Morning
The First Minister's Official Spokesperson opened the briefing by informing journalists the Deputy First Minister, Jim Wallace, had updated Cabinet today on his trade trip to the United States last week, which he said had been extremely busy and also very successful.
The FMOS said Mr Wallace had told colleagues that he had met with a number of companies who already have a presence in Scotland, as well as others who he would like to encourage to consider Scotland as a place to do business.
He added that he had been pleased to learn that there had been a strong view that Scotland is a good place to do business.
The FMOS said this was followed by extensive discussions around Cabinet on a number of areas where progress was being made on delivery of the Partnership Agreement.
She said that Justice Minister, Cathy Jamieson, updated colleagues on developments on a policy paper on crime, while the Deputy First Minister, Jim Wallace, outlined his plans to refresh the Smart, Successful Scotland document, both of which are expected to be published before Christmas.
She also advised that Cabinet had decided not to submit an Executive amendment to the SNP's debate tomorrow on Pensions. She said it was agreed that parties would submit their own amendments.
Asked why was a policy paper on crime discussed, the FMOS said the First Minister at the start of this session had said a lot of work had been done on developing policy over the last few sessions, but that he wanted a quickening of pace on the actual delivery this session.
She said the First Minister had outlined the four key areas that he wanted to see policy papers coming forward on - Education, Crime, Health, and Smart Successful Scotland.
Asked if this would include a draft Police Bill, including proposals for laws on knife crime and violent crime, the FMOS said that she couldn't go into details at present. Asked if she could confirm whether it would look at sentence remission, the FMOS said again she could not discuss details, but she did advise that sentencing and bail issues were being looked at by the Sentencing Commission at present.
When asked if the policy paper would address the proposal for a single agency, the FMOS said that there had been in the Partnership Agreement a promise to consult on the issue of a single agency.
She said this had then been widened when Ms Jamieson announced that the consultation on re-offending would not be limited to just proposals for a single agency, but on the whole issue of integration of services.
Asked on timescale for publication of the policy papers, the FMOS said as yet she could give no definite dates, but that they would be published before Christmas.
When asked if the fact that there was no Executive position n the SNP debate meant there was no agreement between the coalition partners, the FMOS said that Cabinet had agreed today there would not be an Executive position; it would be for the individual parties to respond to the SNP motion. She reminded journalists that the issue of pensions was reserved and that the coalition partners may have different views on the subject.
Smoking
When asked if Cabinet next week would be given an 'options' paper to discuss on smoking ban proposals, the FMOS said that there would be a paper put before Cabinet for debate next week.
She said it would be wrong for her to pre-empt what would be included in that paper, although the paper would probably include analysis of the consultation responses which had prompted a record number of responses.
Asked if it were likely that one of the options would be the proposal being looked at down south to look at a licensing system for pubs and clubs, the FMOS said she could no rule this out.
However she said she though it likely that there would be other options put to Cabinet She also confirmed that the First Minister still hoped to be in a position to make any announcement on Wednesday after Cabinet if a decision had been reached.
When asked if the scope of the ban was likely to include the issue of exemptions from any ban, the FMOS said this type of issue would be a matter for Cabinet.
Asked what legislative processes may be necessary to introduce any ban; the FMOS said that would depend on what Cabinet agreed as the way forward.
Asked what the likely timescale for implementation was, the FMOS said we had already confirmed possible introduction by March 2006.
Asked whether a Public Health Bill would be the likely way forward, the FMOS said that Minister's were considering the appropriate legislative processes to take forward whatever Cabinet decides.
Afternoon
The First Minister's Official Spokesperson opened the briefing by informing journalists that Rhona Brankin, Deputy Minister for Health, will be attending the unveiling of a memorial to football's forgotten fallen on Sunday in France.
She said that the cairn will be formally unveiled at Contalmaison, where the 16th Royal Scots (McCrae's Own) reached the furthest of any Allied units on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on July 1 1916.
FMOS said that the battalion, which was raised in Edinburgh by Lieutenant Colonel Sir George McRae in 1914, suffered 75 per cent casualties.
Its first recruits were eleven professional footballers from Heart of Midlothian, who were the then Scottish league leaders, and the most attractive playing side in Britain. Thousands of Scots enlisted as a result of this example.
FMOS said that the Minister was honoured to be able to represent the Executive at the event. She also said that the Executive is pleased to make a £5,000 donation to commemorate the sacrifice of so many brave Scottish soldiers.
The Minister added:
"Hearts provided the focus for the battalion but it also drew substantially on substantial contingents from players at Raith Rovers, Falkirk and Hibernian supporters.
"It has taken nearly 80 years to achieve this but thanks to the tremendous efforts led by the Hearts Great War Memorial Committee we now have a fitting memorial."
FMOS said that Tom Purdie, Chairman of the Hearts Great War Memorial Committee, had made it clear that he was delighted with the support received from the Scottish Executive, not just in terms of the financial support given, but also the fact that a Scottish Executive Minister was attending the ceremony.
She said that, as journalists would be aware, Andy Kerr, the new Minister for Health, had been keen to attend, but due to a change in Cabinet portfolio, it was impossible for him to do so. She said this was due to pressures on his new diary.
FMOS said that Andy Kerr had said:
"I have a strong personal interest in the history of the battalion and I am deeply disappointed that I am not able to attend the unveiling this weekend. I had originally volunteered to attend because of this interest but I inherited a number of engagements when I was appointed Health Minister and it is appropriate to fulfil these.
"It is a great pity as I was looking forward to the event, but I'm pleased that the Executive has still been able to donate £5000 towards the new memorial."
Asked if the engagement had any connection to golf, the FMOS said that it did not. She said that the Minister would be attending the Highlands & Islands Convention in Thurso on Sunday, and therefore could not attend the ceremony in France.
Asked when it was decided that Rhona Brankin would attend, the FMOS said moves where already afoot to ensure that she could clear her diary to go in case Andy Kerr was unable to attend.
Andy Kerr had tried very hard to keep the event in his diary, but it had been impossible to do so, due to the fact that one event was in Thurso and the other was in France. She added that the Minister would be discussing health issues in the Thurso area and that he felt it was vital to keep that appointment.
Asked if the timing of this was to respond to press criticism this morning, the FMOS said that it wasn't. She said that Andy Kerr had tried very hard to attend. He has a strong interest in the cause, but despite his efforts, it was impossible for him to do so. As soon as he discovered that he could not attend, moves were afoot to ensure that another Minister could attend.
She reiterated that the Chairman of the Hearts Great War Memorial Committee had welcomed the fact that a Minister was attending.
Events, Thursday 4 November 2004
North Sea Regional Advisory Council
The FMOS said that there would be a press conference at the Hub tomorrow, attended by Ross Finnie and Ben Bradshaw. This would be prior to the opening of the North Sea Regional Advisory Council General Assembly - the first event of its kind. She said that following this, the assembly would be officially opened by the First Minister.
Cultural Commission
The FMOS said that the Tourism, Culture and Sport Minister Patricia Ferguson would be responding to the interim report of the Cultural Commission. She said that the full report would be published next summer.
Youth Justice Progress
FMOS said that the Justice Minister would tomorrow be updating Parliament on youth justice progress. She said that there would be an attributable off-camera briefing by officials on this tomorrow following the statement to parliament.
Annual Report
FMOS informed journalists that the Judicial Appointments Board annual report would be published tomorrow.