Nicol Stephen, Leader of the Liberal Democrats in Scotland, challenged the First Minister to explain what action his government had taken to help the hundreds of thousands of people displaced by the cyclone that hit Burma last week.

In response to Mr Stephen, during First Minister’s Questions at the Scottish Parliament, Alex Salmond was unable to list any practical steps taken by the Scottish Government.

Commenting after First Minister’s Questions, Mr Stephen said:

“I challenged the First Minister to reveal what action his government was taking to respond the humanitarian disaster in Burma.

“The First Minister should be holding discussions with Scottish charities and aid agencies about co-ordinating their work, as happened after the Tsunami. He should be working with the Disasters Emergency Committee. He ought to have set up a one-stop-shop for Scots wishing to help and assist with the aid response. He could have asked Scottish Water to provide bottled water supplies to those without access to fresh water. He couldn’t even tell me if he’d found time to write to the Burmese Government offering help.

“Hundreds of thousands of people in Burma have been without fresh water, food or shelter since Saturday. I am disappointed that it seems that the Scottish Government has so far taken no action to help the victims of this humanitarian disaster.

“The First Minister must now take practical steps to offer Scottish help.”