Scottish Green Party members have approved the party’s cooperation agreement, clearing the way for co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater to become Scotland’s (and the UK’s) first Green ministers.
The agreement was approved overwhelmingly by members at a meeting yesterday and ratified by the party’s national council afterward.
Patrick Harvie MSP said: “I am delighted that our party members have given their support to this historic cooperation agreement that will see Greens enter government for the first time in Scotland, or indeed anywhere in the UK.
“With Greens in government we will be able to deliver positive change for the people of Scotland.”
Lorna Slater MSP said: “Scottish Green Party members are thoughtful and considerate, and I am pleased that having discussed and debated this agreement in great detail they have decided to take this historic step into government.
“The time has come for Scotland to step up efforts to decarbonise our economy and invest in a fairer, greener future. There’s no time to waste and I’m looking forward to start work on our transformative agenda in the coming days.”
Welcoming the agreement reached with the Scottish Green Party, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “I am delighted that members of both the Scottish Green Party and the SNP have agreed that we should work together in the Scottish Government to build a greener, fairer, independent Scotland.
“This historic agreement will provide a strong platform for the transformative programme we want to deliver. We will work collaboratively to support a fair recovery from Covid, address with urgency the impacts of the climate emergency, and give the people of Scotland a vote on independence.
“The agreement recognises that co-operation and consensus are essential to finding the practical solutions to the big challenges we face, and it echoes the founding principles of our Parliament.
“While our parties do not agree on everything, we have much common ground. We also have a determination – and indeed a responsibility – to look beyond our differences to build a better country.
“I look forward to working collaboratively with the Scottish Greens in government, and with all parties in parliament, to achieve this.”
The Scottish Conservatives, the main opposition party at Holyrood, reckon the deal creates a nationalist ‘Coalition of Chaos’.
“The SNP-Green coalition of chaos will hammer drivers. The Greens want to see essential road upgrades scrapped and most cars forced off the road within just a few years.”
“No one should consider themselves invincible to COVID-19.”
People aged under 40 who have still to receive their second dose of the vaccine are being urged to book an appointment or go to a drop-in clinic and maximise the protection offered.
The number of cases is rising and around two thirds of new cases are in under 40s. Over the past month, 30% of COVID-19 related hospital admissions were in those aged under 40, and the majority of hospital admissions amongst unvaccinated individuals were in the under 40s age group (58%).
The second dose of the vaccine offers greater and longer lasting protection and can be given from eight weeks after the first, either at a drop-in clinic or by requesting an appointment through the NHS Inform website. Evidence shows that after two doses the vaccines are more than 90% effective against hospital admissions from the effects of the virus. Even if the time since the first dose is more than eight weeks, people can still be vaccinated and are encouraged to come forward.
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “More than eighty per cent of the population have now received both doses and I really want to say thanks to all of them and of course, everyone involved in the delivery of our national programme.
“Scotland’s vaccination programme has been one of the fastest in the world, but it’s clear there are some people – particularly aged under 40 – who have been offered a second appointment and, for whatever reason, have not yet attended. Our message to you is clear. It’s not too late to get your vaccine and it remains vital that you get both doses in order to give maximum protection against this virus. Please don’t leave the job half done.
“We are working to make it as simple as possible for people to get their vaccines, and have increased the options available for how and when people choose to be vaccinated, such as drop-in and open-access clinics.
“While we are in the process of emerging from the pandemic, high case rates at the moment underline the fact that this virus is still a significant threat and the importance of getting vaccinated cannot be underestimated.”
Ian Scott, Clinical lead for Respiratory (Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) ECMO service Scotland based in Aberdeen Royal infirmary said: “Over the last few weeks we have been seeing increased numbers of referrals to intensive care in the under 40s with COVID-19. In the UK, the average age of patients with COVID-19 requiring ECMO support is currently under forty.
“The stark fact is, none of these patients have been double vaccinated and most do not have underlying health conditions.
“Normally at this time of year we would have no patients requiring this level of respiratory support. The survival rate of patients with severe COVID-19 is worse than viral pneumonia. The risks with requiring ventilation and ECMO are extremely high and we feel that some of these deaths could be avoided.”
NHS Grampian ECMO Lead Nurse Lucy Fleming said: “I am under 40. To see increasing numbers of young and otherwise healthy people of my own age requiring this level of intensive care is heart-breaking.
“There is no doubt that as cases rise, it is crucial that everyone who is eligible takes up their invitation for a vaccination and gets both doses.
“No one should consider themselves invincible to COVID-19.”
5,858 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Scotland yesterday (28th August).
‘So please – get vaccinated, get tested, and tighten up again on following the rules and guidelines’ – First Minister Nicola Sturgeon
Statement given by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on Friday 27 August 2021:
Good afternoon. I’m joined today by Jason Leitch, the National Clinical Director. He and I will take questions shortly.
However before that, I’ll give a further update on where we are with Covid, starting with today’s statistics.
We are reporting another sharp rise in cases today. 6,835 positive cases were reported yesterday – that is by the far the highest number in a single day so far. It represents 14.2% of all tests carried out.
479 people are in hospital with Covid – 53 more than yesterday. And 47 people are in intensive care, which is the same as yesterday.
However, for some context, I should also say there was a record number of tests carried out yesterday. That doesn’t entirely explain and account for the rise, but it does give some important context.
Sadly, a further 4 deaths have been reported in the past 24 hours, which means that the total number of deaths registered, under our daily definition, is now 8,103.
As always, my condolences go to everyone who has lost someone as a result of the virus.
As of this morning, 4,095,463 people have received a first dose of the vaccine.
And 3,629,482 people have received a second dose.
The vast majority of people over the age of 40 – 95% of them – have now had two doses of the vaccine.
70% of 30 to 39 year olds have also had both doses. For 18 to 29 years, 74% have had first doses and 46% have had second doses and are ongoing in this age group.
And 44% of 16 and 17 year olds have now had their first jag.
Those rates of vaccination are positive and continue to give us optimism for the remainder of our path through this pandemic.
If we are fully vaccinated, we are somewhat less likely to get Covid – although, as I said on Tuesday, around a third of new cases at the moment are of people who have been vaccinated.
However, even more importantly, we know that being fully vaccinated makes us significantly less likely to fall seriously ill from Covid.
That is why the high number of new cases that we are seeing has not so far led to the same number of hospitalisations that we saw in previous waves of the pandemic.
That said, the case numbers that we are seeing at the moment are still a cause for concern.
In the last 7 days, we have reported more new cases than at any previous time in the pandemic. Case numbers have roughly doubled in that time.
It’s important to point out case numbers are rising across the UK just now – but after a period of slower increases in Scotland, the rise here is particularly sharp at the moment.
That is possibly – at least in part – a reflection of the fact that our schools return earlier, with the increased interactions that come with that.
And although vaccination has significantly weakened the link between a high volume of new cases, and serious harm to people’s health, it has not broken that link.
Even if a much smaller proportion of people who get Covid now need to go to hospital, basic arithmetic tells us that a small percentage of a very large number is still a big number.
Indeed, in recent days we have seen an increase in the number of people in hospital. To provide some context, last Friday, 312 people were in hospital with Covid – today’s figure is 479.
And of course people who do not go to hospital can still suffer serious illness – including through long Covid.
The potential health impact on individuals is a concern in itself.
It will also put our health service under further pressure – at a time when many staff have been working flat out for 18 months, and when we are trying to catch up with a backlog of other procedures.
At the start of the pandemic, “protect the NHS” was one of our key messages – it is still something that all of us need to bear in mind at this stage.
All of this is why, on Tuesday, I described our current position as fragile.
There is no doubt that the vaccines have allowed us to take a far less restrictive approach to dealing with the virus, than we did at earlier stages of the pandemic.
And we know that the measures which have been in place for much of the last 17 months have in themselves caused serious harm. They have disrupted schools, hurt the economy and affected wellbeing.
That is why – even although, if we are at all responsible, we can’t and shouldn’t rule anything out in the face of a pandemic, none of us want to go backwards to even limited restrictions.
But we cannot ignore the current surge in cases either. My job in times like these is not to be popular – it is to take any decisions, no matter how difficult, that are necessary to keep us safe.
In particular, we are currently watching closely to see whether – and to what extent – we might start to see a significant increase in serious illness and people being hospitalized.
I will continue to keep you updated in the days ahead. Though I want to be clear that some of the speculation you might be reading in the media just now is not accurate – for example, we are not currently considering a circuit breaker lockdown.
For the moment, though, I do need to stress the vital importance of everyone playing their part in limiting the spread of the virus. The more we all do this, the more chance we have of avoiding the need to re-impose any formal restrictions.
So we are asking businesses to ensure that they continue encouraging employees and customers to comply fully with Covid mitigations. That includes wearing face coverings in indoor public spaces where required.
Businesses should also, at present, continue to work with staff to support home working where at all possible.
It is of course vital for businesses – as it is for everyone – that we slow the spread of the virus, and avoid the need for further restrictions, and I am grateful to all of the businesses across the country who are doing so much to help achieve this.
In addition, of course, all of us as individuals have a really important part to play. All of us have some control here over transmission.
And there are three steps in particular that we must all take, to help to keep the pandemic under control. So I will close by emphasizing those once again and remind people how important it is that we all abide by these mitigations.
First, if you are eligible and haven’t yet done so, please get vaccinated. This remains the single most important thing we can all do to keep each other safe.
There are drop-in vaccination centres in every mainland health board area – and you can find out details of where they are, on the NHS inform website, or by following local health boards on social media.
So if you haven’t been vaccinated yet – or if you had your first dose 8 or more weeks ago, and haven’t had a second dose – you can turn up at your nearest centre and get the jag.
And if you have any doubts about vaccination, go along to a centre anyway – the staff and volunteers there will be able to answer your questions, and talk to you about the process.
Second, please test yourself regularly. If you do that, then if you have the virus but don’t have symptoms – you have a chance of finding that out before you go out to work or to socialise. Testing yourself therefore makes it less likely that you will inadvertently pass the virus to others.
You can order free lateral flow tests through the NHS inform website. The tests will then be sent to you in the post, or you can collect them from local pharmacies or test sites.
If you test positive through one of these lateral flow devices – or if you have symptoms of the virus – make sure that you self-isolate, and book a PCR test. Self-isolation remains a really important way in which we can all slow the spread of the virus.
And thirdly and finally, please follow the rules and public health guidance which are still in place.
That’s important for all of us. Even basic steps – wearing face coverings on public transport, and opening a window if you have someone in your house to make sure there is good ventilation – can still make a big difference.
So please remember it is still a requirement to wear face coverings in certain indoor public places, such as shops, public transport and when entering and moving about in hospitality settings. That’s a simple but important way in which we can protect each other.
And more generally, it is important in these current circumstances, we think about how often we’re socializing and with how many others, what risks we are running when we go out and about, and the basic steps that reduce those risks.
Meet outdoors as much as possible.
If you are indoors, avoid crowded places. And open the windows – the better ventilated a room is, the safer it is.
Even though it’s not the law any more, keep a safe distance from people in other households if you can – especially indoors.
Continue to minimise physical contact where possible – like handshaking, for example.
And wash your hands and surfaces regularly and thoroughly.
If we all comply with all of these measures, we will help limit the spread of Covid.
We will make ourselves and our loved ones safer.
And we can maintain the progress that we have made, and to keep on living more freely.
So please – get vaccinated, get tested, and tighten up again on following the rules and guidelines.
The Poverty Alliance have launched our new campaigning tool to allow you to easily email your constituency and regional MSPs urging them to push for the doubling of the Scottish Child Payment now. Children growing up in the grip of poverty can’t wait.
Our e-action comes after over 120 anti-poverty organisations, children’s charities, community groups, think tanks, trade unions, faith leaders – including the Moderator of the Church of Scotland – and academics wrote to the First Minister urging her to “do the right thing” by using the upcoming Programme for Government to commit to doubling the Scottish Child Payment in this year’s budget, the £10 per week per child benefit for low income families.
The letter – coordinated by members of the End Child Poverty coalition in Scotland – states that doubling the payment now would “signal that ending child poverty will be a defining priority for this Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament.”
‘Do the right thing and double the Scottish Child Payment now’ civil society coalition tells First Minister
A coalition of over 100 anti-poverty organisations, children’s charities, community groups, think tanks, trade unions, faith leaders – including the Moderator of the Church of Scotland – and academics have today written to the First Minister urging her to “do the right thing” by using the upcoming Programme for Government to commit to doubling the Scottish Child Payment in this year’s budget, the £10 per week per child benefit for low income families.
The letter – coordinated by members of the End Child Poverty coalition in Scotland – states that doubling the payment now would “signal that ending child poverty will be a defining priority for this Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament.” It has been sent after the Scottish Government – despite all of Scotland’s five main political parties committing to the move at May’s Holyrood elections – have so far failed to set a timescale for the doubling of the payment, stating only that it will take place by the end of the parliamentary term in 2026. The campaigners say the increase is needed now to help families recover from the pandemic and to meet the government’s own statutory 2023/24 interim child poverty targets.
The coalition has issued the plea at a time of growing concern over the numbers of people across the country – particularly women, disabled people and Black and minority ethnic people – being pulled into hardship and with analysis showing that, on current trends, the Scottish Government will fail to meet its child poverty reduction targets.
The letter issues the stark warning that if Scottish ministers fail to double the payment now then “more and more children will be pulled into poverty and the opportunity to meet the interim child poverty targets will be missed.”
Polly Jones (Head of Scotland, Trussell Trust), said:“Food bank use has rocketed by 63% over the last five years because people can’t afford the basics. Over the last year, families have struggled more than most. We have the powers and we have the cross-party consensus to double the Scottish Child Payment now. If Scottish ministers are serious about making ending child poverty a ‘national mission’ then we must not delay.”
Eilidh Dickson (Policy and Parliamentary Manager, Engender) said:“Child poverty and women’s poverty are inextricably linked. Women continue to provide the majority of care for children, are more likely to work in underpaid and undervalued roles, and to work part time or rely on precarious contracts. Women are also twice as likely as men to rely on social security for all or part of their income, even when aspects, for example the two-child limit, mean it fails to meet their needs.
Doubling the Scottish Child Payment is an urgently needed response to supporting children and their caregivers. The Scottish Government must implement this now as part of its mission to eradicate child poverty, while also looking to the gender pay gap action plan and other reforms to social security. The pandemic only adds further urgency to this call as inequality and poverty deepen.”
Professor John McKendrick (Co-Director, Scottish Poverty and Inequality Research Unit, Glasgow Caledonian University) said:“Poverty in Scotland can be solved, and we should not accept it. The Scottish Child Payment is a bold and progressive development that has the potential to lift many children out of poverty. But, with a rising tide of child poverty threatening to overwhelm, communities across Scotland, this potential needs to be realised now. If we are serious about tackling child poverty, doubling the payment now is the right thing for the Scottish Government to do.”
Larry Flanagan (General Secretary, EIS) said:“The EIS unequivocally supports the call for the Scottish Government to act decisively against child poverty and double the Child Payment now rather than delaying when there is urgent need. Levels of poverty experienced by families in Scotland continue to be unacceptably high, worsened by the economic ravages of the pandemic.
The real risk that poverty poses to the educational outcomes and life chances of large numbers of children is one that Scotland as a country simply should not be taking as we look to emergence from the pandemic and education recovery.”
The letter – along with the full list of signatories – can be read here:
Scottish Government’s £5.2 billion for social security support
Social security expenditure in Scotland will total £5.2 billion in 2026-27, according to the Scottish Fiscal Commission’s latest forecast report published today/yesterday.
The amount spent is projected to increase by £1.5 billion over the five years due to a variety of reasons including an increase in benefits provided, inflationary rises to payments, Scotland’s ageing population increasing caseloads for payments to support the pension age group and more children and working-age people receiving disability benefits.
It is expected that more people will access financial support in the coming years as the Scottish Government continues the roll out of devolved benefits. This includes Adult Disability Payment which will replace Personal Independence Payment for disabled people of working age in Scotland in 2022.
The Scottish Child Payment will also be extended to children up to the age of 16 from the end of 2022 if data relating to this benefit is received from the Department for Work and Pensions.
Social Security Minister Ben Macpherson said: “Social security is an investment in the people of Scotland and is a fundamental human right. With the devolved social security powers and limited resources that we have, we are committed to making sure everyone can access the financial support they are entitled to.
“By understanding people’s experiences of accessing UK Government social security support, we have sought to ensure that our new Scottish Government service is easily accessible and that people have a good experience when interacting with the Scottish social security system. If someone is eligible for support then it is our responsibility to make sure that they know about available payments, and help them get the money they need and that they are due.
“As well as the introduction of our new disability benefits in 2021 and 2022, in the coming years, we will also introduce Scottish Carer’s Assistance, which will replace the UK Government’s Carer’s Allowance in Scotland.
“In 2023-24 it is forecast that nearly 300,000 children will benefit from the Scottish Child Payment. This will be the first full year of the planned rollout of Scottish Child Payment to 6 to 15 year olds. We also plan to significantly increase the value of Scottish Child Payment, doubling it to £20 per week within the lifetime of the Parliament and lifting more children out of poverty.
“It is vital that the UK Government matches our efforts. We need UK Ministers to take decisive action in the areas where they have power and responsibility and to reverse their welfare cuts which are hitting households harder than ever.
“I call again on the UK Government to end their benefit cap, bedroom tax and two-child limit, and to maintain the £20 Universal Credit uplift.”
A series of innovative creative projects from Edinburgh artists and creative organisations have been set in motion thanks to funding awarded through Creative Scotland’s Open Fund.
Over £150,400 has been awarded to nine Edinburgh based projects including a new dance platform from Dance Horizons; Page2Stage, a new writing night produced by Michelle McKay and hosted by Assembly Roxyand a family-friendly festival in Vogrie Park.
These projects are among 45 across the country sharing over £1million of National Lottery funding.
These funds aim to support creativity across Scotland for artists, organisations and creative groups as they seek to build sustainability after emerging from COVID-19 restrictions.
Innovations from Dance Horizons is a new contemporary dance platform that will support artists through the production process to share their creative practice as a high-quality finished work to audiences.
CEO and producer Oliver James Anwylsays: “As we emerge from the pandemic, this funding is incredibly valuable to ensure the success of this year’s platform.
“Dance has been one of the hardest genres to present online during the last 18 months and we are so excited to bring work to the stage for our audiences to enjoy.”
Glacial Narratives – a report from the Arctic is an exhibition that aims to raise awareness of the wonder of ice as a material and ask questions about its disappearance in the run up to COP26.
Artist Mary Walterssays: “As artists, we can add to contemporary climate change discussions by articulating the wonder we have for this amazing material that is fast disappearing.”
Page2Stage Edinburgh is a new writing night produced by Michelle McKay and hosted by Assembly Roxy that will provide a supportive environment for playwrights to gain feedback on their work and offers the audience a unique insight into the writing process.
Producer Michelle Mackay says: “We are working at grassroots level, building a network in Edinburgh and the funding means we can continue to build and develop Page2Stage providing further opportunities to create new work and partnerships.”
VOGRIE POGRIE is a free, highly accessible and family-friendly festival taking place entirely outdoors in Vogrie Park from 11-12 September with pop-up performances from clowns and storytellers, activities and workshops and activities in the park and local community beginning from 3 September.
Callum Ross, Creative Directorsays: “Trotwork Events is delighted to have received funding and have the opportunity to work with lots of great creative artists and groups again.
“Vogrie Park will come alive, and it will feel like a lovely gift to us all to enjoy. We can’t wait.”
Iain Munro, CEO, Creative Scotlandsaid: “Thanks to the generosity of National Lottery players, who raise £30 million for good causes across the UK every week, alongside equally welcome funding from the Scottish Government, these Open Fund awards continue to build resilience within Scotland’s artistic community as well as provide creative engagement opportunities to enrich the lives of people across Scotland”.
A full list of recipients of Open Fund awards is available on the Creative Scotland website.
The Scottish Government has delivered 80 priorities set out by the First Minister in May — but the annoucement was overshadowed by news that Scotland has just recorded more than 5000 daily Covid cases for the first time.
These commitments have been delivered across government and Ministerial portfolios, covering health and care, economy, climate change, communities, children and families, and how we lead Scotland safely through and out of the pandemic.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: “Recovery from the pandemic is an urgent priority for the government and I am proud of the bold, ambitious and transformative measures we have delivered in just 100 days.
“But this is only the beginning and there is much more we can and will do to build a fairer and more sustainable country as we continue to drive Scotland’s recovery from the pandemic.
“We have introduced co-ordinated and targeted policies which deliver demonstrable positive change for the people, families and communities who need it most – and for our economy, public services and environment.
“Delivering on the commitments that the First Minister made in May demonstrates our progress in taking the steps needed to make lasting and generational change, and to improve the lives of people across Scotland.”
Achievements include:
consulting on the creation of a National Care Service to improve social care for everyone who needs it
funding for 1,000 extra teachers and 500 pupil support assistants
doubling the carers’ allowance supplement this winter through the introduction of the Carer’s Allowance Supplement (Scotland) Bill
publishing a recovery plan for the NHS
£25 million to help small and medium businesses use digital technology and upskill employees
free NHS dental care for all young people under 26 years old.
opening three new rapid cancer diagnostic centres
tackling loneliness and social isolation – particularly among young and disabled people
free school lunches for more than 90,000 children
appointing Environmental Champions to advise government on international best practice
launching the new Green Jobs Work Academy to help people get the skills they need to move into new, greener jobs
The Scottish Government also committed to 14 new mobile phone masts to deliver high-speed connectivity for the first time to homes and businesses in rural communities. 14 new masts have been built, seven of which have been activated. The remaining seven are due to be activated by November.
But while the Scottish Government hails progress made since May’s Holyrood election, there are growing concerns about rising Covid-19 numbers.
The 100 days commitments had six particular areas of focus:
leading Scotland out of the pandemic
supporting our NHS and care services
backing our economy and creating jobs
helping children, families and young people
tacking the climate crisis
backing our communities and building better lives.
Yesterday – the day the Scottish Government made it’s 100 days delivery statement – also saw the highest ever number of Covid-19 cases. 5,021 new cases were reported in Scotland.
The government hails their first hundred days as a positive start, but it will be their actions to address the most ‘urgent priority’ – the rampant Covid virus – that will prove crucial for Scotland over the coming hundred days.
Scotland’s onshore GDP grew by 0.9% in June, according to statistics announced today by the Chief Statistician. Output remains 2.1% below the pre-pandemic level in February 2020.
Services sector output grew by 1.2% in June, with increases in seven of the 14 subsectors. The largest contribution to growth was from accommodation and food services for the third month in a row as activity continued to pick up after the easing of restrictions.
Output in the production sector increased by 0.5% overall, with growth in the electricity and gas supply subsector offset by falls in manufacturing and water and waste management. Output in the construction sector is estimated to have fallen by 1.4%, broadly in line with the UK as a whole over the course of the latest quarter.
Using the experimental monthly statistics for Quarter 2 as a whole (April to June), GDP is provisionally estimated to have grown by 4.9%, reflecting a recovery in output after the fall of 1.8% during the lockdown restrictions in Quarter 1.
Scottish Secretary Alister Jack responds to June figures
Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said: “While today’s figures show some resilience, we still face challenges. A strong, sustainable recovery remains our priority.
“The UK Government put unprecedented measures in place from the very beginning of the pandemic to protect lives and livelihoods. That’s included supporting the jobs of nearly a million people in Scotland through furlough and with unprecedented financial help for the self-employed.
“More than 90,000 businesses have benefited from business loans and VAT cuts have kept firms in the hardest hit sectors afloat.
“We’ve provided the Scottish Government with more than £14.5 billion in additional funding, £1.5 billion has been invested in growth deals across Scotland and our new Levelling Up and Community Renewal Funds will benefit communities right across the UK.
“In driving our economy into recovery, our Plan for Jobs will help more people get back into work and the success of the UK Government-funded vaccine programme is paving the way for us to build back better and stronger.”
The Monthly GDP Estimate for June 2021 is available at:
Climate action central to Greens and SNP cooperation deal, says Green’s Lorna Slater
Action on tackling the climate emergency is central to the draft cooperation deal agreed between the Scottish Greens and Scottish Government, according to Lorna Slater the co-leader of the Scottish Greens and an MSP for Lothian.
The draft policy programme, published last week, would see two Scottish Green MSPs taking ministerial posts, marking the first time Green politicians have taken a role in government anywhere in any of the UK nations.
They would work to deliver a shared broad policy agenda that will tackle the climate crisis, create thousands of quality jobs, including many in Lothian, and make Scotland fairer.
If the deal is ratified by party members, Greens in government would decarbonise the transport network and the way buildings are heated, as well as creating thousands of jobs expanding Scotland’s renewable energy capacity.
Under the proposals, the parties would work together on legislation to grow onshore wind, invest in active travel, public transport and a green industrial fund, and bring in new protections for nature, including the establishment of at least one new national park. There would be a decisive shift away from spending on major road projects.
Scottish Greens would also lead on a new deal for tenants, including a national rent control system and better rights for tenants in the private rented sector. This would be particularly welcome in Lothian.
The parties would collaborate to bring forward overdue equalities and land reform legislation, as well as a joint bill on a new referendum on independence for Scotland. The Scottish Greens will also work in cooperation to deliver a National Care Service and on Education reforms.
Lorna Slater, the Scottish Greens MSP for Lothian said:“The world is on fire, and we have to act now. This deal would put Greens at the heart of decision-making at a crucial time for Scotland, particularly in areas like transport and heating where emissions are high. Scotland can step up efforts to decarbonise homes and transport and accelerate investment in renewable energy.
“This is a cooperation agreement, rather than a coalition. The Greens and SNP are very different parties, and we would maintain those different policy agendas, but, if approved by our members, this deal would see Green MSPs taking the lead on a broad legislative programme for Scotland.
“With Greens in government we would be able to deliver the kind of investment and legislation that people in Lothian want to see. This will allow us to tackle Scotland’s emissions, protect nature, advance tenant’s rights, bring forward overdue equalities legislation and deliver a referendum on independence.”
The deal would see two Scottish Green MSPs appointed as Ministers, with further details on portfolios and individuals due to be published later this week.
The leaders and MSPs are engaging with members on the deal before the Scottish Green Party holds an EGM on Saturday (28 August) to decide whether to proceed.
The Scottish Government has published its NHS Recovery Plan, committing more than £1 billion of targeted investment for the recovery and renewal of Scotland’s health service.
It sets out key actions for the next five years to help address backlogs in healthcare and increase capacity by at least 10%.
The plan outlines a range of reforms across primary and acute NHS services to help recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and get everyone the treatment they need as quickly as possible.
A key aim in primary care is to restore face-to-face GP consultations as quickly and safely as possible, while ensuring everyone can continue to make use of eHealth services like NHS Near Me, if that is their preference. We are also bolstering the NHS Pharmacy First scheme to enhance the range of services patients can access from community pharmacists without having to go to their GP.
In acute care we are increasing capacity for inpatients, day cases, outpatients and diagnostics. Prior to the pandemic, Scotland’s NHS carried out approximately 270,000 inpatient/day cases per year, and approximately 1.4 million outpatient appointments. Through this Plan we will work to increase NHS capacity substantially beyond these levels.
A priority within the Plan is to focus on the health and wellbeing of NHS staff who have given so much, particularly during the pandemic.
Actions include:
increasing investment in National Treatment Centres (NTCs) to more than £400 million, contributing to delivery of over 40,000 additional elective surgeries and procedures per year
raising primary care investment by 25%, supporting GPs, community pharmacists, dentists and optometrists
investing £29 million to target diagnostic backlogs, providing 78,000 additional procedures in 2021/22 rising to 90,000 per year from 2025/26
providing £8 million to support the mental health and wellbeing of the health and care workforce
investing £11 million in new national and international recruitment campaigns to produce an additional 1,500 staff over the next five years for our NTCs, 1,000 mental health link workers in communities, 800 more GPs, and boosting paramedic numbers through the £10,000 Paramedic Bursary.
delivering £23 million to redesign urgent care – with rapid access to a senior clinician via a telephone or video consultation where possible, reducing the pressure on A&E
devoting £130 million to deliver our National Cancer Plan and Detect Cancer Early Programme
ensuring at least 10% of frontline health spending will be dedicated to mental health, and recruiting 320 additional Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) workers
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was joined by Health Secretary Humza Yousaf to launch the NHS Recovery Plan during a visit to the new national Centre for Sustainable Delivery (CfSD) which will play a key role in supporting improvements in outpatient and inpatient capacity as well as diagnostics.
She said: “This Plan will drive the recovery of our NHS, not just to its pre-pandemic level but beyond.
“As we maintain our resilience against COVID-19 and other pressures, the Scottish Government is providing targeted investment to increase capacity, reform the system and ultimately get everyone the treatment they need as quickly as possible.
“Tackling the backlog of care is essential and will be a priority. But we want to go further than that and deliver an NHS that is innovative, sustainable and stronger than ever before.”
