Political parties in Scotland are campaigning ahead of the election on 6 May. To help voters decide, a policy guide comparing party stances on key issues has been released.
The guide covers topics including future containment measures, vaccine rollout, and recovery from the pandemic. It also addresses the state of the union, devolution, and a future independence referendum.
Other areas covered are infrastructure investment, employment, business taxes, industry support, and research and development. Education policies on schools, universities, early years, funding, salaries, testing, exams, and tuition fees are included.
Health policies on hospitals, GPs, dentists, funding, staffing, waiting times, mental health, and social care are compared. Environmental issues such as climate change, emissions targets, renewable energy, plastic use, recycling, energy efficiency, and air pollution are also featured.
The guide includes policies on minimum wages, zero-hours contracts, benefits, childcare, pensions, poverty, and food banks. Housing policies on house building, home ownership, social housing, homelessness, and tenants' rights are covered, along with transport, policing, and drug policy.
The policy areas were selected using polling data on public priorities. While some issues like health and education are devolved to the Scottish Parliament, others such as foreign policy and Brexit are decided at Westminster.
