First Minister Alex Salmond met with members of the public in a packed room at the Pickaquoy Centre yesterday, taking questions at an informal lunchtime meeting lasting two hours.
Asked about possible prejudice against English-born Scots in the referendum debate, he said that civic nationalism means taking a broad view of Scottishness. It does not matter where someone was born. All accents are welcome and should be heard. He stated that the quality of the debate is not defined by the actions of internet trolls on either side, and has generally been of a high calibre.
With regard to the ageing internal ferry fleet in Orkney, the First Minister said that productive discussions are ongoing with the OIC regarding replacement. The possibility of more environmentally-friendly ferries, for example hydrogen-fuelled ferries making use of Orkney's plentiful renewable energy, was also raised.
Salmond stated that the abolition of student tuition fees is one of the things his Government is most proud of. A Yes vote does not threaten this in any way. He believes that a long history of free education is what has led to so many Scots becoming prominent engineers and inventors.
On the future of renewable energy, he pointed out that Scotland is in a competitive position due to having abundant natural resources, being located next to an increasingly demanding energy market. As Orkney is a key centre of renewable energy, grid connectivity is a priority. Looking further to the future, a 'super-grid' may eventually allow energy to be exported to continental Europe.
The First Minister also recognised that development of rural infrastructure should be sympathetic to the environment, and commended the recent report by the Land Reform Review Group (which can be found here).
There is currently enormous pressure on public spending in all departments, with budgets being constrained. The First Minister said that independence would lead to less pressure on the public sector, as well as better cooperation with the voluntary sector.
First Minister Alex Salmond pictured with younger Yes voters.
