Prevention, people and human rights must be the focus

Sara Redmond, ALLIANCE Chief Officer, on the priorities for 2026's Programme for Government.

After a summer where new MSPs busied themselves setting up their offices the Scottish Parliament elected in May will truly get underway when it returns from recess this week, and. First Minister John Swinney sets out his Programme for Government (PfG) for the next five years.     

Reflecting on our manifesto for this year’s election, “Our Collective Voice”, and early indications of the Scottish Government’s direction, the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE) has three key priorities for the PfG: prevention at the heart of public service delivery; partnership with the third sector; and protecting human rights.  

Public service reform is clearly set to be the defining feature of this parliament, with a dedicated Cabinet Secretary and corresponding parliamentary committee. Faced with severe pressures on public finances and entrenched health inequalities, the status quo simply cannot continue. Embedding a preventative approach to service delivery is the solution to these issues, and a move beyond warm words into concrete action is long overdue.   

This PfG must show courage by setting out how the balance of funding will be shifted towards prevention, and in particular how health and social care will be reformed and improved, even if this requires additional revenues to be found now to realise the much greater savings in future. It must also make clear how voice of lived experience, of those accessing services and whose lives are shaped by them, will in turn be given a meaningful role in the shape of planning and delivery of services.  

As the public service reform agenda moves forward, it must recognise and support the role of the third sector. A formal agreement with the third sector formed part of the SNP’s manifesto this year, and the ALLIANCE were pleased to have an early meeting with officials to discuss this topic. The third sector has unique knowledge, expertise and reach but can only achieve its fullest potential when treated as an equal partner. We therefore hope the PfG will include actions to progress fair, sustainable funding for the third sector, and strengthen its role in service design and delivery.  

Throughout this, the Scottish Government must ensure there is respect for and a strengthening of human rights. The ALLIANCE have long argued for approaches such as human rights budgeting, and the proposed Human Rights Bill is an opportunity to more firmly root human rights duties in public service delivery. Many organisations and individuals dedicated huge amounts of their time to helping to develop the Bill last term and were deeply disappointed it was delayed. The Bill must be listed as an early priority for introduction in this PfG.  

Much remains to be seen and developed in terms of the detail of the Scottish Government’s public service reform agenda, but these three priorities offer a firm foundation to build on. The ALLIANCE look forward to engaging closely and constructively with the Scottish Government, Parliament, our members and partners across the third sector in the coming years.

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