Rt Hon Nicola Sturgeon MSP gfgt?zhtgoxgr?n?g;
First Minister of Scotland 9
A gov.scot

St Andrew's House, Regent Road, Edinburgh EH1 300
T: 0300 244 4000

Rhoda Grant MSP

The Scottish Parliament
EDINBURGH

EH99 

Our ref:
March 2019

was

Thank you for your letter of 12 March concerning Fergus Ewing?s comments on the felling of
trees at the Carrbridge Hotel.

have carefully considered the points that you have raised. As you will know, the Scottish
Ministerial Code provides that Ministers may represent the Views of their constituents, so
long as they make it clear that the views they put forward are ones expressed in their
capacity as the MSP representing a particular electorate. I am satisfied that Fergus Ewing
was clear that the comments he made about this matter were being made as the
constituency MSP and not as a Minister. Furthermore, no aspects of this matter have been
referred to Ministers for decision. As is normal practice, arrangements will be in place to
ensure that decisions on this particular matter will fall to be taken by another Minister and
that Fergus Ewing will have no locus in the matter given his constituency interests.

On that basis, I am clear that Fergus Ewing has at all times acted in accordance with the
requirements of the Ministerial Code.

i Unit/W

MEL -

NICOLA STURGEON

Scottish Ministers, special advisers and the Permanent Secretary are covered by the terms of the Lobbying (Scotland) Act
2016. See