World News Today: Tories detail education reforms

Monday, April 4, 2011

Tories detail education reforms

Scottish Conservative Party leader Annabel Goldie holds a campaign brochure during the launch of their Scottish Parliament election campaign

The Scottish Conservatives are promising "common sense" policies

The Scottish Conservative Party is to launch its manifesto ahead of the 5 May Holyrood elections.

The party will promise to deliver "common sense" policies that face up to the need to cut the spending deficit.

Annabel Goldie, Scottish Conservative leader, will also say her party's programme will grow the economy and boost jobs.

She will outline the Tories' record in the Scottish Parliament, and will insist they can deliver much more.

The Tories plan to "tell it like it is" - arguing that Scotland cannot afford universal free prescriptions, and that there should be a graduate contribution to fund universities.

However, the party also wants to offer more support to families by increasing the number of health visitors, and to pensioners through a cut in council tax allied to an overall freeze.

'Positive record'

Launching the manifesto at the Glasgow Science Centre, Ms Goldie will argue that the Tories secured gains in the last parliament such as more police on the beat, help for families by backing a four-year council tax freeze, and support for businesses by pushing through cuts to rates.

She will say these gains amounted to a £2bn package of benefits over the past four years.

Ms Goldie is expected to add: "But I want to build on that positive record and this manifesto sets out how for the next five years, we shall deliver even more for Scotland."

She will stress support for creating jobs through plans such as a business start up fund, compulsory enterprise training at all colleges and universities, and a new dedicated cabinet-level minister for enterprise and jobs.

She will say: "If we could achieve just a 1% increase in productivity that would grow our economy by almost £1bn a year.

"And that is why growing the economy and creating jobs must be at the heart of our plans."

This article is from the BBC News website. � British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.