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Scots legislation plans unveiled Scots legislation plans unveiled
(30 minutes later)
The Scottish Government's plans for the year ahead have been set out by First Minister Alex Salmond at Holyrood. The Scottish Government has set out its plans for the next year, including scrapping council tax for a 3p local income tax.
Three of the 15 bills focus on the environment, with the Climate Change Bill setting tough new targets. Health is also prominent in the programme. First Minister Alex Salmond also outlined plans to ban under-21s from buying alcohol from off-licences and restrict the shop display of tobacco.
Mr Salmond challenged Labour to support the Council Tax Abolition Bill, which would scrap the tax in favour of a local income tax. Mr Salmond said the government was responding to the many challenges Scotland faced.
Labour said many flagship SNP policies were already "completely discredited". Speaking at the Scottish Parliament, he announced 15 pieces of new legislation.
The government is also pressing ahead with measures to limit alcohol off-sales and to block tobacco advertising in shops. They took in a wide range of areas, including criminal justice, the environment and public service reform.
There are new legal targets on tackling climate change, new measures on marine conservation and action to tackle flooding. Mr Salmond told MSPs: "There should be no limits to our ambitions for this nation, just as there should be no limit to what we can contribute globally."
The Holyrood government's other legislative plans included cutting emissions by 80% by 2050, a presumption against the closure of rural schools and a move to hold Scottish council and parliamentary elections on different dates, in the wake of last May's election night fiasco.