Nicola Sturgeon reveals legislative programme with pledge to 'refresh agenda'

Nicola Sturgeon has unveiled her legislative programme for the coming year with a pledge to "refocus our efforts and refresh our agenda".

Ms Sturgeon made clear that improving education and closing the achievement gap between rich and poor remained her Government's number one priority.

To help with that, she said the Scottish Government would guarantee amulti-year package of funding for councils, allowing them to invest inrecruiting and training.

Ms Sturgeon also pledged to set out plans to reform student support and take forward the recommendations of the Widening Access Commission.

She said the government is "determined to open up university to all who have the talent to attend".

The government also aims to phase out new petrol and diesel cars and vans across Scotland by 2032, eight years ahead of the UK Government target.

Ms Sturgeon outlined plans to "massively expand" electric charging points and set up pilot projects to encourage uptake of electric vehicles, and to make the A9 Scotland's first fully electric-enabled road.

Alongside this, a new Climate Change Bill will be introduced in the coming year that will set out "even more ambitious" targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, Ms Sturgeon said.

The government will create low emissions zones in each of the four biggest cities in Scotland by 2020, she added.

The First Minister of Scotland also confirmed the introduction of a deposit return scheme for bottles and cans.

Under such schemes, customers pay a surcharge when purchasing bottles or cans which will be refunded when they return them to a shop.

Ms Sturgeon then said her government would deliver at least a real-terms increase in the NHS revenue budget next year, continue to develop the NHS workforce plan and introduce a new safe staffing bill "to make sure we have the right staff in the right places".

A new law was announced to ensure anyone convicted of homosexual offences in the past will now receive an automatic pardon.

The Sexual Offences (Pardons and Disregards) Bill will also allow thosepardoned to have the convictions removed from their criminal records.

Ms Sturgeon said: "Above all, this bill will right a historic wrong and givejustice to those who found themselves unjustly criminalised simply because of who they loved."

She also announced that moves would be made to tackle period poverty by providing free access to sanitary products for students in schools, colleges and university.

Further plans to tackle poverty include setting up a £50million fund to tacklechild poverty over the next four years and a financial health check for low-income families.

The First Minister of Scotland also confirmed the government will lift the public-sector pay cap.

She said:

Overall, the Scottish Government will bring forward 16 Bills in the comingyear.