Summit snub 'rubs salt in the wound'

THE Scottish Fisheries Secretary accused the UK government today of "rubbing salt into the wound" after refusing to let him attend a European meeting.

Richard Lochhead said informal talks in Spain, which are being attended by a House of Lords representative, have been expanded to take in more important issues.

The new agenda takes in aspects of a meeting he had been due to attend in Luxembourg but which was cancelled because of the volcanic ash cloud.

Mr Lochhead said he will now miss talks on the controversial Common Fisheries Policy, which governs the Scottish fleet.

He added: "This rubs salt into the wound caused by the UK government's decision to stop Scotland attending in favour of an unelected Lord whose knowledge of Scots fishing could fit onto the back of a stamp."