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Scots legislation plans unveiled Scots legislation plans unveiled
(30 minutes later)
The Scottish Government's plans for the year ahead are being set out by First Minister Alex Salmond at Holyrood. The Scottish Government's plans for the year ahead have been set out by First Minister Alex Salmond at Holyrood.
Among 15 proposed bills, it is thought there will be a renewed focus on combating the health problems associated with smoking and drinking. Three of the 15 bills focus on the environment, with the Climate Change Bill setting tough new targets. Health is also prominent in the programme.
Ministers also seem set on striving to scrap the council tax in favour of a local income tax. Mr Salmond challenged Labour to support the Council Tax Abolition Bill, which would scrap the tax in favour of a local income tax.
Labour said many flagship SNP policies, such as the local income tax, were already "completely discredited". Labour said many flagship SNP policies were already "completely discredited".
Alcohol curbs The government is also pressing ahead with measures to limit alcohol off-sales and to block tobacco advertising in shops.
The government is likely to press ahead with measures to limit alcohol off-sales and to block tobacco advertising in shops. There are new legal targets on tackling climate change, new measures on marine conservation and action to tackle flooding.
There could be new legal targets on tackling climate change, new measures on marine conservation and action to tackle flooding.
The move to create a new combined arts body, Creative Scotland, could be revisited in a new guise.
And local elections may be shifted to a different date from Holyrood polling.
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First Minister Alex Salmond said he was trying to drive at "underlying social problems" in Scottish society such as alcohol abuse.
Mr Salmond also restated his commitment to replacing the council tax with a local income tax.
Acting Scottish Labour leader Cathy Jamieson said: "The SNP's programme for government needs to address the fact that the increase in health spending in Scotland has fallen behind the rest of the UK.
"It needs to set out measures to ensure that new schools are built, that probationary teachers are not left without jobs and there is action to ensure that class sizes start to fall rather than grow as they are now in many parts of Scotland."
Ms Jamieson added: "Alex Salmond needs to ensure that social justice is at the top of his agenda rather than the cuts to voluntary sector, the cuts in local services and the lack of progress on police numbers that has marked his first year in charge."
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott said Scottish ministers had spent too much time blaming the UK Government for the current economic downturn, when they could have taken action themselves.
"The legislative programme is an opportunity for the SNP to turn over a new leaf and propose action that will tackle the real issues for the people of Scotland," he added.