First Minister’s Statement (6th May): Programme for Government 2025-26
On 6th May, the First Minister made a statement to the Scottish Parliament outlining the Programme for Government for the parliamentary year ahead.
The full speech to parliament can be found here.
The Scottish Government also published a press release along with the document.
Some of the key points of interest in the document for our sector include:
Economy
No further changes on income tax for the remainder of parliament.
Continuing to fund the Small Business Bonus which reduces rates for small businesses.
Progress the Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Bill, alongside investment in social enterprises, support for co-operatives and employee-owned firms.
Health and Environment
Banning the sale and supply of single use vapes from 1 June 2025 with the intention of reducing vaping among non-smokers and young people and tackle their environmental impact.
Laying the draft Good Food Nation Plan before Parliament by the summer and establishing the Scottish Food Commission.
Expanding support for skills to help businesses and the workforce to adapt to zero emission vehicles.
Crime
Tackling retail crime – with £3 million additional funding this year – supporting the development of Police Scotland’s Retail Crime Action Plan and the creation of a Retail Crime Task Force (RTC). The intention is to enable Police Scotland to establish a visible and measurable impact on retail crime, and preventing people from becoming perpetrators.
Support the continued roll-out of the Digital Evidence Sharing Capability programme – which should mean fewer victims and witnesses having to attend court – and the roll out of Body Worn Video technology to police officers.
Suspending use of concessionary travel cards on a temporary and potentially permanent basis as a result of anti-social behaviour when using the card.
The Government will also abolish peak rail fares permanently from 1 September and it intends on applying fair work principles – including provision of flexible and family friendly working practices and actions to address workplace inequalities – to public sector funding.