FIRST Minister Humza Yousaf will set out his government’s priorities in a statement to the Scottish Parliament after parliamentary recess, it has been confirmed.
Yousaf is scheduled to address MSPs after 2pm on Tuesday April 18, with a Scottish Government debate on the cost of living crisis and child poverty to follow.
An insider told The National the statement will be similar to the Programme for Government (PfG) announcement and described it as “scene setting” for the new administration.
It comes as the First Minister chaired his first official meeting of the new Scottish Cabinet on Friday morning in Bute House.
Yousaf charged his new raft of Cabinet Secretaries and ministers to take a “bold approach” to delivery in Scotland.
The Cabinet also discussed the priorities for Yousaf’s first administration, ahead of the formal statement to the Scottish Parliament in a few weeks' time.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “They had a further conversation around the budget that will underpin those priorities.
“This morning’s discussion highlighted the importance of being an open, accessible government through engagement with the public and stakeholders and by reaching out to members of other parties in a genuine spirit of collaboration.
“It also stressed the importance of building relationships with counterparts in other devolved administrations and the UK Government.”
The Scottish Government confirmed that the First Minister, Deputy First Minister Shona Robison and minister for local government Joe Fitzpatrick met with the president of Cosla, Shona Morrison, on Friday afternoon.
“Cabinet members also reflected on their experiences in their previous ministerial portfolios and how that often brings useful perspective when taking on roles in different areas of government,” the spokesperson added.
“As always, a discussion on the immediate issues Cabinet members will be addressing in the coming weeks took place.”
The First Minister added: “I was pleased to welcome new and returning Cabinet members to our first meeting this morning.
“I was clear to them that I want Cabinet to be a forum for open and honest discussion.”
Yousaf said that the ministerial team is looking forward to reaching out to stakeholders, the business community, opposition parties and the wider public in a “spirit of genuine collaboration”.
He added: “This government has a strong track of taking forward ambitious and radical policies and reforms over the last few years, against a backdrop of austerity, economic uncertainty and of course the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Under my leadership the ministerial team have been tasked with taking a bold approach to how we govern – not just in addressing the challenges facing the people of Scotland, but also maximising the opportunities of our many strengths.
“Our key priorities will include eradicating poverty and delivering a wellbeing economy underpinned by sustainable public services.
“I will set out more detail to parliament following Easter recess – but in the next couple of weeks, Cabinet members will be busy getting down to work on the immediate issues in their portfolios.”
