Politics: Programme for Government can create great possibilities for communities

As the Scottish Parliament returned from recess last week the First Minister John Swinney set out the Programme for Government, writes Aberdeenshire East MSP Gillian Martin.

I was pleased to be in the chamber as the First Minister set out the Scottish Government’s plans.

Each year, the Programme for Government illustrates the intention of the governing party for the next 12 months.

This year, there are four main priorities: eradicating child poverty, building prosperity, improving our public services and protecting the planet.

This Programme for Government reflects an optimism – that despite the incredibly challenging set of circumstances at this moment – the strengths of Scotland, our people and our communities can create great possibilities for our country.

Roughly £3 billion a year has been dedicated to eradicating poverty and mitigating the impacts of the cost of living crisis.

The Scottish Child Payment will be increased, funded early learning and childcare has been expanded and £1.2 billion has been committed to mitigate the impacts of 14 years of UK Welfare policy.

The Child Poverty Action Group estimates that low-income families in Scotland will be around £28,000 better off by the time their child turns 18, when compared with families across the UK.

Analysis by the Scottish Government estimates that around 100,000 children will be kept out of relative poverty this year.

The Scottish Government also announced nearly £600 million of investment in affordable housing, including an additional £40 million to bring existing homes into affordable use.

I was pleased that the First Minister reaffirmed a commitment to providing £2 million to support the Acorn carbon transport and storage project, as part of the promised support of up to £80 million for carbon capture.

The First Minister also committed to careful stewardship of our oil and gas sector to ensure it is able to transition to net zero effectively.

I am passionate about ensuring the skills of everyone who works in the oil and gas sector are kept right here as we move towards a green economy.

My colleague at Westminster, Graham Leadbitter MP, has written to the UK Government about what is being done to ensure WASPI women are awarded compensation.

The WASPI campaign has uncovered horrifying statistics which show almost 300,000 women have died without being given the compensation they should have been entitled too.

Successive Tory governments have ignored WASPI women despite the tireless campaigning that has gone on.

Now Labour appear to be following the same path as their predecessors with more delay and deliberation.

The WASPI campaign has estimated that 111 women who should be entitled to compensation die every day without having received any.

It is shameful of the UK Government to continue to stand back and do nothing and I would urge this new administration to compensate the many women across the north-east who are entitled to it now. There must be no more delays.