Joint Foreword by First Minister and Deputy First Minister
Following the Scottish Parliamentary elections four years ago, our coalition government set out the most ambitious programme of actions yet to create progressive change and improvement for Scotland.
A Partnership for a Better Scotland said exactly what we would do over the current Parliamentary term to stimulate economic growth; to improve and sustain our environment; to tackle poverty and disadvantage; and to help all our communities live in peace and safety.
As this factual assessment shows, we have delivered on the overwhelming majority of these commitments - 97% have either been achieved or are on track to be achieved. We feel that we can take great encouragement from the gains we and our partners in local government and across the public, private and voluntary sectors have made over the last four years.
Today, it is a fact that our economy is growing and there are more jobs in Scotland than ever before - just as it is a fact that educational attainment is up on four years ago and more of our pupils are progressing.
Today, Scots are healthier, and waiting times in our hospitals are at their lowest ever. Crime is coming down and our communities are now starting to feel safer as a result of the new powers our police and councils have to stop anti-social behaviour.
We are meeting our ambitious targets for recycling and composting of municipal waste. And, poverty - particularly child poverty - has been reducing over the last four years, and more people are getting a chance to share in Scotland's progress.
We can be pleased - if not yet satisfied - with the progress outlined in this document.
It provides a solid basis for the future and for the more competitive, more just and more successful Scotland that we all want to see.
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Rt Hon Jack McConnell MSP
First Minister | Nicol Stephen MSP
Deputy First Minister |