NICOLA Sturgeon has set out "progressive" plans for her first year as First Minister.

Revealed at Holyrood yesterday afternoon, Ms Sturgeon announced the 12 new bills to be brought before parliament in the next year.

The SNP leader vowed to set up a commission looking at alternatives to council tax while legislation is to be brought in making it impossible for people to be chased for poll tax debts.

Another bill will aim to make university governing bodies more open, accountable and democratic, with Ms Sturgeon announcing the "challenging" target of increasing the number of students from poorer backgrounds in higher education.

She said at least 20% of university entrants should come from the most deprived 20% of the population.

During the address, which lasted around 30 minutes, she pledged more cash for the health service and vowed the budget for the day-to-day running of the NHS would increase by above inflation for the rest of this parliament and, if the SNP are elected in 2016, for the duration of the next.

Other plans included a new bill on land reform and extra rights for children who have additional support needs.

Ms Sturgeon said "much more" needed to be done to help youngsters and added: "In the next year, our Education Bill will give new rights to children who may have additional support needs.

"We will make it a priority to improve the educational outcomes of pupils in the most disadvantaged areas of Scotland."

Domestic abuse is to be consulted on by the Scottish Government with an intention to introduce legislation to tackle revenge porn.

Following the report on the C.diff outbreak at the Vale of Leven Hospital, Ms Sturgeon said the government will give the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate the power to order the closure of wards for patient safety.

A Carers Bill will also be introduced to give those who look after their loved ones more input in the services they receive.

Victims of human trafficking are to be better supported with a Human Trafficking and Exploitation bill, and gender equality will be tackled in a new campaign.

The 50:50 by 2020 campaign will urge all public and private firms to have an equal split of men and women on their boards within six years.

Labour MSP Jackie Baillie criticised the programme, saying it was a "missed opportunity" to cut inequality.

She said: "Those under 65, living at home, increasingly have to contribute a higher proportion of their benefits towards care costs.

"This care tax is a tax on the most vulnerable members of our communities. It's a tax we can and should abolish.

"That takes action, not warm words and that is the basis on which the Scottish government will be judged."

Ms Baillie did welcome the plans for domestic abuse legislation and said the party would support the ideas.

Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie called for Ms Sturgeon to use her first Scottish Government programme to address mental health.

He said: "If we are to create opportunity for all, the new First Minister must use her first programme for Government to set out a new agenda on mental health.

"We need a new law to ensure equality between mental health and physical health in our NHS. People in England already have that equality, so we deserve it in Scotland too."

hannah.rodger@eveningtimes.co.uk