This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Statement on Legislative Programme
06/09/2005
The Executive's legislative plans for the next 19 months were set out in a statement to the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood today.
First Minister Jack McConnell called it a programme focused on:
The programme includes plans to reduce the business rates poundage to bring it into line with England, reform the planning system, and introduce Bills to improve police effectiveness, to impose controls on marches and parades, and to ensure that court sentences for convicted offenders 'make the punishment fit the crime'.
Legislation will be brought forward to create a Scottish Human Rights Commission, to modernise the Children's Hearings system and adoption law, and encourage more parental involvement in schools and promote the health of pupils by excluding products like 'fizzy drinks' from school premises.
Other Bills will simplify crofting legislation, improve the regulation of freshwater fisheries, modernise tourism promotion and personal bankruptcy laws.
Mr McConnell said the programme based on a vision of a strong and ambitious Scotland and a Scotland where today's opportunities are not just available to some but accessible by all Scots whatever their background or culture.
Read the full text of the FM's speech
Read background briefings for the full programme