| Party/Issue | Labour Party | SNP | Lib Dems | Conservatives | Green Party |
|---|
| Education | At least 4 computers per class. 100 new school "developments". | £22.8 million on books for schools. £130 million on providing e-mail addresses and internet access for every school pupil. | 2000 extra school teachers. Double spending on equipment and books in the first year. | New Local School boards to take over running of schools from local authority. | unknown |
| Taxation | No immediate rise in Income tax. | 1p rise in income tax from April 2000. | Tax rise not ruled out. | No new or increased taxes. | unknown |
| Health | Eight new hospitals and launch of an NHS 24 hour helpline in August. | More NHS staff and creation of a Ministery for public health. | 1000 extra nurses and 500 extra doctors. Abolition of dental and eye-test charges. | To remove bureaucracy by abolishing health boards and primary care trusts. | A ban on genetically modified food. |
| Constitution | Scotland within UK. | Independence for Scotland. | Scotland within UK. | Scotland within UK | Independence for Scotland |
| Students Fees | Students paying fees. | To abolish tuition fees and restore grants to poorest students. | To abolish tuition fees. | To abolish tuition fees. | Against tuition fees. |
| Crime | Power given to police to seize assets of suspected drug dealers before conviction. | State funding for victim support groups. Supervision of dangerous prisoners after release. | Preserve police forces at current strength and give each community its own "beat" officer. | Zero tolerance approach to policing. | unknown |
| Transport | unknown | To abolish Sky Bridge tolls. Integrated transport system. Electrification of the Edinburgh to Aberdeen railway line. | To abolish Sky Bridge tolls. To ensure affordability for air and sea links to the highlands & islands. | Opposed to road tolls and high prices of petrol. Proposes a road improvements programme. | Setting high road traffic reduction targets. Investment in public transport. |
| Europe | Working towards European Monetary Union. | Appointment of Scottish External Affairs minister to represent Scotland in Europe. In favour of single currency. Immediate removal of the beef on the bone ban. | In favour of single currency and federal Europe. Immediate removal of the beef on the bone ban. | Against single currency. Immediate removal of the beef on the bone ban. | Scotland fully integrated in Europe. |
| Drugs | Creation of drug enforcement agency of 100 detectives to target dealers and importers. | Specialised drug courts to deal with drug related offenses. Improved treatment for drug addicts. | Parliamentry commission to look into tobacco, drugs & alcohol. More treatment for drug addicts. | No bail for drug dealers. To work for a drug free Scotland. | unknown |
| Employment | 20,000 modern apprenticeships in first 4 years of Parliament. | Increasing the numbers of doctors, nurses and teachers. Investing in growth industries. | Developing tourism by protecting and marketing Scotland's heritage. | unknown | unknown |
| Economy | Investment in a science base to transform ideas into products that can create jobs. | £118 million to help small businesses. Reduced rates for small businesses. Establishment of Scottish Exports Unit. | Target support for homegrown businesses. Encouraging hi-tech inward investment. | Would keep the uni-form business rate. No new taxes. | A Scottish Community development bank to switch support towards local businesses |
| Environment | unknown | Opposes nuclear programme and would seek to replace it with renewable sources of energy. | Establishing Scottish National Parks. Discouraging private car use through bus and rail schemes. | Encourages renewable energy. | Legislation to cut pollution and to restore Scotland's great forests. |
