds.

    Most of the new £250m investment will be made to CAMHS, the first minister states, including:

    • £60m for school nursing and counselling services
    • enhanced learning materials for teachers, including acces to mental health first aid
    • a community mental health wellbeing service for 5 to 24 year olds
    • fast-track pathways for young people with the most series mental illness
  3. Postpublished at 15:05 British Summer Time 4 September 2018

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  4. Waiting times improvement plan to be publishedpublished at 15:05 British Summer Time 4 September 2018

    Health next and the first minister announces her health secretary will publish a waiting tmes improvement plan.

    Ms Sturgeon says: "Part of the longer term plan to meet waiting time targets on a sustainable basis is the creation - over this Parliament - of five new elective treatment centres."

  5. First minister announces justice bills and policies.......published at 15:04 British Summer Time 4 September 2018

    • Family Law Bill
    • Female Genital Mutilation Bill
    • extend the presumption against ineffective short sentences from 3 to 12 months, once additional safeguards are in place for domestic abuse victims
    • legislation for new drug driving limits
    • Biometric Data Bill
    • Disclosure Bill
    • consultation on reforms to the law of defamation
    • continue work to develop legislation to reform the law on gender recognition
    • Census Bill
  6. Victims of sexual assault to be prioritised in NHSpublished at 15:03 British Summer Time 4 September 2018

    Sturgeon

    Turning to the justice portfolio, the first minister confirms efforts will be made to ensure victims do not have to retell their story to different organisations when seeking support.

    "We will also expand the range of serious offences where the victim has the right to make an impact statement".

    The Scottish government also intends to increase the transparency of the parole system, she adds.

    £2m will be provided over three years to speed up access to support for those affected by rape or sexual assault, the FM adds, including ensuring access to healthcare for victims is a priority for the NHS.

  7. Best Start Grant payments six months ahead of schedulepublished at 15:01 British Summer Time 4 September 2018

    Pregnant personImage source, PA

    The first payments of the new Carers Allowance Supplement will be made next week, the first minister confirms.

    The Young Carer Grant will also be paid from autumn next year, she adds.

    Ms Sturgeon confirms that the first payments of the Best Start Grant will be paid before Christmas this year - six months ahead of schedule.

    A new Consumer Protection Bill is announced and formal consultation on a not-for-profit energy company will begin next year.

    The comprehensive action plan will be published before the end of the year, which will centre the Housing First approach Ms Sturgeon tells the chamber.

  8. Sturgeon announces social isolation and loneliness strategypublished at 14:59 British Summer Time 4 September 2018

    The government will publish a national strategy to tackle social isolation an and loneliness.

    It will also publish an Older People's Framework.

  9. Postpublished at 14:57 British Summer Time 4 September 2018

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  10. UN Convention into the Rights of the Child will be incorprated into Scots lawpublished at 14:55 British Summer Time 4 September 2018

    The first minister pledges to ensure a greater focus on preventing ACEs (adverse experiences in childhood) and also on supporting the resilience of children and adults to overcome childhood adversity.

    Ms Sturgeon says the principles of the UN Convention into the Rights of the Child will be incorprated into Scots law.

  11. Postpublished at 14:55 British Summer Time 4 September 2018

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  12. Closing attainment gap remains overriding mission of government insists FMpublished at 14:51 British Summer Time 4 September 2018

    kidsImage source, Thinkstock

    Pivoting to efforts to support young people, the first minister says closing the attainment gap remains the overriding mission of the government.

    By the end of the year a new headteacher's charter plus national guidance will be published, she adds.

    £10m will be made available to teachers through the Regional Improvement Collaboratives and Education Scotland, she states.

    On access to higher and further education, Ms Sturgeon confirms steps will be take to implement the recommendations from the student support review, including college bursaries and university grants for students from the lowest income families.

  13. First minister pledges to move towards net-zero emissions of all greenhouse gasespublished at 14:49 British Summer Time 4 September 2018

    gasImage source, getty

    The first minister moves now to sustainable economic growth.

    She says: "Many of our actions will help us to meet the targets set out in the new Climate Change Bill, which will progress through Parliament in the coming year."

    The first minister pledges to move towards net-zero emissions of all greenhouse gases - not simply carbon dioxide - as soon as the government credibly can.

    The target at the moment is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 90% by 2050.

    She argues that the targets in the Climate Change Bill for 2020, 2030 and 2040 are the most stringent statutory targets anywhere in the world.

    In another announcement Ms Sturgeon says by the end of this Parliament, the government will introduce what is commonly known as “Finn’s law” to increase the available sentences for the worst forms of animal cruelty, including attacks on police dogs.

  14. EU citizens in public sector will have settled fees paid forpublished at 14:48 British Summer Time 4 September 2018

    Ms Sturgeon confirms a new national export plan will be published by spring, but in the meantime intensive support will be provided to 50 businesses to help them grow overseas.

    On having a skilled workforce, the first minister says: "This government will always make the positive case for immigration."

    She argues against EU citizens having to pay settled status fees.

    EU citizens working in the devolved public services will have their settle status fees covered by the Scottish government, Ms Sturgeon announces.

  15. Postpublished at 14:47 British Summer Time 4 September 2018

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  16. Superfast broadband to be available to every business and residential propertypublished at 14:44 British Summer Time 4 September 2018

    Nicola SturgeonImage source, bbc

    The first minister moves on to digital infrastructure, saying the Scottish government has exceeded its target of making fibre broadband available to 95% of properties in Scotland

    Ms Sturgeon adds: "And I can confirm today that the three main contracts for our Reaching 100% programme will be awarded in the coming year - ensuring that superfast broadband is available to every business and residential property in every part of Scotland."

    She then confirms that in the coming year the government will introduce the legislation that will formally underpin the Scottish National Investment Bank.

    There follows an announcement that she will increase capital investment year on year, so that by 2025/26 it is £1.5bn higher than the 2019/20 baseline of around £5bn.

    Ms Sturgeon argues that will mean £7bn more for hospitals, schools, houses, transport, low carbon technology and digital connections.

  17. Series of infrastructure announcementspublished at 14:41 British Summer Time 4 September 2018

    The first minister also announces:

    • investment of £15m to add electric charge points to homes, businesses and council premises;
    • an increase to the low carbon transport fund;
    • 500 low emission vehicles added to public sector fleets;
    • a 20% increases in rail seating capacity and 200 new services;
    • and continued preparation for a public sector bid for rail
  18. Postpublished at 14:40 British Summer Time 4 September 2018

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  19. 'We must intensify our efforts now to build an economy fit for the future'published at 14:37 British Summer Time 4 September 2018

    First minister

    Economic growth has been higher in Scotland than the rest of the UK for the past year, Ms Sturgeon states, while the productivity gap has narrowed.

    "These are strong foundations but we must intensify our efforts now to build an economy fit for the future."

    She confirms there will be:

    • a non-domestic rates bill for the Barclay review recommendations, including on rates relief and three year valuations
    • a new economic action plan to be published in October
    • an increase in the number of modern apprenticeships available
  20. Postpublished at 14:33 British Summer Time 4 September 2018

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