SNP manifesto at-a-glance
SNP election pledges include; - Referendum on independence to be held within the four-year term of an SNP administration.
- Cut business rates to below UK rates "within the first term"
- No increase in income tax. SNP would "cut the taxes on growth and increase competitiveness"
- Increase pay of nurses and midwives by 11% on top of any UK settlement
- SNP "aim" for everyone to receive hospital treatment within six months of diagnosis by 2005
- "Work towards" delivering, by the end of the first term, maximum wait of six months for first outpatient appointment
- Halt reduction in acute beds
- Make local health councils independent of NHS; new independent national patient body.
- Early legislation to abolish health trusts, review number of health boards and devolve some of their powers
- Put 1,000 more police officers on streets
- Cut time spent by police in court; parental compensation orders to ensure parents take responsibility, more secure units, weekend courts, family courts, weekend sentences.
- Starting with deprived areas, cut Primary 1, 2 and 3 class sizes to 18 or less "within five years"
- Pilot a national system of supported childcare; improve behaviour through temporary exclusion to special centres
- Match "brick for brick" any new or modernised school plans on offer from Labour or Lib Dems but using not-for-profit trusts
- Review 5-14 curriculum, allow S3 and S4 youngsters to use colleges for vocational education; abolish graduate endowment
- Aim for 25% of generation from renewable sources by 2010
- Use Holyrood powers to prevent building of any new nuclear stations and decommission existing facilities at end of their economic or technical life
- Farming, fishing, forestry - ensure new regulations only introduced in Scotland after implementation by majority of EU nations
- Immediate moratorium on GM crop trials
- Recovery plan for fishing and aid for onshore businesses including rates relief
- Review of local enterprise network will include needs of rural and remote businesses
- Promote Highlands and Islands airports, secure future of rural post offices
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