Under the banner "Raising Standards", the party says it is committed to investing in quality public services within the Scottish Parliament.
Scottish Liberal Democrat Party
Essentials
Its key objectives are to improve education services, the NHS and foster enterprise in Scotland.
The party is prepared to use the Scottish Parliament's tax varying powers to fund its proposed commitments.
At the manifesto launch on 7 April, leader Jim Wallace said it would make a decision on a possible penny rise in the basic rate of income tax following the election and on assessment of the Scottish Budget.
The party said it was offering an alternative to "tribalist politics" of the past and would be committed to coalition administration at Holyrood.
Health
The Scottish Liberal Democrats want to improve public health through the creation of a Health Promotion Fund, recruit 1,000 extra nurses and 500 extra doctors. The party says it will aim to cut waiting lists to six months or less and abolish dental and eye charges.
Economy
The party says it will implement an Enterprise Economy in Scotland and is prepared to use tax varying powers. They would establish a Ministry for Education and Enterprise and encourage the development of enterprise parks attached to university campuses.
They want more support for the start-up scheme for businesses.
Transport
The party says it will support a national strategy aimed at improving Scotland's transport and communications infrastructure, encourage more use of the railways by opening more lines and stations and abolish tolls on the Skye Bridge.
Environment
The Scottish Liberal Democrats' manifesto includes plans for the establishment of national parks in Scotland.
Education
Education is at the centre of the party's policy programme for the Scottish Parliament with a promise to increase spending by a half a billion pounds over three years.
It calls for education to be restored to "world class" levels and proposals include the recruitment of 2,000 extra school teachers, the abolition of tuition fees for all Scottish students and extra investment in education spending for all three and four year olds.
Law and Order
The party says there are too many people in Scotland's prisons and it wants to see more resources committed to preventing crime and re-offending.
Its policies include proposals for the establishment of a Scottish Ministry of Justice, responsible for tackling crime, protecting civil liberties and monitoring the legal system.
Housing
The Scottish Liberal Democrats want to establish a Healthy Homes Task Force to tackle what it says is the unacceptable amount of cold, damp and cramped housing in Scotland.
Nationalism
Scottish Liberal Democrats say they have campaigned for a Scottish Parliament longer than any other party and do no want to see a repeat of the bitter Westminster battles at Holyrood. They are opposed to independence.
Europe
The party says the new parliament should be properly represented in United Kingdom delegations to the European Council of Ministers and be fully involved in the European Committee of the Regions. The party says it will also back reform of the EU to make it more accountable and effective.
Miscellaneous
The party advocates the creation of Community Partnership Trusts as an effective public sector investment strategy.
|
Events Contents |
|
|
- | Crisis In The Gulf |
|
- | Israel at 50 |
|
- | Budget 98 |
|
- | Indonesia |
|
- | Newstalk |
|
- | The Money Programme |
|
- | The Dome Zone |
|
- | Local Elections 98 |
|
- | Newsnight |
|
- | Vote 99 |
|
Scotland 99 Contents |
|
|
- |
Home |
|
- |
Campaign News |
|
- |
News |
|
- |
The Scottish Parliament |
|
- |
Constituencies and Regions |
|
- |
Parties and Issues |
|
- |
Opinion Polls |
|
- |
Interactive |
|
- |
Your Views |
Scottish Labour
Scottish National Party
Scottish Conservative Party
Scottish Liberal Democrat Party
Socialist Labour Party (Scotland)
Scottish Green Party
Highlands and Islands Alliance
Natural Law Party
Scottish Socialist Party
Other parties