Programme for Government

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John Swinney discussed the council shake-up with officials for a combined two and a half hours.

Swinney spent just 75 minutes discussing council overhaul before announcement

John Swinney faces scrutiny after just 75 minutes of pre-announcement talks on plans to replace Scotland’s 32 councils with six to 10 regional authorities.

Officials have warned the risk level sits at more than double the acceptable threshold.

Officials have warned the risk level sits at more than double the acceptable threshold.

Angela Constance

Leaked government papers reveal NHS merger being rushed through without business case

Justice Secretary Angela Constance (left) and First Minister John Swinney (right) speak during at

Justice Secretary Angela Constance (left) and First Minister John Swinney (right) speak during at

Angela Constance

Constance sparks NHS anger by ordering Glasgow and Lothian chiefs to oversee peers

First Minister John Swinney announced a major shake-up of public services when he set out his Programme for Government.

First Minister John Swinney announced a major shake-up of public services when he set out his Programme for Government.

Public services shake-up leaves 'unanswered questions' over jobs and timescales

Scottish Government to abandon 12-week orthopaedic target, leaked NHS plan reveals

First Minister John Swinney wants to 'substantially reduce' the number of public bodies.

First Minister John Swinney wants to 'substantially reduce' the number of public bodies.

Plan to merge environment bodies causing 'stress, uncertainty and concern'

Cabinet Secretary Gillian Martin was asked by MSPs about the Scottish Government's plan to merge environmental organisations.

Cabinet Secretary Gillian Martin was asked by MSPs about the Scottish Government's plan to merge environmental organisations.

Why 'painful' lack of detail raises big questions over planned merger

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Ending child poverty is Scotland's defining mission... but where's the policy?

First Minister John Swinney set out plans in his Programme for Government to

First Minister John Swinney set out plans in his Programme for Government to

Fears raised over SNP plans for public bodies cull amid unclear timescales

Families of women killed by men take calls for action to Holyrood

‘Fools gold’: Ex-health secretary says NHS board cuts alone won’t improve outcomes

Sauchiehall Street in Glasgow

Sauchiehall Street in Glasgow

Glasgow City Council

Glasgow on 'brink of inevitable, irreversible decline' says Miles Better mastermind

First Minister John Swinney set out his Programme for Government last Tuesday including plans to reduce the number of public bodies.

First Minister John Swinney set out his Programme for Government last Tuesday including plans to reduce the number of public bodies.

FM accused of 'blindsiding' staff and causing uncertainty with public bodies cull

Five months after the proposals were first unveiled, it is still unclear which 50 food items might be subject to a price cap in Scotland

Five months after the proposals were first unveiled, it is still unclear which 50 food items might be subject to a price cap in Scotland

Swinney says Scotland is open for business. One policy suggests otherwise

'Spending on agency staff in the NHS continues to rise year on year, now sitting at over £500 million. The Scottish Government has doubled its spending on private consultants'

'Spending on agency staff in the NHS continues to rise year on year, now sitting at over £500 million. The Scottish Government has doubled its spending on private consultants'

Jobs and careers

Scottish Government's public sector reform plans 'risk damaging frontline services'

Affordable housing

SNP councillors block affordable housing scheme a day after Swinney's home pledge

NHS merger: Scottish Government accused of 'lack of honesty' as top jobs carved up

'The words spoken by Mr Swinney earlier this week, during his first Programme for Government under his own mandate, really matter'

'The words spoken by Mr Swinney earlier this week, during his first Programme for Government under his own mandate, really matter'

John Swinney is right that Scotland needs rewiring. Delivery is what matters now

'John Swinney wants reform of social care to lead the way in his public service revolution'

'John Swinney wants reform of social care to lead the way in his public service revolution'

Adult social care

Why John Swinney wants the NHS to take the lead on Scotland's social care system

Transport Scotland told The Herald that operators' participation in the scheme is entirely

Transport Scotland told The Herald that operators' participation in the scheme is entirely

Major Glasgow bus operators back £2 fare cap despite 'astonishing' timescale

The First Minister said there would be no compulsory redundancies in the NHS merger

The First Minister said there would be no compulsory redundancies in the NHS merger

Swinney guarantees no NHS redundancies but says public sector job losses inevitable

John Swinney delivers his Programme for Government

John Swinney delivers his Programme for Government

Scottish Government

Swinney sets out plans to scrap health boards, merge quangos and reshape councils

First Minister John Swinney announced a Scotland-wide rollout of bleed kits as part of measures to tackle youth violence and knife crime.

First Minister John Swinney announced a Scotland-wide rollout of bleed kits as part of measures to tackle youth violence and knife crime.

Swinney unveils bleed kit rollout after ‘heart breaking’ knife crime deaths

First Minister John Swinney

First Minister John Swinney

Five key points from John Swinney's Programme for Government

Scottish Greens co-leader Gillian Mackay and Ross Greer

Scottish Greens co-leader Gillian Mackay and Ross Greer

Programme for Government

Scottish Greens fury after Swinney shelves plans to ban conversion therapy

John Swinney has put tackling violence against women and girls at the heart of his Programme for Government, but campaigners warn the real test will be whether years of policy promises finally translate into delivery.

John Swinney has put tackling violence against women and girls at the heart of his Programme for Government, but campaigners warn the real test will be whether years of policy promises finally translate into delivery.

Scotland has had the policies on violence against women. What it lacks is delivery

First Minister John Swinney outlined the reforms in his Programme for Government.

First Minister John Swinney outlined the reforms in his Programme for Government.

Programme for Government

Swinney announces cull of public bodies amid 'bonfire of the quangos'

John Swinney is set to put tackling violence against women and girls at the heart of his Programme for Government, as an unpublished rape crisis review raises questions over whether previous Scottish Government policies have delivered meaningful change.

John Swinney is set to put tackling violence against women and girls at the heart of his Programme for Government, as an unpublished rape crisis review raises questions over whether previous Scottish Government policies have delivered meaningful change.

Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis

Review exposes policy gaps as Swinney unveils new violence against women measures

LIVE: John Swinney to unveil Programme for Government

LIVE: John Swinney to unveil Programme for Government

RECAP: Programme for Government: Swinney unveils huge NHS and council shake-up

Scotland split into two under John Swinney's major NHS shake-up

John Swinney is considering major reform of the NHS.

John Swinney is considering major reform of the NHS.

John Swinney's NHS health board shake-up could work. But there's a danger

Scotland risks falling behind the rest of the UK on tax.

Scotland risks falling behind the rest of the UK on tax.

Business leaders challenge Swinney over Scotland's tax burden

The Scottish Government's Programme for Government is being closely watched by businesses seeking greater certainty on tax, infrastructure and skills

The Scottish Government's Programme for Government is being closely watched by businesses seeking greater certainty on tax, infrastructure and skills

Charandeep Singh

Programme for Government

As summer fades, Scotland's businesses are still waiting for certainty

John Swinney pictured in Bute House last week. Can he get his Programme for Government through Holyrood?

John Swinney pictured in Bute House last week. Can he get his Programme for Government through Holyrood?

REBECCA McQUILLAN

Scottish Parliament

What we need now in Holyrood is grown-up politics, but is anyone listening?

Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow

Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow

Swinney considering cutting the number of health boards in bid to save public money

Glasgow and Edinburgh's business communities say Scotland's city regions need greater powers and longer-term funding to unlock economic growth

Glasgow and Edinburgh's business communities say Scotland's city regions need greater powers and longer-term funding to unlock economic growth

Business Insight

Programme for Government

Scottish cities tell Burnham England’s devolution push cannot stop at border

Concerns have been raised about the future of build-to-rent properties amid low construction numbers.

Concerns have been raised about the future of build-to-rent properties amid low construction numbers.

Scotland's Housing Emergency

Scotland's housing crisis deepens with the largest slump in build-to-rent across UK

First Minister John Swinney is ramping up the case for independence

First Minister John Swinney is ramping up the case for independence

Swinney programme failed to mention independence – so why all the talk now?

The First Minister must get his hard hat on and fix the problem of a lack of housebuilding in Scotland.

The First Minister must get his hard hat on and fix the problem of a lack of housebuilding in Scotland.

Affordable housing

Analysis: John Swinney must tackle the crisis of plummeting housebuilding

First Minister John Swinney

First Minister John Swinney

Can John Swinney really claim child poverty is his top priority?

First Minister of Scotland John Swinney

First Minister of Scotland John Swinney

Swinney 'regrets' his 'find something else to moan about' comment on homelessness

Vicky Allan visits a heat pump in Dunblane. Picture Gordon Terris

Vicky Allan visits a heat pump in Dunblane. Picture Gordon Terris

Scot Gov promises what heat pump-seeking homeowners have been crying out for

'The unfortunate truth is that devolution has diminished Scottish political debate,' says former Labour minister Brian Wilson

'The unfortunate truth is that devolution has diminished Scottish political debate,' says former Labour minister Brian Wilson

Programme for Government

Brian Wilson: These 'new' SNP plans for Scotland are uninspired and visionless

John Swinney will set out his legislative agenda for the year ahead.

John Swinney will set out his legislative agenda for the year ahead.

Programme for Government

Swinney to set out Programme for Government: key details live

Was the Programme for Government supposed to be underwhelming?

Was the Programme for Government supposed to be underwhelming?

Swinney's Programme for Government missed the mark - but maybe it was supposed to

John Swinney will set out his Programme for Government on Tuesday.

John Swinney will set out his Programme for Government on Tuesday.

Scotland's Forgotten Children

Scotland's 'broken' public sector entrenches families into poverty, Swinney told

First Minister faces backlash over “disappointing” plans on affordable homes

First Minister faces backlash over “disappointing” plans on affordable homes

Affordable housing

First Minister faces backlash over 'disappointing' plans on affordable homes

First Minister of Scotland John Swinney and Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes (left) arrive at the main chamber to deliver a statement on his Programme for Government to the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood, Edinburgh, setting out his priorities for the

First Minister of Scotland John Swinney and Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes (left) arrive at the main chamber to deliver a statement on his Programme for Government to the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood, Edinburgh, setting out his priorities for the

Five main points from John Swinney’s Programme for Government

Charities have called on the First Minister to include a pledge to build more homes in his Programme for Government.

Charities have called on the First Minister to include a pledge to build more homes in his Programme for Government.

Calls for First Minister to agree to build more homes in Programme for Government

John Swinney will set out his Programme for Government.

John Swinney will set out his Programme for Government.

John Swinney will hit one year as First Minister but there's no time for celebrating

What are the plans for John Swinney's Programme for Government and what can we expect?

What are the plans for John Swinney's Programme for Government and what can we expect?

What can we expect from John Swinney’s Programme for Government?

John Swinney urged to make economic growth ‘preeminent priority’

John Swinney urged to make economic growth ‘preeminent priority’

Business Issues

John Swinney urged to make economic growth ‘preeminent priority’

John Swinney's programme for government must incite real change.

John Swinney's programme for government must incite real change.

Swinney’s programme for government must offer a reset

John Swinney's failure to include the Human Rights Bill in the Programme for Government has led a third sector organisation to withdraw leadership from a government advisory group.

John Swinney's failure to include the Human Rights Bill in the Programme for Government has led a third sector organisation to withdraw leadership from a government advisory group.

Organisation withdraws from leadership group over Swinney's 'apathy' on human rights