The First Minister, Humza Yousaf, has announced this year’s Programme for Government to the Scottish Parliament. The Programme for Government sets out the actions we will take this year to reduce poverty, promote fair and green growth and improve public services.

The SNP’s policy announcements deal with many issues that are areas of concern for my constituents in East Lothian. I welcome plans as part of our public health policy to consider banning single-use vapes in Scotland. This is the correct thing to do to protect our young people and tackle the increasing environmental impact of these products. I am pleased that private and voluntary sector staff working in adult social care, children’s services and early learning will now receive at least £12 an hour from April. I am encouraged that we will make further preparation for the expansion of universal free school meals for all pupils in primaries six and seven. We are also helping working families and commuters by expanding access to high-quality funded childcare and piloting the abolition of peak time rail fares.

That is just some of this year’s programme, building upon the success of the Scottish Child Payment, which benefits 11,495 children in East Lothian and Midlothian.

By making choices in Scotland that are socially just, we have used the Scottish Government’s fixed budget and limited powers to tackle inequality and poverty and protect people. The Brexit-supporting Labour Party will not break from Tory spending plans and is in full support of harmful Tory policies such as the bedroom tax. It is the policies of this government that protect us from the harm from Labour and the Tories.

This government continues to support key pillars that were long abandoned elsewhere in the UK and supported by Labour, such as free education, free prescriptions, free personal care and so much more.

This Programme for Government continues our mission to protect the most vulnerable.