Salmond tackles Brown in Commons

Alex Salmond wants resumption of the joint communities

Alex Salmond has tackled Prime Minister Gordon Brown in the Commons for the first time since taking up his post as Scotland's first minister.

Mr Salmond said it was important that liaison between the two administrations was formalised with the resurrection of joint ministerial committees.

Mr Brown praised co-operation so far between the governments, particularly over the recent terror attacks.

Mr Salmond, an MP and MSP, returned to Westminster after a 120-day absence.

The first minister asked for resumption of the joint ministerial committees between the law officers and justice ministers "north and south of the border", in seeking to contribute to the consensus on fighting terrorism.

Charitable salary

Mr Brown replied: "We want to co-operate in future on all the issues that you have talked about.

"Whether it is through committees or through the individuals in contact with each other we have to recognise obviously the difficulties that both legal authorities and policing authorities face but that co-operation I believe will continue."

The first minister plans to stand down from his Westminster seat of Banff and Buchan at the next general election and has vowed to collect only his MP's salary until that time.

He has announced plans to set up a charitable salary using his MSP's salary.