First Minister Alex Salmond has confirmed the worst-kept secret in Scotland there will be a single police force.
Plans to merge the current eight individual forces into one single unit and also create a single fire service were among 15 pieces of new legislation outlined by the SNP leader at Holyrood on Wednesday.
Unveiling his programme for government for the coming year Mr Salmond said: “After detailed consideration of all the evidence available, we are persuaded that a single police service and a single fire and rescue service are the right options.
“This is the only way to maintain the number of officers in every community, right across Scotland.
“It will sustain and improve the delivery of local services while giving all parts of Scotland access to national expertise and assets whenever and wherever they are needed.”
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill will announce further details to parliament on Thursday.
But the First Minister’s 30-minute speech largely focused on economic growth and gaining more powers for Scotland.
He promised to improve access to finance, restore confidence among businesses and improve prospects for the country’s youth.
He also launched a strongly-worded attack on the UK Government, who he accused of endangering the Scottish economy.Minimum pricingMr Salmond reiterated his pledge to lobby for more powers for the Scottish Parliament and said the Scottish people “do not fear” the SNP’s central aim of independence.
He said: “Independence will improve the future for all these people the independence generation.
“It is the opposite of dependence, of limited ambition, of negativity, caution and pessimism. It means rejecting those who tell us we are too lazy and too poor.”
The legislative programme includes a second attempt to pass a bill to introduce alcohol minimum pricing, which was previously blocked by opposition parties but is certain to be successful this time due to the SNP’s new majority.
Mr Salmond promised the bill “will tackle the scourge of alcoholism on Scottish society and families”.
There was also an Agricultural Holdings Bill to breathe new life into farming, changes to council tax on empty homes and a bill on children’s rights.
A widely mooted bill to allow the release of a document on the conviction of the Lockerbie bomber will also be brought forward.
Meanwhile, a Next Generation Digital Fund was unveiled to help business activity, mainly in rural areas, as part of investment in broadband connectivity.
There was also a commitment that every 16 to 19-year-old will be offered a learning or training place if not already in a job, apprenticeship or education.
Meanwhile, the First Minister confirmed there will be a new programme of Scottish Studies and criticised opponents who had described the plan as “indoctrination”.’What an opportunity’Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray admitted he felt “envy” over Mr Salmond’s parliamentary majority.
“What an opportunity he has,” he said. “An absolute majority. The chance to achieve so much.”
However, this meant Mr Salmond was under pressure to deliver.
Tory leader Annabel Goldie claimed the public “are getting fed up with (Mr Salmond’s) diet of negativity and gripe”.
“The SNP is relentlessly hostile to anyone who dares to speak out against them or question their version of reality or challenge their proposals,” she added.
“Let me say from the outset that there are measures in this legislative programme which we can support, others which we cannot and some which will need amendment.”
Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie backed minimum pricing but attacked the single police force.
The Scottish Government has already introduced a bill to combat sectarian behaviour at football matches.