SNP in Government

Since 2007, the SNP Government has been working hard to deliver on their manifesto commitments for the people of Scotland. 

Progress on headline commitments can be seen below. Click here for more.

1. Council tax freeze

2. Small Business Bonus

3. Abolish tolls on the Forth and Tay Road Bridges

4. Reverse decision to downgrade A&E at Monklands and Ayr hospitals

5. Delivered funding for 1,000 more police and focused resources on community policing

6. Published a White Paper and draft Bill on Scottish independence

7. Launch the Saltire Prize

8. Give asylum children the same access rights (to education) as other children in Scotland

9. Double the international development budget

10. Delivered funding to phase out prescription charges

11. Convened a Council of Economic Advisers and National Economic Forum

12. Abolished the Graduate Endowment Fee

13. Make the decision on a replacement for the Forth Bridge

14. Introduced HPV vaccination for all girls aged between 12 and 14

15. Increase the payments for free personal and nursing care

16. Introduced a Climate Change Bill with 3% annual targets and minimum of 80% reduction by 2050

17. Delivered annual efficiency savings equivalent to 1.5% of the Scottish budget

18. No new nuclear power stations or dumps

19. Created a £10 million national life sciences institute in Dundee

20. Cut number of Departments and review of our agency structure

21. Road Equivalent Tariff pilot introduced in Western Isles

22. Accelerated proposals for electrification of the rail network

23. Steps to reduce red-tape and widen access to public procurement contracts for small businesses (Public Procurement Portal)

24. Support Scotland’s bid for the 2014 Commonwealth Games

25. Issued guidance to health boards to reduce excessive charges for car parking

26. Deliver 50% increase in provision of free nursery education to 3 & 4 year olds

27. Introduced proposals on science and language baccalaureates

28. Implementing current school building programme

29. Introduced a not-for-profit Scottish Futures Trust

30. Introduced a legislative presumption against the closure of rural schools – proposals launched 1 May 2008, on SG website

31. Reviewed modern apprenticeships to make sure that skills being taught match skills gaps and that the system is flexible enough to encourage maximum participation. Introduce sectoral based initiatives and maximise the number of small businesses taking part

32. Created a £2 million 'Edinburgh Festival Expo Fund' to promote Scottish work at the Festivals

33. Treble funding for community and micro-generation

34. Conservation credits – to involve fishing community more closely in conservation policy

35. Implementing Curriculum for Excellence – long term strategy

36. Set up a Zero waste fund and are tackling commercial and industrial waste as part of our plans to work towards a zero waste Scotland

37. National Drugs Commission established to develop a long term drugs strategy

38. Ensuring business rates poundage doesn’t rise above England

39. Promoting energy crops in Scotland’s agriculture and forestry sector

40. Reviewed flood legislation - ensuring adequate funding for flood prevention – and passed Flooding Act

41. Seeking ways to reduce the burden on the farming community. Pilot schemes which ensure agencies work in partnership, making single visits to farms

42. Developed North Sea super-grid project

43. Committed to the long-term future of Peterhead Prison

44. Established Scotland Performs based on the Virginia model of governmental performance management

45. Announced promised Public Inquiries into infection of Hep C through NHS treatment and the Shirley McKie case

46. Cancelled Edinburgh Airport Rail Link in favour of more cost effective option

47. Reviewed Right to Buy legislation. Legislating to make it more responsive to local needs 48. Introduced Criminal Justice and Licensing Bill – which will enable a number of the legislative changes which will deliver on manifesto commitments

49. Introduced Marine Bill in April 2009 and achieved Executive devolution, giving Scotland a greater say over offshore zone to 200 nm

50. Introduced a £10 million (over 6 years) new entrant support scheme for farmers

51. Establishing a Scottish Investment Fund with income from the fund allocated to support business start ups, research and social enterprises

52. Refocused the Enterprise networks to provide a more streamlined service for the Scottish business community and support key industries such as tourism

53. Met 2-month waiting target for cancer patients to be diagnosed and treated

54. Introduce direct elections to Health Boards

55. Enforcing more strictly the legislation prohibiting sales of tobacco to people under age

56. Maintained a moratorium on GM planting in Scotland – no cultivation of GM crops in Scotland (whether commercial or research)