The Scottish Government has been urged to consider trialling a reduced working week in parts of the public sector in its forthcoming Budget as it aims to secure support from the Greens.
The party’s co-leader Patrick Harvie also suggested plans to dual the A9 and A96 could be scrapped, with the money instead used to provide free bus travel for young Scots.
Mr Harvie has written to Finance Secretary Derek Mackay – who has still to set a date for the 2020-21 Scottish Budget – outlining the kind of measures he wants to be included to enable the six Green MSPs to back the minority SNP administration in its tax and spending plans.
Since losing an overall majority in the Scottish Parliament, the SNP has relied on the Greens to get its proposals through Holyrood.
Mr Harvie said this year ministers must produce a budget that will help tackle the climate emergency.
In his letter to Mr Mackay, the Scottish Green co-leader calls for increased investment in the low-carbon economy, including a “significant increase” in spending on improving home energy efficiency in a bid to help cut greenhouse gas emissions, as well as funding for renewables projects.
