CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE DUKE OF ROTHESAY AND THE FORMER FIRST MINISTER [Please note in some cases information has been removed or redacted from some letters where it is personal information of individuals.] Letter from the Duke of Rothesay of 1 July 2007 Reply from the former First Minister of 11 July 2007 1 3:313: 2997' A?/im Than?y? you for your kind fetter of 1 3:33;. am pleased {Ra? we were ame $0 arrange for seniar 0f 30mg of your char?ias to meg? with my Ministeriai coii?aguag Em? manih. am graia?i?iu; Ea} Mark Leishman and to Shanaig Mac?i?heman for puf?ng ingethar sue?! an infefess?iing and ?wught presentatian it is dear to me "that me third semi)!? hag much to confribute amass a broad range of areas and i have asked my coiEe-aguas is: teak, in particu?ar, a? the paten??af far collabora?on w?ih your charities.? I am keen to provide Scottish Business in the Community with alt possibie assis??aace with the pmposed Ciimai?e Change semimar in the autumn and 100k forward to receiving more information about the event in due course. And fina?y, am dei?ghted tha?' we were able to assisf with your exce?ient initiative to save Dumfries House and its contents for the Smi?sh na?tien and Eook foward to touring the house with yam on 13 Juiy. Key extracts from letter from the Duke of Rothesay to the former First Minister of 3 October 2007 3 4) I thought you might be ?xtarested to sea the latest information on my Nor?l Highlands Initiative: as well as the efforts it is making to establish an ?shery. In relation to this, I am also enclasin?g some: mate?al on the Loch Torridon Ird?ativa which I visited some yams ago and which has turned out 1:0 be a. great 81100633. As I said, it 36531113 3 pm?cular pity that this exaell?nt model of a genuina community ?shery has not been replicated in 5111? Via? 0f scam-v. I Finally, I 61101656 a Cop? 0f tht??pamphlet I man?ened ?The -- quruption of the Curriculum? together with 301116 material an the Teaching Institute I Established at Cambridge after 5me six years of Summ?r Schools fur English and I?story Letter from the Duke of Rothesay of 7 June 2008 7th June, 2008 WW, As there was such a short tirne left for our conversation the other day at Holyrood, I wondered. if you might forgive me just mentioning a few points on which I would be most grateful for your consideration? .1. My North Highland Initiative and Mev? Selections I believe at the recent Food and Drink Awards you highlighted the process whereby over ?fty per cent of Scottish ?sheries would be in some sort of accreditation arrangement regarding sustainability. I wondered if I might draw your attention to the fact that other than the Loch Torridon Nephrops Creel Fishery (which I visited some years ago), no speci?c support has been given to small-scale Scottish ?sheries. I mention this because my North Highland Initiative has been working extremely hard over the past eighteen months to persuade local ?shermen to apply for accreditation with the Marine Stewardship Council and because, despite being promised contacts and help from the relevant of?cials, Mey Selections has heard nothing since January 2008. Key local ?sheries for Mey Selections are scallops, lobsters, crab and some caught haddock and there is no doubt that some support for such small?scale, locally?based Scottish ?sheries would make a very substantial difference in the North Highlands. Remaining with Mey Selections, I thought you Would be interested to know that the brand is now far down the route of measuring the carbon footprints of two of its product lines. However, it is clear that the process of carbon footprinting and the adoption of sustainable food and drink supply procedures could be accelerated if suitable experts could be appointed who were charged with advising/encouraging low carbon systems in farm and food production. At the moment Mey Selections has to- telephone London! 3. I didn?t have a chance to raise the issue of Kinloch Castle ?on the Isle of Rum with you, but as you know my Regeneration Trust has been working with Scottish Natural Heritage (the owners) for the past four years to ?nd an acceptable, imaginative solution to the problem of this remarkable house which has bedevilled S.N.H for so long. Having worked tirelessly to bring all the parties together and to achieve consensus on the way forward, this effort has come to nought. However, S.N.H. has recently sought authority from the Scottish Government for surplus receipts from asset disposals to be-converted to a grant of the Kinloch Castle Trust (circa ?2 million). Apparently, the Scottish Government Finance Department of?cials have not ruled this out, but have stated it could not happen until the Autumn Budget Review. If it were at all possible, my Regeneration Trust is most keen to have the opportunity to meet Mike Russell to discuss the way 4. Glen 0" Dee Sanatorium, Banchorv We brie?y discussed. this, however I did not have a chance to explain that a speedy decision is urgently needed due to the rapidly deteriorating condition of the building and the need to undertake urgent repairs. My Trust is a partner in a consortium of three building preservation trusts which has a viable scheme for the res-use of the building and the consortium would be willing to enter into a back-to~baok agreement with Aberdeenshire Council A should a? Compulsory Purchase Order prove necessary. I Thank you again for your kind attendance and your very kind words at the built environment conference, as well as at Dumfries House. Your presence was greatly Reply from the former First Minister of 4 July 2008 1 a: Hami?aiE-x Saimm? ms? First Minister of Scotiamd ?StAndrew?s-House. Regent Read, Edinburgh E81 395- - i T10845 72?4?1?341 . HRH ih?Prihce of Waies Ciafence Hot-Isa Londen SWTA 18A {a?quiy?zms ?mu: Royai 1 Thank 3:33;! for your: letter (at June. it was indee?i?a, pity was cur-tailed wharf we last met. The need tin-make that evening Vate;;is..an consequence Qf?a minority admini?sirati?n?l I Wauid .li?kasto in detail to the p-Q?ihts rai?aed' byynur?Roygl Highness, and wilt each in turn; . Sca?i?sh Gravemmerxt-s?pmn?tw ja-Garfedjf?a??qn-I . Like. yaur Regal. Highness, the: Smi?sh Government is auppo?r?tiveef 'indEpende?t sustainability Gertifijca?an and recognises the p?osiitive impactthat can have an sustaihabia p?as?cices and the As y?u meta, around half ?f?S-?cctland?s ?sheries by vaiue f?r Marine Stewardship?dunoil (MS-C) certi?cation. Given the in the numbt-?r Sto?i?h??s'haries puratsiimg accredita?dn; the Scams}: Gmemm?nt ha?sdevelop?d a'sifat?egy 6f aupfnc?artibr'a? Scottish ?sheries-t The: Scb?ish GQVerh?ment will be cd?t?bu?ng'taward's the?i?dj?g}: at Mt; armies dEsi?gned fa assist Scottish fisheries sis-they Seekiaer??patibm Seaman} Sm?and currentiy suppoits pursuing accre?dita?an' in SG?tland, me chstish. Government wifi auppor-t?this fUnciian thmugh the provision of an E?vir??r?'antal Mg nege?? Deva keypoim 0f (so mad for ?sheries. :as. they form groupings; liaiseaw?h stakeholders xafn'd seek funding ?for ascredi-ta?o?. - G?hsscicjus at the speci?c,- issues th at Ta?C?-Sma??scaie ?sheries in Scotland, and given their diyers?ity and gangrap'hibauy dlseparatie?naturg, irate quzammantwill? aid-di?enally (in?rm Simmer 2038-): be: summing the {Big of'a Council Gut?r?sach Officer; The remit-afthijs role. is to cater'to the needs 30f sm?a?er swig. ?sheries. {ht?ough the efgianismioh' cit outreach; inferr?ria?on' and ed uoa?pn'ac?ifitieS?as Wei! pif?t grows; in ?Scottish inshore fisheries? This? Wilt pr'ovide a p-oirit 9f 'can't'act within MSG for Snotti'sh figh'erii?eat - - The lead official on. accreditation issues within thescot?tih evernmerit is . . . Ike-0W She wciuld bohapptio ans-with any queries they may have. and adviee?the'm or: available eels Seiti YES 011E033 .. Low carbon system-e. I I I There are ?uodeubtedly- benefit-s in having advisers and experts to .eneourage and guide low carbon systems in food production. We are working on improving the, methodological besie- idr estimating and re-po?ting agriculturei emissions. improved estimation procedures will also help in "carbon preoiimg" policies. and in monitoring emissionsid relation to targetsrliirely to be set for the sector. - - There are several eources of advice. Scotland {an eeibon feotprinting to which I would direct. Me-y 'Sg'eleotiene. The S'oottieh Agricultural College The Seettish Agricultural College, King?s West Maine Road, Edinburgh Tel: 013?! 5.35 4068:) has developed a teoif?or?u-se on terms and food businesses; They are eleo. active in giving ?adviCe aheut climate change generally. in addition; The Carbon Trust have a: Scottie-h of?ce in East Kilbride. The Carbon Trust in Scotland, The Technoldgy Centre, Scottish Enterprise Technolegy Park, East Kilbride,.. 0QF1 Tel; 01355 5818'? whichean provide advice on carbon'footprintihg. And our .so-ie'ntietsend researchers at institutes across the country are working to. transfer the knowledge they are devoioping to farmers and proees?eors. The private sector is also active. in Scotland with the developmentsof the OPie?n carbon calculator {Wmspiamorgek}, a web?based carbon footprint caieu'lator developed. by a farming family in Lenerkehire. if can be used by farmers and land managers toquiokiy and easily eriter the data for the lend they'manege and Obtain an estimate of. the: greenhouse gas emissions for their business. Kinloeh Castle: I . i share the keenness of your Royal? Highness to. make progress in securing a sustainable future for anlech Castle, not least because i am sure this would have a signi?er-it peeitive impth on the .deveioementsoi arthriving community on the Isle of Rum, an initiative Which Michael Russell ie taking forward on behalf of the Scottish Government. The: overall ieVei of public tonding which would need to be found for any of the current schemes for reetoretter: of the?vCestie is, of oouree, Very considerable and pressures elsewhere on the. Scottish Governm?ept?s Budget consequent to a tight. spending review make it highly unlikely that ?we will he. a-hiesto allocate any funds. to the. Castle restoration - during this financial year. We witl however be keeping the situation under review in case the position; eases eutfi?oiehtly tor enable us. to do so. i am grateful for the support that your Regeneration Trust continues to provide in finding a solution for the future ot?Kinlech Castle.- was pleased to hear that the Truetwes by Maria'Perlte at the meeting Which Michael chaired on the Isle of Rum on 6 June. While that meeting, Wee mainly concerned with reviewing the progress being made towards development of a sustainable community on the ieland,_ it also provided an opportunity for a report on the Castle since ite?tutureend the Communit "3 development are clearly Closely linked. lam "sure Michael would be happy to have a further'meeting with member's of the Regeneration Trust, particularly it'th?i's included discussion on alternative ways of raising the tends needed to enable the restoration of the Castle. Glen G?DeeSahaiceriumg Beechory 1' A?s werk carried em by {he Prince?s Regei-?ieretien Truet and others recognises! ?Gleri?O?Dee is: en? Speciai erohitec?curei'en? and this is'receg'nis.ed by, its lie-ting .ai' categery A, i knew that the Prince?s Regenere?on'Tr?et'ene the National Trust f'orScoti?eed bleiieve that the buiiding eouid be e?epted t0 eiiew viabie new use. The 0f? reusing the bending if: ihie we}! was. a key factor in ear decision {he application fer iiete?d building Geneen?u A pie?nieg eppiicetien. will be called in at the same time- Ai?ew me. ice. expieie the process for assessing "these a?ppiicatiaes: the?caee for planning and iieted banding consent be inifieiiy be by a Repair-{er fre?m? the Sco?ieii Government?s Planningend Envirenmehtei epee?ais, unit, wiih the-?ee! deeisien' then taken by Stewart Stevenscn, my Minister for Tran s-bdrt,_ i'nirestructure end Ciimaie Change? if has not yet been decided whether this precess? take {he feim of public lace! inquiry or whether-it be ?detefmined by Writien but] am eertein thatthe Prince?s Trust and the National Trust for Seefi?erid'e centfibution 10 this eiengeide Histeiic Sceiia?nd will be meet veiuebie. The ?nei decision then rest with Spetiieh Ministers. if was, as ever, a Measure to meet your Rey-a! Palace and do hope the informatien I have previded is i?ieipfui. ALEX Letter from Duke of Rothesay to former First Minister of 15 August 2008 I hope you wasn?t mind. my segdi?gyeu'thi?s Misfit-?gate adva?ce; tags-the: with-the circle-sad copy (if hist??rian??ndrew Wright?s} ??Caitihness Redunda?t Building-s inventorw re? ext, o?m?ttissioned arid pubi'ished last Week. z'by my N??h Highiand Ir?tia?ve. Yen may-hare them aware same Gf'thelaunsh ?fths - I??f??t?ryl a proj'eczt ?thigh I utidetstand. has 1101?: been; attempted'hefore this $631.8. W?ghf?s stu?y'ide?ti??s the. quite- pmeniial that e?sts. to ?ag ba?k to. life a thousand redumiant but eLaSESi?Ga?y' and; in dpj?icm, ?pleedidly'bu?t Caithnass ,d-tireiling3,a mills and .farmhii?di?gs Whit-?31131: might-a given the right appteach and 7311mm: *affar the-thwart; far farmers and ether Omars?e rem-t mt restated house's and Gettages and,- i?deed, as 319113313 fer leeai peepie aSpaI-t of ?heritage-16$? regeneratien; I is tint: Gf~the?111??1rmmaielements 1:119. ?guatie? thatl e?ri?g? i? the in the ?rst place: that we create a watt-1am girgie by first of all id??tifyigig number 621? eXIeIm-ijaiamtyiepmj?taets} developing thez??ces?sary iradi?onal building gk?ls {which has. happen-6:1 at the North Highland'f?loiiage?n nurse . through changing the. buildiiag trainmg warm): . mare-mag? reve?ues t0" ?awaits "by reniting? .9131?: rester'e?i hot-136$ ?t?e 1mm 3136.- thereby moreasi?g'theg: attractiveness _{if ?the wheie area, In Said;tiitici'z'li We ?ti?ki the: su?tainabi?ty anti ?i?bo died energy boxes? {gym wasmg vai?ahie assists. I - That ?is?ie 'visien-b of t?e ili?ilh?i thati hear ?yen. may be addressing?a 6f the. Caithne-ss Regeneratim Parm'ership an 2.9m Septemberi?p erhs?tps ?lm: 10 might be a? brief ?oppzc?unity i0 111361; representatives of my Initiative who would "be able?to tell you alias-more {3f what we f0 aCh'ieveE. If you feel there?is any merit 13:1 could have a word about it at B'irkha?? 11 N?rm ?igman? Ema-mam; Cave: Note ?to Caithna?s- Eed?a?a?t The and hist?rio mama. tif?ai??iass a. 1:931, diminishing mama; survivi?g precgi?fetisly. 011 "?fa?a?a ll: High] ands lini?hfiv? gm 1113.73anng n??e?undant and wemanum: baldixggs: in $113; aid ii;- the gum?er'of?l??'i?: TEE: sufvey??zeu l'enteda??d ph?tographed 13.50 ?ites. Whils?net? . Gam?r?hensiVe the; xesults' pm??a an?au?i??ta?m 'aig?? aigm?eaht. hawking 1m! gammy 'gamys'ea?ib? camp?rs?? The mvenmr'y is-beai?g .aigi?sed and w?l? be ond'iss. . Tits ngaftwh'iph ?agg?jg?pi??' thglisi?iiente?y?gmvidens 3' :datai?ed?ackgmund, ineludmg it"ha formatim??nciz?? 31:3 ?tenqmi'c 1:011:16 wading Ha?i?b?s: and i?tianti??s- thaw features whi-cih aim to Mag Th6 Regan alga? i?m?i?aswt?emanj- at risk, disgu?sas fhafun??r?yi?g-?ma?ts?t? th?emainin?builtha?saige, E?cilu?ihg the. lack {if fcmal reini?gzi?fi?u (fits Valu 3, mt- a5 1'19 ?aw-the. - rata?of 11:6 gh?i'b?e kg?l'tad. mi ?bri?g?d vetsien owe 5:11 report is Eava?abi?. The prm?cipal con?lusi'ons ate: a The vm??gpulaf h?riiag? inacai?m?ss is? minute; is' ?a ?gamma, anti-is. Way a A- distimti-ve Vern-swim ?aditignahaa man-crafted ?in-Caith?mss through ?ts me If gamma; grating; a mag swims-?fi?eai id entity; Same t3}sz fumd in Gait}:an are; unique: To ?rm, for ?example: th?; 53E Warshi? $r'?cted ?fzr ?rm FEE Chum]; in the II 'I'aier for the United Chmah ?aha 1113 rich 112553153 617 ?buimi?gs; a Thamev?it 9f the has baamr??egignisa? in the past; no: law. Esy mum?1mm hetitagsproteatim rim-have??sgal pplizaigs? and thgiap?li?a??m .of ?lming gai?ia?nes sassigtem?g t?gmm?mbf redundant . - The-Rama makes wkgic?h eaver?six ?i?siinct-argas: Emit-{Ea Ewart is) raise 3W31?36n65?3 of-the?chness .of Gaithnass" sBE?'If?exitgg?, 'th?s V?iu?i asgge'iat?gi with its. rege?gm?dm; - . a; Agraaent t0 the .a?nd hid a1 .inf?ncs'ts. ?and tha ef?pri??iigsi; . - Es t?h? 9.11ng a ?imem ales and Thadge-?ts teg6?1er with. the ?app?imment Q?f?il?lita?B-Iesta?f; Ea! "Davalm?ing an 511313333: t-h?qumg?amme iimltiqiing ma: astabl'ishment (ma-Ea Ce?t?r? '?t?ir Conservati?m Hairs??l?im? - 12 Funding: fievelvpiug; Ia?g fem rehti'ozns?ps with ?nding organisa?cizig and . dwamping fh??iingsueams ragenemtion?; . 9 .Si?a?liiehalde'r Ma?nagameptm {mg-he 19931, ragiwa?l and groups with: an, imam: and?xpertise in :fhs. magnera?an?o??i?a?uziafwd hisf??c 'bli?idings in the- Pragramne and tk? wank 5515113 Cent-?35537 Em?lmee? . $111)! 2008 13 Reply from the former First Minister of 5 September 2008 - The Duke of Rothesay- Birkhaii Baimerai Estates Of?ce BALLAER A835 5TB Our'ref: HFL EM 5 2' September 202% ?y?au? your recent letterven GPGSir'ig a cb?piy of the Redundant Buiidi?ga inve?tary? as echmr?iSS-ien?ed and ?pubiished?b?y yeti; Neath Highland initiative. i read thisr'with interest. andwould be very pleased To meet With?repteSe?fatixies-bfyour Nerth Highland. initiative. to hear mere about its Woik. My effiee Will-be- in much With Rebett Grayie a 3311 itabje stat ayaiiab-Je?amund my=addrese t5 the Caith?hees Regan?ra??n Paftmers'hip. on September? - ALEX 14 Letter from Duke of Rothesay to the former First Minister of 15 June 2009 You will not be surprised to know that there are a number of issues . which I would very much like to discuss with you. when we meet but, in the meantime, I wondered ifl might mention the whole issue of the work carried out by the Soil Association Scotland and, in particular, the development of sustainable food supply chains? I have been told that this issue of public procurement has recently been examined by your - Colleague, the Cabinet Secretary fer Rural Affairs- and the Environment. However, perhaps somewhat inevitably, the Soil Association Bootland is - ?nding it very dif?cult to pursue its ?Food for Life? programme because I of the current funding?clirnate. As you may know, the ?Food ?for Life? programme promotes procurement of food that is freshly prepared, bought locally, has high animal welfare standards and. meets your Government?s criteria for sustainable public procurement. The bene?ts to education, to local economies, to animal welfare and to the environment haye all proved to be signi?cant. It is being implementedto varying degreesiu? sec-tor including, ?for?example,?by Celtic Football Club. As Patron of the Soil Association, I was delighted recently to? presents series cf awards, in the form of the ?Food for Life? Catering Mark, to various catering establishments. I was particrrlarly pleased that both East Ayrshire Council and Celtic Football Club earned the top category Gold awardis: enormously encouraging that East Ayrshire, one of Scotland?s smaller Councils, is leading nationally in sustainable public procurement and is able to demonstrate a steadfast commitment to ?Food for Life.? In this regard, you may know that I have maintained an interest in East Ayrshire?s ?Food for Life? project over the last few years. Its 15 success is signi?cant, delivering enhanced value in social, economic and . environmental terms, with over forty schools benefitting communities through their contracts with local producers and farmeis. Equally, it is _clear that there is a great deal of Work to be developed in this area across the public sector that cannot. be undertaken by Government alone. I am told by Hugh Raven,_Director of the Soil Association SCotland, that the Scottish Government is providing support. for ?Food for Life? through the Scottish Rural Development. Pro gramme, in a contract focussed on developing supply chains. What is also apparently urgently needed: is. support authorise-moat capesially local authorities and their education :dGP?mlleilts?, alsopotentiall?hospitals, prisons and other public Sector bodies as: change their procurement. and catering practice towards ?'esh, local and organic ingredients. There 3' - simply is no substitute to having exp ert advice available to caterers hoping to make their way in this respect - and no organization has done snore to provide this in SCotland than the Soil Association. 5 The Scottish Government has frequently expressed its approval of this approach, and I wondered if it niight'be possible to investigate whether there could be some form of support to assist the Soil Association in avoiding having to cut back their capacity for this initiative at precisely the moment that your Government looks set to giveit the very strongest of endorsements? . I . Looking to the future, I believe the proposals being developed to establish a Food Academy at Dumfries. House have the potential to provide a centre of excellence for the promotion of sustainable food strategies, for all of Scotland and beyond. 16 Extracts from letter from the Duke of Rothesay of 3 August 2009 3 I did just want to thank you very much for your recent letter, and --for letting me know how eothueiastic you are about the possibility of a wasteto-energy facility adjacent to the Dtun?'ieo House Estate. ??nk'you may be aware of the fact that my of?ce has beet; in touch with Se?or ignaeio Golan at Iberdrola, and that there is a plan to meet with Scottish Water before too long. .. I eon only hope that solid proposals emerge quickly. and that a proj eet might be undertaken as soon as possible. I am most grateful to you forxyour help in all. of this, Thank you also for highlighting the issues surrounding the plans, now subject to consultation, announced by the Diageo company. As I mentioned during our meeting, perhaps the best thing to do would be to invoive Scottish Business in the Community at an appropriate stage and, indeed, I gather that Jane Wood, the new Chief ExacetiVe, has been in touch with a number of the key hittividuale 17 Letter from the former First Minister to the Private Secretary to the Duke of Rothesay of 14 October 2009 18 in terms of wider work to promote the interests of Ayrshire, Mike Russell, the Minister for Cuiture, External Affairs and the Constitution recently met Sir Michael Peat at Dumfn'es House on 22 September to discuss developing a 'food academy' and a building and craft skills centre at Dumfries House. A business case is being developed and I am sure that the initiative will help contribute to the wider regeneration work which East Ayrshire Councii is leading and His Royal Highness' continued support around this initiative is very much recognised. It Was a pieasure for Moira and to meet Their Royal Highnesses recently and we look forward to seeing them again soon. ?24 ALEX 19 Extracts from letter from the Duke of Rothesay to the former First Minister of 17 June 2010 if I may, I verymuoh'warited to thaer you and your colleagues, riotably Mr. Sw?mey, Mr. Loohead and Mr. Brown, for thetime and commitment that you all gave" to serious of my organizations and events during the programme of engagements we had is. ties-ions parts of Scotland. In the meantime, I did just want to mention a few points which we didn?t haye time to eisoussthe other day. However, before I do, I Should like to you very much indeed for all your generous e?orti to help arrange a Royal Race Day in Scotland, with various of my Charities as the "b ene?oiaries. it seems to me that the idea of a differen venue each year is very much worth pursuing and, as we discussed, perhaps the most obvious starting point would he to have a race at Ayr in support of the Dum??ies House Trust? Mark Leishman tells me that, following your meeting in January, you are also arer kindiy giving thought to a number of other initiatives which might help to tackle the ?nancial burden represented by Dumfries House and I just wanted to reiterate how enormoust grateful I are for your help in all these matter particularly when I know how maehgisgyou have to deal with. .t Can I also thank you on behalf of my Scottish Youth Business Trust who, through Scottish Enterprise, have received additional . support of ?206,000 for this ?nancial year and also for 2011/12, whieh was announced in the Cabinet Secretary?s budget speeches last year? This is a great boost for a ohatity which, over the years, has contributed very signi?cantly to new business startmups in Scotland; 20 in terms of the built environment and heritage-led regeneration, I Was a alled, as Imeotioned, to discover that Patton?s Mill in Johnstone had burnt down, just as my Trust was due to hold diseussioos with representatives of Reofrewshire Council. This is, tragically, all too familiar a pattern and, gives the potential for sites such as Patoo?s Mill to generate employment, local Wealth creation and supp ortng apprenticeships and skills development, I would be most grateful if you felt that were were ways in which this whole issue could be taekled. with renewed vigour through the appropriate agencies and individuals. I know that representatiVes ?om my rust would?be only too glad to brief yew colleagues as necessary, particularly Where your ewe Government?s obj actives and those of the Trust appear to be aligned, for example in rural regeneration and skills developmeet, Fioally, I just wanted to mention that my North Highland . Initiative, which is sow being chaired by David Whiteford, is about to embark on a ?Visioning? workshop with my Foundation for the Built Environment, and with Jim Maeljnnon and his colleagues from the plamiing deparhoent. This will take place moat likely in early August and sits very much Within the context of tidal and wave power development in. ?ie- Peatlaod Firth. In View of the renewable energy opportunities, I did just wonder whether it would be to consider the development of a ?nd? which could, for example, be operated by Highland consul], similar to that which relates to the oil and gas sector for Ofkney and Shetland? As We have discussed in the past, the potential? for the fo od, tourism and built environmeot sectors, all linked by eommoo themes of sustainability in Caithness, Sutherland aodEaster Ross, is anomalous and, ifyou thought that sueh an idea had merit, Wondered Whether we might be able to discuss it further when we meet at Birkhall in the early Autumn? No doubt there will be various other issues We might be able to discuss when we next meet but, in the meantime, this comes with our kindest good wishes to you both. .- 21 Reply from the former First Minister to the Duke of Rothesay of July 2010 Our er. eororeersesr July 201 - yea/z AmigedIa- artun to talk in more detail about the range of petentiat joint working Pf?iects outlined in yeur letter. I strongly agree on the need to ensure that th devetopmeht of our vast renewable energy resource is supported by an outstaarting built a nvironment and a responsive approach to planning. Yeur raising the issue of creating a errata-economic: fund to tap into the bene?t- generated by the renewablee sector is very ti ely.- This is a matter that we are considering in some detair. You will already aware at my views on the way in which we failed to create a long-term and meaningful lgacy for scetlend and for local communities in the development of the oil and gas sector all 0th indeed, refer, Shetland did manage to eecurejuet eueh tong?term lega y. We are currently mentoring options to ensure hat the same mistake is net repeated in the developmeet of the. renewablee sector and i the develepmeet of our immense marine renewable energy petential. Oi eouree, the le ef the Crown Estate in this area is crucial. I hepe to be able to bring forward some prepeale in this area later in the summer and weuid warmly wetcome a discussion ef this subject when we meet at Birkhall 22 Mackinnun, met recently with of?ciais in eat the recent successes af the placemaki ng a gene! story to tell. Finally: i understand that my Chief Planner, Jim Cardiff, together with your Foundation, ta talk at aganda in Scotiand. I'm encouraged that he ha :ugg?st, ?0 fall: on many matters of common I do hope that we have the a? You ards to you both. E?teras?: and, for the mom?nt, send our best reg: . .51.. ALEX . 23 Letter from the Duke of Rothesay’s Private Secretary to the former First Minister of 12 July 2010 24 Letter of early 2014 from the former First Minister to the Duke of Rothesay’s Private Secretary 25 Reply from the Duke of Rothesay’s Private Secretary to the former First Minister of 3 March 2014 26