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More must be done to tackle Scotland's economic and environmental crises, campaigners warn

CAMPAIGNERS have warned more must be done to urgently tackle the economic and environmental crises after Holyrood ministers announced their programme for government today. 

Announcing her legislative agenda, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said that suppressing Covid-19 is “our most immediate priority —and it will remain so for some time,” but added that her government would use the disruption of the pandemic to “rethink how we do things.” 

The SNP leader used her speech to MSPs to outline investment across Scotland to create jobs and build green industries. 

A jobs-guarantee fund for those aged 16 to 24, a £100 million green jobs fund and an “inward investment plan” to create about 100,000 high-quality roles over the next decade were all unveiled.

The government also pledged £500m for infrastructure to support active travel, but Labour raised concerns about the lack of legislation included in the agenda. 

Richard Leonard said: “I welcome and support the creation of new jobs in green industries — but workers don’t need promises of ‘jam tomorrow,’ they need an assurance they will not be thrown on the dole queues next month.”

Friends of the Earth Scotland director Dr Richard Dixon said the moves represented “welcome progress” but urged the government to “ensure it becomes more than rhetoric.”

He added: “By taking concrete steps in the coming months to deliver their ‘green jobs’ commitment, the government will help ensure that we have warmer homes, reductions in climate pollution and new jobs across the country.”

The Scottish Greens criticised the programme, saying that it fails to respond to the climate emergency with the necessary urgency.

Parliamentary co-leader Alison Johnstone said a “just transition” for Scotland was long overdue, asking how many roles the green jobs fund will create, with the First Minister promising greater detail in due course. 

The programme for government also outlined other legislative changes in Scotland, including greater protections for tenants. 

A new £10m fund will be set aside for people struggling to pay their rent due to the pandemic, but Shelter Scotland hit out at the government’s tenant hardship loans fund, with Gordon Macrae saying: “The answer to rising tenant debt is not another form of debt.”

Ms Sturgeon also confirmed a draft Bill for a second independence referendum is to be published, outlining details of any future vote.

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