Listen
Cabinet takes to the road
04/06/2008
The Scottish Government's Cabinet is to meet outside Edinburgh during this summer's Parliamentary Recess.
On a visit to Stranraer today, the First Minister said that he'd be back in Dumfries and Galloway next month for the first of four Cabinets being held outside Edinburgh during July and August.
As well as the formal Cabinet Meeting, Ministers will host a good causes reception, take part in National Conversation public meetings and undertake Ministerial engagements around each visit.
The First Minister also said that the process of holding Cabinets throughout Scotland during Parliamentary Recess periods would now become established practice for the Scottish Government.
The Cabinet venues scheduled for this summer are:
- July 29 - Dumfries
- August 5 - Inverness
- August 19 - Pitlochry
- August 26 - Skye
The First Minister said:
"Last summer I was determined to ensure that the new Scottish Government got off to a fast start, and part of that process was to arrange Cabinet meetings throughout the summer recess.
"This year, it seems a logical next step to take Cabinet across Scotland and to allow local communities to meet with Ministers and discuss issues of local and national importance with them in their home areas.
"On each of the four weeks, Cabinet will meet on Tuesday morning, but we intend to engage widely with local communities over a two day period.
"I will host a reception for local good causes on the Monday evening, recognising the many people and organisations who do such a great deal of positive social, voluntary and charitable work throughout each area.
"And after Cabinet on Tuesday morning, all members of the Ministerial team will take part in a public meeting based around the ongoing National Conversation and Scotland's aspirations for the future, with the opportunity to question Ministers on a formal and informal basis.
"Following these sessions, Ministers will undertake a full programme of local engagements."