David Maddox: For Foulkes Sake (13) - Weighty issues

As mentioned in my most recent blog on Lord George Foulkes (bottom right), the Baron of Cumnock, MSP to the Lothians and First Lord of the Twittery is not lacking a sense of humour.

Thus this latest piece of mischief making in the guise of a written question.

*To ask the Scottish Executive what official engagements the First Minister has planned for July and August 2009 and whether an estimate has been made of catering costs.

The "catering" reference, of course, is to the frequent jokes about how being First Minister has apparently led to Alex Salmond's (top left) girth rapidly expanding, as well as his now famed food claims in his expenses as an MP of £400 a month, even when he was not in Westminster for months. The response from John Swinney was a lot more serious and dull.

*First Minister’s summer activities will focus on the Scottish Government Summer Cabinet meetings, taking place across the country.

Further to these events, the First Minister will undertake a range of other engagements in line with usual business. All events are planned with cost effectiveness as a priority.

However, ever one for political gamesmanship, no doubt Lord Foulkes is only too aware that his own critics, not least by the army of cybernats who stalk Scottish media websites, point out that he is not exactly lacking in pounds himself, either from his House of Lords expenses or, indeed, the shirt stretching sense.