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SNP to outline 11 new bills plan SNP to outline 11 new bills plan
(39 minutes later)
Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond is to make public his first legislative programme for government.Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond is to make public his first legislative programme for government.
The SNP administration is expected to set out plans on 11 bills for the coming year, as well as further measures not requiring legislation.The SNP administration is expected to set out plans on 11 bills for the coming year, as well as further measures not requiring legislation.
Mr Salmond is facing an upcoming Treasury spending round which is likely to be tight but he will tell MSPs that a lot can be done with a little.Mr Salmond is facing an upcoming Treasury spending round which is likely to be tight but he will tell MSPs that a lot can be done with a little.
Opposition critics have said his plans fall short of the SNP's promises.Opposition critics have said his plans fall short of the SNP's promises.
Mr Salmond is expected to pledge legislation giving patients a bigger stake in health policy, including direct elections to health boards.Mr Salmond is expected to pledge legislation giving patients a bigger stake in health policy, including direct elections to health boards.
'Weighty constraints''Weighty constraints'
There will be more modernisation of the courts system and a bill to reform the law on rape in a statement likely to last about 20 minutes.There will be more modernisation of the courts system and a bill to reform the law on rape in a statement likely to last about 20 minutes.
A bill to scrap bridge tolls has already been published, and ministers also want to legislate to scrap the graduate endowment.A bill to scrap bridge tolls has already been published, and ministers also want to legislate to scrap the graduate endowment.
But they also intend to act without the need for formal legislation, for example scrapping prescription charges for those with chronic conditions and pegging back business rates.But they also intend to act without the need for formal legislation, for example scrapping prescription charges for those with chronic conditions and pegging back business rates.
BBC Scotland political editor Brian Taylor said there are "weighty constraints" on Mr Salmond.BBC Scotland political editor Brian Taylor said there are "weighty constraints" on Mr Salmond.
He said: "He does not have a majority at Holyrood and the spending round that is coming up is going to be tight.He said: "He does not have a majority at Holyrood and the spending round that is coming up is going to be tight.
This is a broad, comprehensive programme that certainly gives plenty for parliamentarians to get their teeth into Alex SalmondFirst Minister
"So consequently what he is setting out is not just a programme for legislation, it is what he calls a 'programme for Scotland' with a published document to back that up."So consequently what he is setting out is not just a programme for legislation, it is what he calls a 'programme for Scotland' with a published document to back that up.
"There will be 11 bills and pretty much all of these will gain support from one or other of the parties. In other words they will get through. He is doing what he can.""There will be 11 bills and pretty much all of these will gain support from one or other of the parties. In other words they will get through. He is doing what he can."
He added: "The really contentious legislation that he has in mind, scrapping the council tax and replacing that with a local income tax, he's going to have to consult on that because Labour and the Tories hate it and the Lib Dems don't like the particular scheme."He added: "The really contentious legislation that he has in mind, scrapping the council tax and replacing that with a local income tax, he's going to have to consult on that because Labour and the Tories hate it and the Lib Dems don't like the particular scheme."
Mr Salmond told BBC Radio 4's Today: "This is a broad, comprehensive programme that certainly gives plenty for parliamentarians to get their teeth into - but more importantly, has plenty that will be supported in the Scottish population as a whole."
Mr Salmond said the SNP had achieved the objectives for its first 100 days without legislation.
There were "hugely ambitious" bills within the programme but many of the"great issues", such as improving skills and tackling chronic economicunderperformance could be tackled without legislation.
He acknowledged the autumn spending review could be tight but said: "We will work our way through our programme in a four-year term in the same way as we worked our way through our first 100 day programme.
"You can achieve a great deal in government by competence and direction, by seeking consensus where we can find it, and by having a vision for the future of Scotland - all three aspects which our predecessors lack, which is why we are in government and they're in opposition."