FIRST Minister Nicola Sturgeon is set to meet Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for a "working dinner" in Inverness-shire, The National can confirm.
The Tory PM is visiting Scotland for the first time since he was installed in the top job by his parliamentary party in October, following Liz Truss's resignation.
Sunak is set to announce the location of two new "green" freeports understood to be near the vicinity of Inverness and Edinburgh during his two-day visit, the first time he has been to Scotland as Prime Minister.
READ MORE: What happened at the anti-gender reform protest at Holyrood
Sturgeon and Sunak met previously in Blackpool at the British-Irish Council summit in early November, making this the second in-person official meeting between the two politicians.
Previous Tory leader Truss made a point of not calling or instigating a meeting with the FM during her 49 days in office. However, it is understood the meeting between Sunak and FM was requested by Downing Street.
Topics expected to be under discussion are the UK Government's anti-strike legislation, pressures on the NHS and the cost of living crisis. It is unclear whether the constitution or the UK Government's attempts to block Scotland's gender reforms will be raised.
Number 10 said Sunak is set to announce millions in funding for a joint Scottish and UK Government initiative to create high-skilled green jobs and "drive growth", with a focus on bringing in "billions of private sector investment" to Scotland.
Sunak is set to meet with the FM on Thursday evening in the Inverness area, but no indication of the host venue has been given.
Downing Street said the dinner will be "informal and private".
Ahead of a joint announcement, the FM and PM will discuss "shared challenges" faced by those in Scotland and the UK, as well as how both governments can "co-operate meaningfully", Downing Street said.
Sunak will continue his visit to Scotland into Friday before returning to London.
It comes as Alba asked top lawyers to re-examine whether or not Scotland has a right to self-determination following the Supreme Court judgment.
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