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| Referendum and same-sex marriage bills announced in SNP plans | Referendum and same-sex marriage bills announced in SNP plans |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| An independence referendum bill and another to legalise same-sex marriage form part of the Scottish government's new legislative programme. | An independence referendum bill and another to legalise same-sex marriage form part of the Scottish government's new legislative programme. |
| First Minister Alex Salmond announced details of his 2012/13 plans in the Holyrood chamber. | First Minister Alex Salmond announced details of his 2012/13 plans in the Holyrood chamber. |
| The government will bring forward 15 bills in all. | The government will bring forward 15 bills in all. |
| The SNP administration wants a referendum on independence to be held in autumn 2014. However, much of the detail has still to be worked out. | The SNP administration wants a referendum on independence to be held in autumn 2014. However, much of the detail has still to be worked out. |
| Negotiations on the process surrounding the vote are continuing between the Scottish and UK governments. The bill is expected to make its way through parliament and gain Royal Assent in November next year. | Negotiations on the process surrounding the vote are continuing between the Scottish and UK governments. The bill is expected to make its way through parliament and gain Royal Assent in November next year. |
| At this stage it is not known how many questions voters will be asked. | At this stage it is not known how many questions voters will be asked. |
| Among the 14 other bills being put forward are the Marriage and Civil Partnership Bill, which could introduce same-sex marriage to Scotland. | Among the 14 other bills being put forward are the Marriage and Civil Partnership Bill, which could introduce same-sex marriage to Scotland. |
| Mr Salmond says there will be a "conscience" vote in the parliament, where MSPs will be able to vote freely, and he insisted no part of the religious community would be forced to hold same-sex weddings in churches. | Mr Salmond says there will be a "conscience" vote in the parliament, where MSPs will be able to vote freely, and he insisted no part of the religious community would be forced to hold same-sex weddings in churches. |
| The announcement was made in the wake of a government consultation which produced a record 77,508 responses. | The announcement was made in the wake of a government consultation which produced a record 77,508 responses. |
| Also included are measures to make more free early learning and childcare available. | Also included are measures to make more free early learning and childcare available. |
| The first minister said the Children and Young People Bill will include a promise of 600 hours "free early learning and childcare provision". | The first minister said the Children and Young People Bill will include a promise of 600 hours "free early learning and childcare provision". |
| This will guarantee 600 hours of pre-school nursery care for three and four-year-olds, and looked-after two-year-olds, and represents a 125-hour increase on current provision. | This will guarantee 600 hours of pre-school nursery care for three and four-year-olds, and looked-after two-year-olds, and represents a 125-hour increase on current provision. |
| Mr Salmond also announced that £18m will be spent on "high-quality, co-ordinated and accessible" support for families. | |
| The Criminal Justice Bill will reform the system for investigating and prosecuting crime in Scotland, following Lord Carloway's review of Scots Law which recommended the abolition of the requirement for corroboration. | The Criminal Justice Bill will reform the system for investigating and prosecuting crime in Scotland, following Lord Carloway's review of Scots Law which recommended the abolition of the requirement for corroboration. |
| 'Most important decision' | |
| The legislative programme, announced on the day MSPs returned from their summer recess, includes two Bills setting out the Scottish government's proposed replacements for stamp duty and landfill tax - the Scotland Act handed powers over these to Holyrood from 2015. | |
| Other legislation is aimed at improving the integration of health and social care, to improve support available for victims and witnesses, to reform post-16 education and to bring bankruptcy law into the 21st Century. | |
| Mr Salmond said: "The new parliamentary session promises to be a pivotal one in the history of this country. | Mr Salmond said: "The new parliamentary session promises to be a pivotal one in the history of this country. |
| "Work will get underway in earnest on the Referendum Bill, laying the groundwork for Scotland's most important decision in 300 years. | "Work will get underway in earnest on the Referendum Bill, laying the groundwork for Scotland's most important decision in 300 years. |
| "With the powers we do have, we have managed to secure free university education, offer the best free early learning and childcare package in the UK and guarantee a training opportunity to every 16-19 year old who is not already in education, employment or training. | "With the powers we do have, we have managed to secure free university education, offer the best free early learning and childcare package in the UK and guarantee a training opportunity to every 16-19 year old who is not already in education, employment or training. |
| "We are also investing in creating jobs and strengthening the economy - bringing forward more than £300m of capital spending between 2008-2010, supporting 5,000 jobs, and announcing just a few weeks ago a further £105m. | "We are also investing in creating jobs and strengthening the economy - bringing forward more than £300m of capital spending between 2008-2010, supporting 5,000 jobs, and announcing just a few weeks ago a further £105m. |
| "Any plan to support growth should focus on immediate public sector capital investment and over this year and the next two, we will switch over £700m of spending from resource to capital." | "Any plan to support growth should focus on immediate public sector capital investment and over this year and the next two, we will switch over £700m of spending from resource to capital." |
| Labour leader Johann Lamont described the legislative programme as a mixture of the "late and the far too late". | |
| And Scottish Secretary Michael Moore said: "I welcome the fact the first minister has announced he will publish a Referendum Bill. It is high time we sorted out the referendum process and got on to the real debate about Scotland's future." | And Scottish Secretary Michael Moore said: "I welcome the fact the first minister has announced he will publish a Referendum Bill. It is high time we sorted out the referendum process and got on to the real debate about Scotland's future." |