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Education top of Labour's agenda Education top of Labour's agenda
(about 5 hours later)
Labour will promise to put education first at the launch of their Holyrood election manifesto. Labour has promised to put education first at the launch of its Holyrood election manifesto.
The party's Scottish leader, Jack McConnell, will set out his 20-year vision for teaching and training. The party's Scottish leader, Jack McConnell, set out his 20-year vision for teaching and training.
This will include a new pledge to expand the availability of modern language lessons. This includes a new pledge to expand the availability of modern language lessons.
Mr McConnell wants to make Scotland the best educated country in the world and has already committed Labour to raising the school leaving age to 18.Mr McConnell wants to make Scotland the best educated country in the world and has already committed Labour to raising the school leaving age to 18.
He also plans to create 100 skills academies to teach trades.He also plans to create 100 skills academies to teach trades.
At the manifesto launch he will also promise to recruit 500 extra language teachers and assistants to help equip young Scots for the global economy. At the manifesto launch he promised to recruit 500 extra language teachers and assistants to help equip young Scots for the global economy.
For Scotland to be the best equipped, most effective and most enlightened, then all of our people must be the best educated Jack McConnell Elsewhere on the election trailFor Scotland to be the best equipped, most effective and most enlightened, then all of our people must be the best educated Jack McConnell Elsewhere on the election trail
A new education bill would also enshrine in law the right of headteachers to exclude unruly pupils.A new education bill would also enshrine in law the right of headteachers to exclude unruly pupils.
Mr McConnell will tell the launch event in Glasgow: "To put Scotland first, we must put education first. Mr McConnell told those attending the launch event in Glasgow: "To put Scotland first, we must put education first.
"For Scotland to be the best equipped, most effective and most enlightened, then all of our people must be the best educated.""For Scotland to be the best equipped, most effective and most enlightened, then all of our people must be the best educated."
Labour will also pledge to raise the cap on university and college places for the first time in a decade, and increase the number of Scots studying science and technology subjects. Labour has also pledged to raise the cap on university and college places for the first time in a decade and increase the number of Scots studying science and technology subjects.
The manifesto will commit a Labour administration to producing an education bill within its first 100 days. The manifesto commits a Labour administration to producing an education bill within its first 100 days.
On jobs, the party will set up a new full employment agency with the aim of getting 100,000 people off benefits and into work. On jobs, the party would set up a new full employment agency with the aim of getting 100,000 people off benefits and into work.
Labour will also double business rate discounts for small firms and give other rate cuts for firms involved in research and development. Labour would also double business rate discounts for small firms and give other rate cuts for firms involved in research and development.
Waiting timesWaiting times
On health, waiting time targets will be halved, setting a maximum wait by 2011 of 18 weeks from GP referral to treatment, with shorter waits for more urgent treatment. On health, waiting time targets would be halved, setting a maximum wait by 2011 of 18 weeks from GP referral to treatment, with shorter waits for more urgent treatment.
A new waiting time standard of nine weeks will be introduced for physiotherapists, clinical psychologists and chiropodists by 2011. A new waiting time standard of nine weeks would be introduced for physiotherapists, clinical psychologists and chiropodists by 2011.
On crime, Labour want to name and shame those responsible for anti-social behaviour. On crime, Labour wants to name and shame those responsible for anti-social behaviour.
The manifesto will also hold out the prospect of "community courts" where people can have a say in how offenders should pay back communities. The manifesto also holds out the prospect of "community courts" where people can have a say in how offenders should pay back communities.
On the environment, it will pledge financial incentives for domestic recycling and energy efficiency, and a Scottish climate change bill. On the environment, it has pledged financial incentives for domestic recycling and energy efficiency, and a Scottish climate change bill.
For families, there will be a beefing up of the "homestake" scheme to help the less well-off onto the housing ladder. For families, there would be a beefing up of the "homestake" scheme to help the less well-off onto the housing ladder.
There will also be a commitment to first halve, then remove completely, water and sewerage charges for pensioners. There would also be a commitment to first halve, then remove completely, water and sewerage charges for pensioners.