The Commission chairman, Sir Kenneth Calman, met the Scottish Government Minister for Culture, External Affairs and the Constitution, Mike Russell MSP, on Tuesday 26 May. Mr Russell was able to update the Chairman on the Scottish Government’s “National Conversation”, before providing his thoughts on intergovernmental relations and other matters under consideration by the Commission.

Speaking after the meeting, Sir Kenneth commented:

“This was a cordial and worthwhile meeting, and usefully supplemented the other ways in which the Scottish Government has recently provided evidence to the Commission, on borrowing powers and other matters.  I was interested to hear about future plans for the National Conversation, which I have always regarded as a valuable exercise that is in some ways complementary to the Commission’s own work.  We agreed to keep in touch about significant milestones in these processes, and accordingly I undertook to confirm when our report would be launched.”