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Tasking decisions on the use of particular assets are operational matters for Police Scotland.

The Scottish Government and Police Scotland have asked the Civil Aviation Authority to determine what measures can be taken to remove any existing regulatory barriers to Police Scotland working with the Civil Air Patrol service.

The requirements for and granting of police air operator certificates are matters for the Civil Aviation Authority.

The Scottish Government values the contributions of volunteers, including Civil Air Patrol members to resilience and emergency response work, and has been in discussion with Civil Air Patrol, Police Scotland and the Civil Aviation Authority on this issue. The Scottish Government and Police Scotland have asked the Civil Aviation Authority to determine what measures can be taken to remove any existing regulatory barriers to Police Scotland tasking Civil Air Patrol to assist them with search operations.

Information on Scotland’s future fiscal position will be set out in the Scottish Government’s white paper on Scottish independence. The paper will be published on the 26 November 2013.

The following is a list of meetings held by the Deputy First Minister and the Minister for External Affairs and International Development over the last six months:

(a) The Deputy First Minister has met officials or ministers from:

Pakistan - 13 August 2013

The EU Commission - 4 September 2013

(b) The Minister for External Affairs and International Development has met officials or ministers from:

Philippines – 25 April 2013

South Africa – 2 May 2013

Switzerland – 10 May 2013

Pakistan – 10 May 2013, 23 July 2013, 3 October 2013, 16-18 October 2013

Syria – 16 May 2013, 9 September 2013

Slovenia – 16 May 2013

Qatar (Doha Forum): 19 – 22 May 2013

Rwanda – 30 May 2013

Kurdistan – 12 June 2013

Ireland – 18 June 2013, 18 September 2013, 9 October 2013

China - 25 – 28 June 2013

Latvia - 7-8 July 2013

Thailand - 12 July 2013

Mongolia – 18 July 2013

Kyrgyzstan – 4 September 2013

Egypt – 13 September 2013– check this with Robert Dunn

Singapore – 25 September 2013

India – 3 October 2013, 11-15 October 2013

Turkey – 31 October 2013

UK Government representatives: The Minister for External Affairs and International Development meets with UK Government representatives when he visits other countries.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-18056 on 13 November 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

A variety of topics of mutual interest were discussed. It is expected that similar discussions with representatives of relevant international organisations will be held from time to time. Policies pursued following the next Scottish parliamentary election will be for the Government of the day to determine.

As the local government and planning minister, I regularly engage and communicate with councillors. This can include councillors from any of the political parties represented at local government level, including the SNP, and also independents.

I most recently visited Argyll and Bute on 28 October 2013 to attend the Autumn Convention of the Highlands and Islands which took place in Helensburgh. The convention meeting was attended by councillors from across the Highlands and Islands, including the Independent Leader and the Liberal Democrat Depute Leader of Argyll and Bute Council.

I am committed to treating all Scotland’s councillors with equal regard, regardless of political party. Scottish Government record systems do not, as a rule, distinguish between councillors on a party political basis. However, I am nevertheless pleased to be able to furnish you with a list of the main communications I have had with Argyll and Bute councillors who were also members of the SNP at the time of communication.

I visited Argyll and Bute Council on 15-16 August 2012 and met the then Council Leader Roddy McCuish, a member of the SNP, where a number of issues relating to Argyll and Bute were discussed.

On 29 July 2013 I wrote to Council Leader Roddy McCuish about the National Planning Framework 3.

On 1 August 2013 I wrote to Counsellor Roddy McCuish in his capacity as chair of the Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partnership (CPP) to approve the single outcome agreement and associated development plan produced by the CPP.

On 23 August 2013 I wrote to Council Leader Roddy McCuish regarding the Island Areas Ministerial Working Group.

The postal services framework is divided into two lots. Lot one is for ad-hoc and hybrid mail and was awarded to TNT Post Scotland Ltd. Lot two, covering planned mail, was awarded to the Royal Mail Group Ltd.

In relation to the courier services framework, this framework is divided into six geographical lots. DHL Express (UK) Ltd was awarded five lots, covering Glasgow, Strathclyde and south west Scotland; Grampian; Highlands and Islands; Tayside, Central and Fife; and a one stop shop (organisations that have multiple sites across Scotland). The sixth lot was awarded to Eagle Couriers and covers Edinburgh, Lothian and south east Scotland.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-17980 on 7 November 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.