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First bilateral meeting with UK government
06/06/2007
The first meeting between a member of the new Scottish Cabinet and a UK Minister of State will take place today when Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Environment, meets Ben Bradshaw, Parliamentary Secretary for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Speaking ahead of their meeting later today in London, Mr Lochhead said:
"I very much welcome the courteous letter of congratulation immediately after my appointment from David Miliband, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
"Mr Miliband signalled his desire for building a strong working relationship between Holyrood and Westminster in areas of mutual interest.
"I share that view. This is the start of a new era in such relations. The new Scottish Government has a positive policy agenda in various aspects of fisheries policy - including better representation for Scotland in the European Union.
"I am confident that in my first meeting with Mr Bradshaw, Minister of State with responsibilities for fisheries, we can start to build positively with recognition of each other's perspectives.
"We have a Fisheries Council in Luxembourg next week and other related issues to discuss. Dialogue is about listening, not just talking. I look forward to cordial and constructive discussion from the outset."