Dumfries date for cabinet ministers
Last updated 21:58, Wednesday, 06 August 2008
THE SCOTTISH government’s cabinet met in Dumfries last week – the first of four cabinet meetings and associated events being held outside Edinburgh during July and August.
The First Minister Alex Salmond is also taking the cabinet to Inverness, Pitlochry and Skye, giving communities a greater opportunity to speak directly to ministers about issues of regional and national importance.
As well as Tuesday’s formal cabinet meeting, which was held in private, the First Minister hosted a good causes reception last Monday to celebrate the work of social, charitable and voluntary organisations and more than 100 people attended.
A discussion event on the government’s National Conversation took place after the cabinet meeting, involving Mr Salmond, cabinet secretaries and ministers, members of the public and representatives from civic organisations. Ministers also undertook a series of engagements.
Speaking ahead of the Dumfries programme, Mr Salmond said: “The job of government is to act for the interests of the people of Scotland. It is only logical that we continue to take every opportunity we can to maintain our dialogue with the people we represent and listen to the issues which are important to them.
“Taking the cabinet to areas, like Dumfries and Galloway, is an excellent way for us to meet communities and listen to their concerns and ambitions for Scotland. We have a full two-day programme of visits and events to allow us to engage with as many people as possible.”
Mr Salmond visited two businesses, including DuPont Teijin Films in Dumfries where he congratulated the company on being granted the Queen’s Award for Enterprise Innovation and met the DTF European President, John Miller, the management team and workers.
On his visit to Burns House he met the museum manager, the president of the Southern Scottish Counties Burns Association and various other representatives to discuss opportunities around the Year of Homecoming 2009 and the 250th Anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns.
While in Dumfries the cabinet secretary for education and lifelong learning, Fiona Hyslop, toured the new, state-of-the-art Dumfries and Galloway College at the Crichton campus. Its first students are due to start in September.
She said: “Scotland’s colleges have a key part to play in improving work and life opportunities for learners young and old. They contribute towards creating stronger, sustainable communities and to our broader efforts of creating higher levels of economic growth for the benefit of all.
“I’m delighted to see that Dumfries and Galloway College, which has served the community so well, now has an excellent new campus in such an impressive setting and one which is shared with several other leading Scottish institutions.”
The Crichton will become the first campus in Scotland to share facilities between further and higher education institutions, with students from the University of Glasgow and University of the West of Scotland buildings sharing library and study space with Dumfries and Galloway College students.
