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As Mr Salmond attended themeeting in his capacity as a constituency MSP, it would be inappropriate forhim to make a statement as First Minister. Mr Salmond has, however, answered questions aboutthis meeting at First Minister’s Question Time on 13 December 2007. The officialreport is available on the Parliament’s website at:http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/index.htm.

Mr Salmond didnot contact me. On 3 December 2007, the Chief Planner took a call from Mr Salmondin his capacity as constituency MSP. Mr Salmond sought advice from the ChiefPlanner whether it would still be permissible for officials from the ScottishGovernment Planning Directorate to meet representatives from the TrumpOrganization. The Chief Planner confirmed that officials can meet with partiesinvolved in a planning application but only to discuss options and theprocedural implications, not to consider the merits of the case.

The First Ministermet Mr Mackinnon to discuss the National Planning Framework on 20 November 2007and the Forth Replacement Crossing on 5 December. On 7 December they discussedby telephone the current position with a development proposal for Aviemorewhich had been the subject of enquiries to him from a number of MSPs. Mr Salmondhas only spoken to Mr Mackinnon on the question of the Menie Estate proposal inhis capacity as MSP for Gordon.

The Scottish Government doesnot hold this information.

An event was held at the TrumpNational Golf Club to welcome participants to the Globalscot Conference and to givethem an opportunity to network with each other. This comprised a two and a halfhour-long reception at which food, refreshments and music were provided. The publicsector cost of the event was circa £15,000, for which sponsorship was provided byVisitScotland. A further cost in respect of branded drinks consumed was sponsoredby Pernod Ricard. There was no subsidy or sponsorship by the Trump Organization,to whom the full commercial rate for use of the facility, was paid by Scottish Enterprise.

Scottish ministers have no powerto call in a planning application after the written notice of refusal has been issuedby a planning authority.

Special advisers didnot brief factual inaccuracies to the media.

All information given to Parliament on this issue hasbeen correct.

The BBC approachedScottish Government officials on 12 December 2007 with questions relating to the Chief Planner’s telephonecontacts with Aberdeenshire Council. Those questions were answered correctly onDecember 12. On December 13, the BBC refined its question by changing a limitednumber of words. During the course of a busy day in which we fielded a large numberof questions from a range of parties about the Trump application, officials didnot realise the question had been changed slightly and repeated an answer giventhe previous evening. Once the mistake was identified officials clarified the positionto the media at the earliest opportunity. We always strive to supply full and accurateanswers to media enquiries and I regret that this unfortunate but easily understooderror occurred on this occasion.

Another venue was required becausethe main venue at Armonk could not offer a facility for the exclusive use of theconference welcome and networking reception. The Trump National Golf Club, Westchester, waschosen because of its relative proximity, and suitability, and because of the exclusiveuse which could be made of its facilities.

IBM Scotland provided £20,000in cash sponsorship towards the Americas Globalscot conference. VisitScotland BusinessTourism Unit provided £15,000 in cash sponsorship towards the Conference Networkingreception held at Trump National Golf Resort. Pernod Ricard provided “in-kind” supportfor the Globalscot Welcome Reception by providing branded drinks during the evening(the estimated value is £5,000). Alexandria Real Estate paid for a helicopter flightfrom central New York to the IBM Learning Centre in Armonk to enable me to fulfiltwo speaking engagements in close proximity.

On 2 December 2007, I attended the GlobalScot Welcome Reception, which washeld at the Trump National Golf Club, Westchester, New York. Scottish Enterprise arranged the reception and VisitScotlandBusiness Tourism Unit were the sponsor of the reception. The list of attendees isconfidential but I can confirm that no member of the Trump Organizsation was present.

On 3 December, I spokeat the Alexandria Real Estate Equities Conference which was held at the St RegisHotel in New York. The conference was arranged and paid for by Alexandria Real Estate.The list of attendees is commercially confidential to Alexandria Real Estate butI can confirm that no member of the Trump Organization was present. Alexandria RealEstate arranged for me to be flown by helicopter from central New York to Armonkto fulfil a speaking commitment and Alexandria paid for this trip.

I attended the AmericasGlobalscot Conference, which was held at the IBM Learning Centre, Armonk, New York. The conference was organisedand paid for by Scottish Enterprise although some of the costs were offset throughdelegate fees and sponsorship from IBM and VisitScotland’s Business Tourism Unit.The list of attendees is confidential but I can confirm that no member of the TrumpOrganization was present.

I then undertook atelevision interview at Fox Business News and a telephone interview with NationalPublic Radio. Officials from the Scottish Affairs Office in Washington, ScottishDevelopment International (SDI), my Private Office, and a representative of WeberShandwick - who act on media matters for SDI - were present.

In addition I visited Corporate Satellite Communications and met with the Presidentand Managing Director of CSC. Officials from the Scottish Affairs Office in Washington,SDI and my Private Office were present.