"SNP ARE PLAYING POLITICS WITH PITTENWEEM"- SAY SMITH AND CAMPBELL

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 21st May 2008

Fisheries Minister Richard Lochhead MSP is playing politics with Pittenweem say North East Fife's Parliamentarians Iain Smith MSP and Sir Menzies Campbell MP.

Commenting on the launch of a consultation document on the Scottish fishing industry today, local MP Sir Menzies Campbell accused Fisheries Minister Richard Lochhead of playing politics with Pittenweem.

Sir Menzies said, "I met with senior representatives of the FMA (Fisherman's Mutual Association) on the 17th April at Pittenweem and thereafter I wrote to Richard Lochhead on 23rd April drawing attention to the plight of fishermen at Pittenweem who could not afford to go to sea because of the price of oil. I asked what proposals he had for the future of the fishing industry.

"I have only had a formal acknowledgement of my letter and no adequate reply. Today he is visiting Pittenweem and making announcements about the fishing industry.

"He chose not to tell either the constituency MP or MSP that he intended to do so. This is a breach of the Ministerial Code and serious discourtesy. SNP Ministers don't know how to behave. This is not the first time they have failed to observe proper practise when visiting North East Fife. Fishing in Scotland, and in North East Fife in particular is far too important to be treated in this partisan way. After Mr Lochhead's caravan has moved on, Pittenweem will need more than Ministerial photo opportunities," concluded Sir Menzies.

The Liberal Democrat Constituency MSP for North East Fife, Iain Smith raised this matter in the Scottish Parliament today as a point of order. Mr Smith said, "Whilst I welcome Mr Lochead's recognition of the importance of the village based fishing industry and of Pittenweem in particular, I am deeply concerned at yet another example of discourtesy to this Parliament and its Members by a Government Minister.

"Surely it is a serious discourtesy to the Parliament and the many members who represent fishing communities that Mr Lochead is making an important announcement of Government fishing policies in Pittenweem and not in Parliament. To the Press and not to the Parliament," concluded Mr Smith

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Full text of Iain Smith MSP's Point of Order follows.

Presiding Officer,

Members may have noticed that the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment is not in the Chamber.

According to the BBC that is because he is currently in Pittenweem in my Constituency where apparently he is unveiling "proposals aimed at strengthening Scotland's coastal fishing communities "for generations to come".

Presiding Officer, whilst I welcome Mr Lochead's recognition of the importance of the village based fishing industry and of Pittenweem in particular, I am deeply concerned at yet another example of discourtesy to this Parliament and its Members by a Government Minister.

It is surely not acceptable that a Constituency member should learn of a visit to his constituency through the BBC?

And surely it is a serious discourtesy to the Parliament and the many members who represent fishing communities that Mr Lochead is making an important announcement of Government fishing policies in Pittenweem and not in Parliament. To the Press and not to the Parliament.

Will you look not this matter and in order to protect the rights of all members of the Scottish Parliament to represent their constituents by questioning Ministers on their policies, raise with the First Minister the need to ensure that he requires his Ministers to follow the protocols on visits and the Ministerial Code which states clearly that important announcements of Government Policy are made in the first instance to the Parliament.