The final chance for the public to quiz the Scottish Government before the independence referendum will be a historic event in a historic location, according to the Health Secretary.
Ministers will descend on Arbroath on Monday and Alex Neil said the Angus town is the perfect setting for the final Cabinet tour ahead of next month’s vote.
The Declaration of Arbroath, arguably the most important document in Scottish history, proclaimed Scotland’s status as an independent sovereign state in 1320.
The letter was drawn up at Arbroath Abbey during the Wars of Independence between Scotland and England.
As well as the historical links, Mr Neil said the opportunity to quiz the Government on its key policies was “critically important” to show Holyrood is not just a Central Belt parliament.
This is the eighth time the Cabinet has left Edinburgh this year, and the 31st since 2008. In that time, ministers have spoken to more than 6,000 people and answered approximately 450 questions.
Mr Neil said: “It is critically important because right from the beginning we have said that this parliament is not a Central Belt parliament, it is a parliament for the whole country.
“Unlike Westminster, we believe it is very important to get out and about and let people see how their Government works.
“This is a particularly important Cabinet because it is the last Cabinet outside Edinburgh before the referendum and, of course, it is where the Declaration of Arbroath originated by definition.
“It is a very symbolic cabinet as well.”
A public meeting will be held at St Andrew’s Church on Monday, from 7 to 9pm.