John Swinney has said the Scottish Government remains “optimistic” it can still “enhance the lives of children and their families” as he prepares to set out his first Programme for Government on Wednesday a day after his finance secretary announced £500m of cuts.

Shona Robison announced the savings on Tuesday, including £188 million to be found across Government, including by cutting £115.8 million on the NHS and social care, £23million on active travel and £15.7m on social justice.

Up to £60million of the cuts are “emergency spending controls” that will target recruitment, overtime, travel and marketing, while a further £65million will be saved by decisions including axing free travel for asylum seekers and reintroducing peak rail fares.

Up to £460 million from the ScotWind leasing round will also be used, Ms Robison said, in the hopes it will not all be required to be spent.

The First Minister said his “single greatest priority” is to eradicate child poverty and he has hinted at greater family support being deployed as a result.

“No one’s opportunities should be determined by the circumstances they are born into, which is why this year’s programme for government will prioritise measures focused on our single greatest priority of eradicating child poverty," he said.

“To do this, we will support the whole family in ensuring they can access the help they need, when they need it.

“We already have a strong track record of improving the lives of children across Scotland, including through our game-changing Scottish Child Payment and expansion of early learning and childcare.

“This Government’s policies are estimated to keep 100,000 children out of relative poverty this year.”

He added: “These provide strong foundations for this year’s programme for government, but we are determined to go further.

“Even as we face unprecedented budgetary constraint, I am optimistic that we can still greatly enhance the lives of children and their families.”

Since taking over from Humza Yousaf earlier this year, Mr Swinney pinpointed the end of child poverty as one of his key targets in office.

Recent figures show the proportion of children living in relative poverty has remained stubbornly high in recent years with the figure sitting at 26% in 2022-23, despite legal targets aiming to reduce the figure to less than 18% by this financial year and 10% in 2030-31.

While child poverty is the key driver of Mr Swinney’s first programme for government, the First Minister said “investment in public services, growing our economy and tackling climate change all contribute to improving lives and livelihoods” would also feature.

Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: “It’s time for the SNP to wake up to the scale of the challenges facing Scotland on its watch – from record NHS waiting lists to a stagnant economy to a growing attainment gap.

“Year after year we have heard the same warm words from the SNP, but the spiral of decline continues.

“Instead of looking to deflect blame and make excuses, the SNP should set out a real plan to fix the mess it has made.”

Ahead of Mr Swinney announcing his plans on Wednesday, business organisations told The Herald yesterday that the First Minister should cut regulations, speed up Scotland's planning system and work effectively with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to allow companies to "reach their potential" as he sets out how he proposes to boost economic growth.

Economic growth was listed by Mr Swinney as one of his four priorities for his period in office when he set out his vision to MSPs in May just after he became First Minister with the three others being eradicating child poverty, tackling the climate emergency and improving public services.

The Scottish Greens published a policy paper on Monday with proposals to expedite climate action, including scrapping the plan to reintroduce peak rail fares, diverting funds from the A96 dualling into public transport and creating a “real and urgent” transition plan for the energy sector.

“With the Programme for Government and the new Climate Bill only days away, we need to see the kind of bold climate action that will make a difference,” the party’s co-leader Patrick Harvie said.

“Particularly over recent months there have been very worrying signs of the Scottish Government moving away from its climate commitments.

“The SNP spent an election trying to face both ways on oil and gas, then they hiked up rail fares and asked councils to raid the nature restoration fund. These are not the actions of a government that is doing all it can for our climate.

“We cannot underestimate the scale of change that is needed, or the importance of the decisions that will be made in the weeks and months ahead.”

Speaking ahead of the First Minister’s Programme for Government, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP criticised the Scottish Government's record in power highlighting delays over the building of two ferries at Ferguson's shipyard in Port Glasgow as well as the announcement that peak rail fares will be introduced at the end of this month.

“The SNP’s offer is about as inspiring as the ferries they’ve botched and the rail fares they’ve hiked," he said.

“Despite having had so many chances to get things right, the SNP have managed to mess it up every single time. They are taking everyone for granted.

“People want to see an end to long waits for NHS treatment and a competent plan to fix social care, getting people the care they need and delivering for staff. They want to see our economy growing and ministers finally cleaning up the sewage scandal they have repeatedly chosen to ignore.

“All of that should be at the very top of John Swinney’s agenda but, like so many others across Scotland, I won’t be holding my breath.”