Media Briefings - Oct 08, 2001
The First Minister's Press Secretary (FMPS) opened the
briefing by explaining that Cabinet had met today as the
First Minister was travelling to Brussels to attend the
launch of Scotland Week.
Cabinet had discussed the military action taken by the
UK government - although defence is a reserved issue - as
Scotland could be affected by the action. FM said he fully
supported the Prime Minister and the coalition. There were
certain responsibilities that lie with the Executive such
as Police, emergency services and emergency planning. The
Deputy First Minister said that these services were in a
good state of preparedness if there were to be an
emergency.
FMPS said that the DFM was representing the Executive on
the Civil Contingencies Committee (although the FM or any
other Minister could attend) that had met last week. The
Executive thought the public should be reassured that
security measures and contingency plans are high priority
and that these are constantly reviewed. The FM also
reinforced the Foreign Secretary's message that people
should be vigilant but calm. He also reiterated that this
was not a war against Islam but a war against terrorism.
FMPS said that Executive officials were in constant contact
with Westminster colleagues.
Asked if the Executive thought that Scotland was a
target. The FMPS said that there was no evidence of a
specific threat to the UK as a whole but that contingency
plans were always required for emergency situations. Asked
if the CCC liaised with the War Cabinet, the FMPS said that
both were part of the same structure.
Asked if this week's events in Brussels were aimed at
raising Scotland's profile in Europe and if so were we
concerned that this week's military events could
over-shadow Scotland Week. The FMPS said that given world
events no-one would expect Scotland Week to have as high a
profile as it might have had. He went on to say that the
Executive and the FM believed that Scotland has a vital
role to play in Europe. He thought that Scotland should be
at the heart of Europe with the strength of the UK through
its representation and in terms of our own representation
as one of the powerful devolved nations in Europe. The FM
believed the focus on trade, technology, education and the
environment that would be discussed both formally and
informally over the next week and that it would be a long
term process to strengthen Scotland's voice in Europe.
Asked how long the FM would be in Brussels and FMPS said he
was there until Wednesday.
Asked if any more light could be shed on the Executive's
tribute to the late Donald Dewar, the FMPS said that he
couldn't, but he assured them that considerable thought had
gone in to a fitting tribute to mark the anniversary of
Donald Dewar's death, and also to commemorate his
life.
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