Scotland Bill to dominate new term: ‘The Scottish Goverment will use powers wisely’

NICOLA STURGEON will this week set out for the first time how the Scottish Government will use Holyrood’s new tax and welfare powers.

The First Minister will unveil her programme for government with the first indications of what the SNP administration will do with the extra £20 billion worth of powers.

The new Bills expected to be unveiled by Miss Sturgeonwill include action to tackle domestic abuse and a shake-up of primary education north of the Border. She said: “The Scottish Government will use the new powers proposed in the Scotland Bill creatively and wisely, and I will begin to set out how we will go about doing so.

“As we enter the final parliamentary session of this current term, the programme for government that I unveil on Tuesday will build on our progress and set out how we will continue to deliver for people right across Scotland.”

Elsewhere, the new session of the Scottish Parliament will see, by December, proposals to shake-up the committee system in Holyrood which are likely to be approved by the 2016 election.

Tory leader Ruth Davidson said theGovernment’s priorityshould be literacy.

She said: “Nicola Sturgeon can demonstrate she has the right priorities by making it her mission to ensure every child leaves primary school able to read and write well.”