David Cairns

Interesting to see in yesterday's Scotsman that the able and amiable David Cairns, previously an under-secretary at the Scotland Office, has been promoted to minister of state with the task - according to the Scotsman - of staving off attacks from the SNP Scottish Executive and liaising with Whitehall. Cairns lost his dual responsibility at the Northern Ireland Office when the devolved executive was restored a couple of months ago.