WIREDGOV

The highly successful summer cabinet programme, which sees Scottish ministers meet in venues the length and breadth of Scotland, will continue into its sixth year with events in Shetland, Hawick, Campbeltown and Fraserburgh, First Minister Alex Salmond announced yesterday.  

The 2013 summer schedule was confirmed at Cabinet today and will see ministers meet  in the four locations before taking part in a range of activities, visits and open question and answer sessions with members of the public. 

Over the past five years, summer cabinets have been held in all corners of the country in locations as diverse as Orkney, Kilmarnock, Pitlochry and Stranraer, giving hundreds of Scots direct access to the First Minister and his cabinet.
The 2013 schedule is:

• 24 - 25 July – Shetland
• 20 - 21 August – Hawick
• 27 - 28 August – Campbeltown
• 1 – 2 September – Fraserburgh

First Minister Alex Salmond said: 

“For the past five years, the Scottish Government has taken its summer cabinet programme to every corner of Scotland, with meetings in such diverse locations as Renfrew, Melrose, Dundee and Skye. 

“The summer recess gives us an incredibly important opportunity to get out and meet people from a wide range of backgrounds and communities and hear their views on a range of issues. I know all of the cabinet are all looking forward to another exciting and valuable round of visits during this year’s programme. 

“This year we will be visiting Shetland, Hawick, Campbeltown and Fraserburgh where we will be talking and listening to local people in every corner of the country about the things that matter to them.

“I am determined that we continue to work with the people of Scotland to give them the stronger economy, fairer society and brighter future we all deserve. These summer cabinets are an important part of helping to build that future and I hope as many people as possible will join us during this exciting programme.”

This will be the sixth year of summer cabinet meetings held outside the capital. In previous years, almost 5,000 people have participated in events in Skye, Renfrew, Orkney, Dundee, Melrose, Stornoway, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Dumfries, Inverness, Pitlochry, Isle of Bute, Dornoch, Stirling, Kilmarnock, Fort William, Stranraer, Kirkcaldy and Elgin.

The Scottish Cabinet