Cabinet sets out on summer tour

The cabinet meeting will take place on the Crichton site

The Scottish Government has embarked on its first of four cabinet meetings to be held across the country this summer.

First Minister Alex Salmond is visiting Dumfries and will host a reception for local good causes.

It will be followed by a full cabinet meeting on the town's Crichton campus on Tuesday.

The two-day Dumfries visit will be followed by further sessions to be held in Inverness, Pitlochry and Skye on 5, 19 and 26 August.

Speaking ahead of the Dumfries programme, Mr Salmond said: "The job of government is to act on behalf of the interests of the people of Scotland.

'Super campus'

"It is only logical that we continue to take every opportunity we can to maintain our dialogue with the people we represent and listen to the issues which are important to them.

"Taking cabinet to areas like Dumfries and Galloway is an excellent way for us to meet with local communities and listen to their concerns and ambitions for Scotland."

During the visit, Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop viewed progress on a £37m "super campus" in the town.

Fiona Hyslop will view progress being made on the campus site

The development on the Crichton site - to replace Dumfries and Galloway College - will receive its first intake of students in September.

It will be the first Scottish campus where further and higher education institutions share facilities.

Ms Hyslop said she was delighted to have the chance to see the campus and its "impressive setting".

She said: "I'm sure that students and staff will welcome the improved facilities and opportunities which the new campus has to offer, including improved catering, sports and library facilities."

Dumfries and Galloway College is moving to the Crichton site and closing down its current base at Heathhall.

'Brain drain'

It will share its new surroundings with a range of other institutions including the University of Glasgow and University of the West of Scotland.

College Principal Tony Jakimciw said the project would be a "fantastic asset" for the region.

"Crucially, this means that students will no longer have to leave the region to fulfil their learning ambitions, a move that has the potential to stem the 'brain drain' of talent out of Dumfries and Galloway," he said.

The new college will include an open plan library space spread over two floors containing about 40,000 books.