This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/7400071.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Government to announce key aims Salmond in sports university vow
(about 5 hours later)
New measures to tackle alcohol abuse will form part of the Scottish Government's key aims for the year ahead, to be unveiled later. A new Scottish university for sporting excellence will be based at Stirling University, the first minister has announced.
In a statement at Holyrood, First Minister Alex Salmond is also expected to reflect on his first year in power. Alex Salmond made the statement in Holyrood as he outlined the SNP's achievements during its first year in power.
Core aims for the year ahead include building skills-training to boost the economy, tackling prison overcrowding and enhancing patients' rights. The institution will support elite sportsmen and women.
It follows the Scottish Government's decision to abolish the Institute of Sport, which was based in Stirling.
Mr Salmond said the SNP's minority government had achieved a lot in its first year, from abolishing the graduate charge to cutting prescription charges.
He said the core aims for the year ahead included action on climate change and on working in partnership with local government.
The first minister also promised a referendum on independence - but not before 2010.
This government will press ahead with a bill providing for a referendum on Scottish independence in 2010, just as we always planned Alex Salmond
He said: "This government's ambition for Scotland is well known; for this country to take on full responsibility for our destiny, allowing our people, our economy, our society to flourish.
"So I'm delighted to confirm that this government will press ahead with the national conversation on Scotland's future and thereafter with a bill providing for a referendum on Scottish independence in 2010, just as we always planned."
Critics said Mr Salmond was struggling to meet several manifesto promises.Critics said Mr Salmond was struggling to meet several manifesto promises.
The first minister will promise a referendum but not before 2010.
Mr Salmond said he was "looking at" the anniversary of Robert Burns' birth on 25 January 2010 as a possible date to launch referendum legislation, describing it as a "propitious day".
He added: "We have planned this a substantial amount of time ago - years ago, and for very good reasons, that were nothing to do with the UK General Election."
Looking back over his first year in office, Mr Salmond picked out Scotland's successful bid for Glasgow to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games as his "biggest single moment" of exhilaration.Looking back over his first year in office, Mr Salmond picked out Scotland's successful bid for Glasgow to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games as his "biggest single moment" of exhilaration.
Scotland, he argued, had emerged with credit from events such as the Glasgow Airport terrorist bombing, the consequences of the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Surrey, and the Grangemouth refinery strike. Scotland, he argued, had emerged with credit from events such as the Glasgow Airport bombing, the consequences of the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Surrey, and the Grangemouth refinery strike.
"Nobody would say we would want any of these things to happen, and it was deeply disappointing that they did," he said."Nobody would say we would want any of these things to happen, and it was deeply disappointing that they did," he said.
"But in some ways these challenges have been the most substantial successes, not just for the government but for the country."But in some ways these challenges have been the most substantial successes, not just for the government but for the country.
"The way that the country, Scotland - not the government, but Scotland - responded to the Glasgow Airport attack was exceptional.""The way that the country, Scotland - not the government, but Scotland - responded to the Glasgow Airport attack was exceptional."
The first minister said there would be a new emphasis on "outcomes" in government and 45 "national indicators" for measuring the effectiveness of government actions would be announced on 29 May.