100 Days of a Better Scotland

Significant progress in making Scotland a more successful country has been shown in a report published today to mark the first 100 days of the new Scottish Government.

The report, 'Reporting on 100 Days', demonstrates measurable progress in delivering a smarter, greener, healthier, wealthier and fairer, safer and stronger Scotland.

Welcoming the report Cabinet Secretary John Swinney said:

"In our programme for the first 100 days of government we set out many of the important steps we would take to set our nation on a more ambitious path.  Now, as we reach the 100th day we are proud to be able to report back to the people of Scotland.

"The delivery of our '100 Days' programme gives as a solid platform of success for four years of government.

"The list of what we have put in train to improve Scotland is already a long one.  We have taken swift and early action in Government to deliver the SNP programme and make Scotland more successful.

"Among the full range of measures, we have taken action to reduce class sizes, remove the iniquitous tolls on the Forth and Tay bridges, save vital accident and emergency units, abolish graduate fees and establish a Council of Economic Advisers to help boost Scotland's economy.

"We will continue to work as we have done in our first 100 days. Scotland has so much potential and by focussing on making our country even more successful the Government knows our nation can achieve much more."

ENDS

Notes:

1. Among the achievements of the first 100 days are:

• A smaller, more effective Ministerial team with 6 Cabinet Secretaries (including the First Minister) and 10 Ministers;
• Established Council of Economic Advisers to provide independent advice to increase Scotland's sustainable economic growth rate;
• Agreement to abolish tolls of the Forth and Tay bridges
• Continuation of A&E services at Ayr and Monklands hospitals
• Legislation planned to end graduate endowment
• Publication of a white paper on independence and launch of national conversation
• Funding for 300 extra teachers and 250 more teacher training places from August, to drive down class sizes in P1 to 3; a commitment to providing additional funding for a phased 50% increase in free nursery provision
• Ongoing negotiations with Westminster on the transfer of responsibilities for firearms legislation to the Scottish Parliament to allow action on air weapons
• Set up Saltire Award for innovation in industry to reward the best efforts to develop cutting edge renewable energy technology
• Made a commitment to set a target of cutting emissions by 80% by 2050.  We will be drafting a Climate Change Bill to take this forward

2. The document "100 days of the new Scottish Government" is available here.

3. Watch highlights of STV's "Salmond's 100 Days" here.

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