Disaster preparations, the high cost of flying to Bermuda, and the ongoing success of the Island?s soccer star son Shaun Goater were talking points during the first two engagements for Premier Alex Scott on an official visit to London this week.

The Premier has been meeting British MPs and the heads of Government of other UK Overseas Territories.

Showing a degree of forward planning the various OT leaders compared notes on what issues they most want to raise with the UK Government during the week and agreed to a plan of action that will see them make consecutive presentations on points of mutual interest in order to drive home the point.

One of the issues that will be given a boost is disaster preparedness, which Bermuda and the Cayman Islands governments both feel needs a high priority. The two OTs have agreed to back-up one another when they make their speeches to the UK government.

But before getting down to serious business Mr. Scott was able to chat on a more informal basis with a cross-party group of British MPs at Westminster, bringing up topics that included the success of Bermudian Shaun Goater with English League One side Southend United.

It was during this meeting with the Britain/Bermuda All-Party Parliamentary Group, which consists of British MPs who have a particular interest in Bermuda and act as a voice of Bermuda in the UK Parliament, that Mr. Scott spoke about issues ranging from the Social Agenda to sustainable development, the creation of the Office of the Ombudsman and the report of the Bermuda Independence Commission.

Mr. Scott is in the UK to attend the Overseas Territories Consultative Council. Sessions are due to start today.