In response to the First Minister’s parliamentary statement on her government’s legislative programme for the coming year [...]

In response to the First Minister’s parliamentary statement on her government’s legislative programme for the coming year, Orkney's MSP, Liam McArthur, said:

"As ever, the Programme for Government is a mixed bag, including proposals which command cross party support. Amongst these, support for the delivery of the National Islands Plan and a commitment to Carbon Neutral Islands by 2040 are particularly welcome.

“However, as the Auditor General made clear in his report today, there is a serious ‘mismatch’ between the SNP government’s record on policy and delivery. In short, Nicola Sturgeon and her Ministers over-promise and under-deliver.

“Today we heard once again of re-hashed promises on an already badly delayed superfast broadband rollout. In addition, a commitment on decarbonised ferries lacked detail on how they will be funded and appeared to exclude Orkney’s internal fleet.

“Meanwhile, plans for a National Care Service bear the hallmarks of a classic SNP centralisation, drawing condemnation from Scotland's local authorities as "an attack on localism" which undermines the value of local services.

“And at a time when the country is looking for new hope, the First Minister offers a new white paper on independence. This was a missed opportunity indeed.”