MG(06)40th Conclusions
HEADS OF DEPARTMENT MEETING
MINUTES OF MEETING HELD IN ST ANDREW'S HOUSE, EDINBURGH
AT 8.30AM ON THURSDAY, 30 NOVEMBER 2006
Present: | Sir John Elvidge KCB | Permanent Secretary (Dialled in) |
| Mike Ewart | Head of Education Department |
| Philip Rycroft | Head of Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning Department |
| Robert Gordon CB (chair) | Head of Justice Department and Head of Legal and Parliamentary Services |
| Andrew Goudie | Head of Finance and Central Services Department |
| Norman McFadyen CBE | Crown Agent and Chief Executive of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service |
| Nicola Munro CB | Head of Development Department |
| Alyson Stafford | Finance Director |
| Richard Wakeford | Head of Environment and Rural Affairs Department |
| Pam Whittle | Director of Health Improvement, Health Department |
| | |
In Attendance: | Donald Cameron | Cabinet/MG Secretariat |
| Jenny Brough | Cabinet/MG Secretariat |
| Sarah Smith | Head of Ministerial Support Group |
| Sarah Davidson | Head of Cabinet Secretariat |
| Robin Naysmith | PPS/First Minister (For Agenda Items 1-6 only) |
| Alan Johnston | Private Office for the Deputy First Minister (For Agenda Items 1-6 only) |
| Douglas Campbell | Senior Special Adviser (For Agenda Items 1-6 only) |
| Ruth Parsons | Head of Public Service Reform Group, Public Service Reform and Efficiency Group (For Agenda Item 7 only) |
Agenda Items 1 and 2: Minutes of Previous Meeting and Matters Arising
1. The minutes of the meeting held on 23 November (MG(06)39th Conclusions) were approved.
Agenda Item 3: Report from PPS/FM and Alan Johnston
2. Mr Naysmith said that during the past week the First Minister had met with President Barroso, Head of the European Commission. Forthcoming engagements included a meeting with Señor Rafael del Pino, founder of construction company Ferrovial the owner of the British Airports Authority (BAA), the opening of the Edinburgh Airport terminal extension, and an address to a World Health Organisation Health Improvement event on Monday 4 December. The First Minister and Deputy First Minister were also scheduled to meet the Chief Executive Officers of Iberdrola and Scottish Power in the following week.
3. Mr Johnston said that in addition to attending the meeting with Scottish Power and Iberdrola Chief Executive Officers next week, the Deputy First Minister would also be announcing the creation of up to 200 new jobs in Glasgow over the next two years by JP Morgan and engaged in a range of other portfolio business.
Agenda Item 4: Events Planning Grid
4. MG noted the Events Planning Grid.
Agenda Item 5: Report from Cabinet Meeting held on 29 November
5. Ms Davidson gave a brief report from the Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday, 29 November. Cabinet had discussed a range of current issues; had agreed handling of forthcoming Parliamentary business; agreed the Executive's position in advance of the December EU Fisheries Council; had agreed proposals around Educational Outcomes for Looked-After Children and Young People; and had discussed the National Fostering and Kinship Care Strategy consultation. The Permanent Secretary added that Cabinet had congratulated the Scottish Executive's e-Procurement team following the news that the eProcurement Scotland programme had won the Technology Award at the Civil Service Awards ceremony on 28 November.
Agenda Item 6: Forthcoming Cabinet Business (Paper MG(06)127)
6. MG noted progress in preparing papers for forthcoming Cabinet meetings.
Agenda Item 7: Preparation for AirthCastle Event (Paper MG(06)128)
7. Ms Parsons introduced paper MG(06)128 which updated heads of department on preparations for the second Scottish Government Forum, scheduled to take place at Airth Castle on 7-8 December. Heads of Department noted the update on preparation for the event.
Agenda Item 8: Any Other Business
Visit from HM Treasury -7 December 2006
8. Ms Stafford reminded Heads of Department that the agenda for the corporate business meeting on 7 December included a presentation from HM Treasury about its forthcoming spending review.
Cabinet/MG Secretariat
December 2006