The Scottish Government

This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007

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Executive's Legislative Programme 2004-2005

07/09/2004

Twelve Bills will be introduced by the Executive during the new Parliamentary session, it was announced today.

Another five Bills, introduced before the summer, will be finalised.

The statement of intent was made in the chamber of the new Scottish Parliament as MSPs began the first debate in the Parliament's permanent home at Holyrood.

First Minister Jack McConnell said the coalition government's Legislative Programme was designed to tackle the challenges faced by Scotland.

Read the full text of the FM's statement

Mr McConnell said:

"It is a programme to modernise Scotland's laws, to make modern laws for a modern Scotland.

"It is legislation to protect children and family life, to strengthen communities and to support enterprise."

The new bills are:

1. Budget Bill
2. Charities and Trustree Investment Bill
3. Environmental Assessment Bill
4. Family Law Bill
5. Further and Higher Education Bill
6. Gaelic Language Bill
7. Health Service (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill
8. Housing Bill
9. Licensing Bill
10. Prevention of Female Genital Mutilation Bill
11. Protection of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences Bill
12. Transport Bill

The Bills already in progress are:

• The Fire (Scotland) Bill
• Tenements (Scotland) Bill
• Water Services (Scotland) Bill
• Emergency Workers (Scotland) Bill
• School Education (Ministerial Powers and Independent Schools) Bill

Mr McConnell said:

"The greatest thing that devolution has created for Scotland is a sense of national ambition.

"We can't create a law that instills aspiration in the hearts and minds of Scotland's teenagers. We can't create a fund to pay them to have ambition. But every one of us can help create the conditions for confidence and ambition.

"We can celebrate the success of Scots, champion achievement and promote this wonderful nation and use these next 12 months to make further progress towards and enterprising, healthier, tolerant and fairer Scotland."

Read the full text of the FM's statement