Improving lives across Scotland
FM outlines progress made in first 100 days of government.
Helping people with the cost of living, strengthening public services and growing the economy are the focus of policies delivered so far in the first 100 days of government, First Minister John Swinney has said.
Since appointing the Cabinet on 20th May, the Scottish Government’s action has included setting up the First Homes Fund to help first-time buyers with up to £10,000 support towards a deposit, investing in and expanding health and social care provision, and setting up initiatives to boost business.
Work is also underway on key commitments including expanding support for breakfast clubs, extending the £2 bus cap beyond the Highlands and Islands, the Welcome to School Bag which builds on the success of Scotland’s Baby Box and on mobile phones in schools.
First Minister John Swinney said:
"From day one, this government has been focused on the issues that matter most to people across Scotland – helping people with the cost of living, making our public services like the NHS stronger, and supporting our economy to prosper. My government will deliver on its promises to the people of Scotland.
"In our first 100 days, we have taken decisive action to support these priorities. That includes investing £90 million to bring down NHS outpatient waiting lists, boosting the social care workforce and opening new GP walk-in services.
“Our First Homes Fund is helping first time buyers to get on the property ladder, and launching the £50 million Homelessness Prevention Fund will make sure fewer people reach the point of crisis.
“To support our economic growth, we have established the National Council for Economic Growth and set up a fund to support island business impacted by travel disruption.
"As we near the end of the first 100 days of this government, we will continue to deliver action that will help improve people's lives – including launching the consultation on the food price cap and delivering more school breakfast clubs to help families with essential costs. My Programme for Government will then set out how we build on the progress to go further in improving lives and delivering change to build a stronger, fairer Scotland.”
BACKGROUND
First Minister appoints Cabinet to deliver for Scotland - gov.scot
The period of measuring the specific pledges set out within the First 100 days programme runs from 25 May to 1 September inclusive. This was publicly confirmed by First Minister John Swinney when he told Parliament during the ‘Ambitious for Scotland’ speech on 26 May:
“Over the next 100 days, we will deliver at least 50,000 operations and procedures…. [our plans] will be turbocharged with more GP walk-in clinics. In the next 100 days, we will open at least five more and confirm locations for another 14. On the same day, the Deputy First Minister also referred to the timetable during the Independence debate, saying: “Today, the First Minister has set out a clear and ambitious vision, which we are starting to deliver in the first 100 days.”