Afternoon
Tomorrow's events:
The Scottish Executive spokesman opened the briefing by taking journalists through the events taking place the next day.
Finance Minister Tom McCabe would respond to Audit Scotland's Inverclyde follow-up report, the Scottish Executive Spokesman told journalists.
An NHS winter planning briefing would be held by the Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Prof Peter Donnelly the Scottish Executive Spokesman said.
The Spokesman also told journalists that Deputy Environment Minister Rhona Brankin would respond to Water Industry Commission's determination on water charges.
The Scottish Executive Spokesman took journalists through a number of events to mark St Andrew's Day events.
The First Minister would meet the Governor of Shandong province at Bute House the next day, the Scottish Executive Spokesman said.Regiments:
Asked about reports at the weekend concerning the merger of Scottish regiments and whether the new arrangements would see individual identities retained, the Scottish Executive Spokesman said the First Minister made his position clear at the time of the proposed merger. The First Minister had consistently said that he believed the identities of the six Scottish regiments should be retained and that he was disappointed the proposals did not go as far as he liked. That remains the First Minister's position, the Scottish Executive Spokesman told journalists.
When it was pointed out that the First Minister had first outlined his position in 2004 and it was now late 2005, the Scottish Executive Spokesman reminded journalists that the issue was reserved, but reiterated that the First Minister had been disappointed by the proposals and his position remained the same.Governor of Shandong:
Asked if the First Minister's meeting with the Governor of Shandong was a follow up from the Deputy First Minister's visit to China the Scottish Executive Spokesman said it was part of Scotland's developing relationship with China, but he was not aware whether it was a direct result of the Deputy First Minister's visit.
The Scottish Executive Spokesperon opened the briefing by informing journalists that Health Minister Andy Kerr has launched a new initiative to promote smarter spending in the NHS. National Procurement, a new division of National Services Scotland (NSS) aims to use the NHS's financial muscle on a national scale to deliver the best deals locally for health boards. The Minister has also commented on the 2003 Scottish Health Survey.
The SES then outlined the following events:
Finance Minister Tom McCabe will deliver a St. Andrew's Day lecture in Brussels, Education Minister Peter Peacock launches an action plan to boost the number of Gaelic teachers, Deputy Environment Minister Alan Wilson will attend a Welsh UK Presidency event on Mobilising Experience, Transport Minister Tavish Scott will attend the Scottish Transport Awards, Environment Minister Ross Finnie meets north east fisheries representatives while his deputy, Rhona Brankin, visits Glasgow's Green Space project. Deputy Communities Minister Johann Lamont launches a heating helpline, housing trend statistics have been published and in Parliament, Deputy Justice Minister Hugh Henry gives evidence on the Police Bill to the Justice 2 Committee and Deputy Health Minister Lewis Macdonald gives evidence on prescription charges to the Health Committee.
Scottish regiments
Asked for the First Minister's view on reports that the army has reneged on promises to keep regimental cap badges, hackles and such "accoutrements" within Scotland's new "super regiment" and that the mastermind behind the merger plan has blasted his former boss for this, the SES said a Press FM spokesperson will respond separately after the briefing as the SES had no up-to-date information on this issue.
Nuclear power
Asked if the Executive's position on nuclear power is that it can not take any decision on planning until the issue of disposal is addressed, the SES said the First Minister made the position clear during last week's First Minister's Questions saying of the energy review:
"We will argue for a balanced energy policy and state clearly our position that we will not support further development of nuclear power stations while waste management issues remain unresolved."
The SES added that the Committee for Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM) is expected to report in summer 2006.
Asked what "resolved" means and whether the Executive would consider it resolved if CoRWM recommends burying waste or capping it, the SES said the first step is to see what the CoRWM report says. Asked if CRWM's report will be sufficient the SES said that remains to be seen as the Executive needs to see the report first.
Asked if the Executive needs to see waste "sealed away" before it makes a decision, the SES again reminded journalists of his comments on the CoRWM report. The SES said CoRWM are reporting on that and the Executive will consider its report once received. Asked again if that meant "sealed away" the SES again said the Executive will wait to see what the CoRWM report says before moving forward.
Knife crime
Asked what the Executive's position is on calls from police chiefs to introduce mandatory sentences for people who carry knives, the SES said a fixed mandatory sentence would remove the flexibility for the court to reflect the facts and individual circumstances.
He went on to say the Executive's proposal to double of the maximum sentence is just one part of a five-point action plan on knife crime but it is an important one. It sends out a clear message that knife carrying is not acceptable and brings knives into line with other offensive weapons.
Sentencing decisions are quite rightly made by the Courts, but we believe that by increasing the maximum sentence for carrying a knife we are sending a strong signal that knife crime will not be tolerated and should be treated seriously.
To specify a fixed mandatory sentence would remove the flexibility for the court to reflect the facts and individual circumstances of the case and set a lower or higher penalty accordingly. As well as the proposals in the Police Bill for doubling the maximum sentence in solemn cases, Ministers have agreed with the McInnis Review's recommendation to increase the maximum penalty in sheriff summary cases from 6 months to 1 year.
By doubling the range of sentencing options available we will ensure that the Crown Office and the courts have the powers required to tackle the scourge of knife crime across Scotland with the severity it deserves.
Inverclyde Council
Asked if the Executive had anything to say about Inverclyde council being "rubbish" the SES said he had no comment on the expected Audit Scotland report due out later in the week, but that journalists should contact Press Finance and Public Services for precise details. Asked if Mr McCabe is available even though he is in Brussels the SES said he believed so.
Asked if the Mr McCabe's St. Andrew's speech can be made available the SES said that he only had the news release with key points from the speech and advised them to contact Mr McCabe's press team to see if the full speech was available.