Seòmar agus comataidhean

Since May 2007 the First Minister has met with representatives from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) on three occasions, in relation to the following matters. In addition, a number of specific meetings between Scottish Government officials and the RNLI have taken place since May 2007, but the exact number is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. The First Minister''s meetings are:

1 December 2008

Meeting to discuss charity Christmas card with beneficiaries, including RNLI at which various other issues were discussed.

8 December 2008

Launch of charity Christmas card, beneficiaries including RNLI attended.

14 August 2009

Event for the sale of the Bellany painting (First Minister''s charity Christmas card) at Lyon & Turnbull at which RNLI attended. As one of four charities benefiting from the Bellany sale, the RNLI received £2,500. They also received six limited edition signed prints to help them raise additional funds.

Officials in the Scottish Government Health Directorates have maintained daily contact throughout the period with the senior management teams of all NHS boards, including the Scottish Ambulance Service and NHS 24, to discuss a range of current issues. In view of the recent severe weather, these discussions have had a strong focus on any additional pressures on NHS services in Scotland and how NHS boards have been managing them. I received regular situation reports.

I also attended regular meetings of the Cabinet Sub Committee, CSC-SGORR. This committee sets the Scottish Government''s strategic response priorities and ensures that the necessary government resources are being brought to bear to support responders in dealing with severe weather issues.

As of 14 January 2010, the Cabinet Sub-Committee SGoRR had met 10 times during the current period of severe winter weather. The committee has been chaired by the First Minister and attendance has included a number of cabinet secretaries and ministers depending on how events have impacted across their portfolio responsibilities. Ministers are also supported in these meetings by a wide range of officials.

In addition to meetings of the Cabinet Sub-Committee, the Scottish Government Resilience Room has supported a range of activity and further stakeholder discussions to support and advise Scotland''s public sector organisations during the recent period of severe winter weather.

Sir Neil McIntosh undertook the examination of the Reimbursement of Members'' Expenses Scheme on a non-payment basis. The SPCB did agree to meet any travel and associated expenses incurred by Sir Neil and these amounted to £703.93.

The public attitude research was procured competitively and cost £10,925 inclusive of VAT. The cost of producing and printing the report was £587.30.

All internal staff time was met from within existing staff costs.

The detailed information requested is currently being collated and I will write the member as soon as the information is available. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 50056).

Between 18 December and 6 January, the Permanent Secretary was at work in his office on:

Friday 18 December 2009

Monday 21 December 2009

Tuesday 22 December 2009

Wednesday 23 December 2009

Tuesday 29 December 2009

Thursday 31 December 2009

Tuesday 6 January 2010.

The detailed information requested is currently being collated and I will write to the member as soon as the information is available. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 50055).

In line with the partnership working set out in the concordat, the Scottish Government is in regular contact with our local government partners to discuss a range of financial pressures on their budgets, including the recent severe winter weather, and consider how these can be accommodated. We will continue to work collaboratively with all councils to try to assist with any difficulties they have.

There are currently no plans to make funding available to support voluntary organisations or faith groups specifically to engage with civic society in the Maldives on climate change projects.

The First Minister signed a joint statement on climate change with President Nasheed of the Maldives while in Copenhagen. The text of the statement reads:

Joint Statement on Climate Change from the Scottish Government and the Government of the Maldives.

We agree that:

Climate change is the most serious environmental challenge faced by the global community, posing an urgent and far-reaching threat to individuals and communities across the world.

The effects of climate change will be felt most acutely by people who are already in vulnerable situations because of various factors, including geography. This threat is particularly pronounced in many of the Island Nations of the world, typified by the Maldives.

Addressing climate change can deliver significant economic, social and environmental benefits. The creation of quality jobs through the transition to a low-carbon economy represents a major economic opportunity.

Action on climate change should centre on mitigation (reducing greenhouse gas emissions), adaptation (resilience to changes in the climate) and communication (of climate change messages).

The action taken by both the Maldives and Scotland in terms of action and legislation exemplifies the types of measures necessary to meet the serious threats posed by climate change to our nations.

Scotland will:

Promote and support implementation of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act, which reflects international best practice in setting mitigation targets by covering all the internationally recognised greenhouse gases and emissions from international aviation and shipping with a 2020 interim target of 42% emissions cuts towards an ultimate goal of 80% emissions reductions by 2050.

Help Scotland deliver its responsibilities for providing advice and information, and sharing its collective knowledge and expertise, as part of international assistance and co-operation in meeting the global challenge of climate change. An example of this is in relation to Scotland''s Climate Change Adaptation Framework, which offers a model for a strategic approach for integrating adaptation at a national level, with the potential for knowledge transfer on capacity-building.

The Maldives will:

Promote and support implementation of the Maldives own climate change programme, including a target to be carbon neutral within ten years, adaptation, renewable energy and research.

Together we will:

Recognise the potential of the low-carbon economy of the future.

Work together to communicate the urgency of global action to tackle climate change and for agreement at Copenhagen demonstrating the action that needs to be taken as a matter of urgency.

Undertake to develop and deepen the relationship between our nations and the need to further co-operate in meeting the challenges and opportunities posed by climate change.

First Minister Alex Salmond, Scotland.

President Mohamed Nasheed, Republic of Maldives.