Scottish Parliament – Aug. 31, 2021 – 4

S6M-00978.1: As an amendment to motion S6M-00978 in the name of John Swinney (First 100 Days, Delivering for the People of Scotland), leave out from “welcomes” to end and insert “believes that events in the first 100 days of the new administration show that recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, protecting the NHS, reaching for the best education, valuing carers and those whom they care for, supporting businesses, protecting human rights and tackling the climate emergency must command the full focus of the Parliament;

further believes that plans for the recovery of the NHS must include further details of how it will relieve the unsustainable pressure on staff and services experienced during the first 100 days, how the Scottish Government will meet the waiting times targets that were already being missed pre-pandemic and immediately establish a new coordinated and comprehensive action plan for long COVID;

calls on the Scottish Government to increase the capacity of Test and Protect, in light of recent reports of fresh delays in contact tracing and the decision to scale back tracing activities, risking the spread of the virus, and commends the campaigning of teachers, which has helped secure new funding for permanent contracts, while urging the Scottish Government to reverse the casualisation of the profession and introduce a new teacher job guarantee because pupils need to get the full benefit of their talents.”

Original motion(S6M-00978): That the Parliament welcomes the delivery of 80 key actions within the first 100 days of the new administration that will have a positive impact on the people of Scotland by leading the COVID-19 recovery, supporting NHS and care services, tackling the climate crisis, backing economic recovery and creating jobs, supporting communities and helping children and families, and recognises these actions as the foundation of improved outcomes for Scotland’s people that will continue to be delivered through the forthcoming Programme for Government, the COVID-19 recovery programme and the shared policy programme agreed between the Scottish Government and the Scottish Green Party.