No summit seat for SNP ministers

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No seat at the climate change summit in Copenhagen will be made available to a minister from the Scottish government, it has emerged.

UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has said Holyrood can nominate an official to attend the December meeting.

The decision - which came nine months after the Scottish government first raised the issue - has been described as "disappointing" by the SNP.

But an SNP spokesman insisted Scotland would be represented in Copenhagen.

First Minister Alex Salmond has again written to Prime Minister Gordon Brown to demand a ministerial seat.

'Important contribution'

"It is most regrettable that nine months after making our initial request, we still await a decision," said Mr Salmond.

But as his letter to Mr Brown was on its way, another was coming from the other direction - making an offer that fell short of Mr Salmond's demand.

Mr Miliband wrote to Finance Secretary John Swinney to say the Scottish government could send an official, in line with practice in previous years.

The letter said the UK Government wanted to give priority to members of the Copenhagen negotiating team and supporting experts.

Mr Miliband said: "However I recognise that your contribution to this international effort is important, so I would be happy to include one of your officials on the UK delegation, which has been an offer made - but not always taken up by the Scottish Government - in previous years."

The SNP first sought a ministerial seat nine months ago

Inviting Mr Swinney to nominate an official, he said: "The whole delegation will of course be constrained to supporting the UK and EU negotiating line."

He said it was also possible for Scottish ministers to go to Copenhagen with other organisations that had observer status.

A spokesman for Mr Swinney said: "This is an extremely disappointing response to an issue we have been pursuing for nine months, but one way or another Scotland will be represented at the Copenhagen conference.

"The Scottish Parliament has passed world leading climate change legislation, and we have an obligation to make our full contribution to the global challenge we all face, which is why Scotland should be at the centre of this process - not relegated to the fringes by Ed Miliband."

Dr Richard Dixon, director of WWF Scotland and board member of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, said: "At a time when the world desperately needs good examples, it is clearly ridiculous that Scottish ministers will not be allowed to be part of the official UK delegation.

"The negotiations for Copenhagen are finely balanced and Scotland's excellent Climate Change Act could make a difference, but only if people actually get to hear about it."