Finance Secretary John Swinney has sent a message to all SNP election candidates. In it he sets out the SNP Government's approach to driving up efficiency in government over the past four years, and his plan to "make taxpayers' money work even harder" in the next Parliament.
Mr Swinney said:
“Over these past four years the SNP has demonstrated a clear capacity not only to manage Scotland's money effectively, but more importantly to manage it more effectively than any previous administration.”
In the lengthy and detailed message to candidates, Mr Swinney reviewed the SNP’s financial track-record since their election in 2007, and promised to continue with the process of simplification, saying “we will take every opportunity to reduce costs and bureaucracy and improve service delivery.”
The Finance Secretary also confirmed that a re-elected SNP Government would invest £50 million in tackling fuel poverty and meeting Scotland's climate change targets.
The Warm Homes Fund - part of the Scottish Futures Fund which sees £250 million of savings from the Forth Bridge invested in projects for Scotland's future - will help communities and individuals affected by fuel poverty to heat their homes in a way that is greener as well as cheaper.
Deputy First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has welcomed the results of a BBC poll where voters were asked rank policies in order of importance.
"This is an excellent poll, confirming that the SNP's policies for a re-elected government are the priorities of the people,” Ms Sturgeon said.
"The SNP Government have cut cancer waiting times - one of Labour's biggest failures in office. Within 18 months of taking office, we met the cancer waiting times target which the previous administration failed even to come close to, we have met it consistently since, and made it tougher along the way.”
Ms Sturgeon believes that the poll confirmed support for SNP policy in a number of areas, saying "The poll also supports SNP policy on a range of issues - including the 1,000 extra police we have delivered, our commitment to free education, the record 25,000 Modern Apprenticeship places we have put in place this year, the Council Tax freeze, the abolition of prescription charges, energy, and minimum pricing.”
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