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Tackling cost-of-living pressures will be the “principle issue” for John Swinney as he sets out a Programme for Government that he said will be “focused on the priorities of the people of Scotland”.
With MSPs returning from their summer recess on Tuesday, the Scottish First Minister will make his keynote statement, setting out his government’s plans for the coming year – and also for the five-year term at Holyrood.
He has already told how he wants to bring “radical change” to Scotland over that period, with “significant” reform of the country’s public services.
But he also said his plans “will be focused on the priorities of the people of Scotland”, adding that “the principle issue in that will be tackling the cost of living challenges members of the public face”.
The SNP leader however has faced a backlash from the business sector over his proposed food price cap – which could see the Scottish Government step in to limit the amount that can be charged for some staple products.
Elsewhere it has been reported that ministers could be about to cut the number of health boards in Scotland in a bid to save cash.
The government has already stressed the need for change in Scotland’s public services, with the country facing a projected near £5 billion black hole in the budget by the end of the decade.
Mr Swinney has already said that this Holyrood term will be one of “radical change” with the government looking to “embrace very actively public service reform”.
Speaking on Monday, the SNP leader vowed he would “set out the practical steps we are taking forward in relation to public service reform”.
Mr Swinney said: “It is vital that we have public services that have people right at the centre of those public services and they are able to deliver for the people of our country.
“That has to be done within the resources that we have available, and in a way that strengthens the delivery of public services.”
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