DOUGLAS FRASER and KEVIN SCHOFIELD

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Alex Salmond will today set out plans for legislation to axe tolls on the Forth and Tay road bridges, as one of his first priorities in government.

The new First Minister is to make a statement on his key objectives and how he intends to govern. But it will not be a legislative programme, as much of the law-making has yet to be negotiated with opposition parties who have a combined MSP majority.

The decision to abolish bridge tolls was taken at a two-hour cabinet meeting at which Finance Secretary John Swinney also warned fellow ministers their spending decisions will have to be rigorously assessed to fit with his efficiency targets.

The end of tolls could cost around £15m in lost income for bridge management, while leaving £13m of debt on the Tay bridge. It is likely to have support from Tory MSPs, though most Labour and LibDems have argued tolls should remain on the Forth crossing for driver-only cars.

Cabinet discussed how to fulfil manifesto commitments to retain accident and emergency services at Monklands and Ayr hospitals and there was discussion of how to handle health board plans to close emergency services at Vale of Leven Hospital.

Mr Swinney set out his response to Whitehall's move to close post offices, with a statement on that due today. Tomorrow there will be a Holyrood announcement about the blocking or licensing of the proposed ship-to-ship transfer of Russian oil in the Firth of Forth.

The first formal meeting of the SNP's Scottish Executive Cabinet took place at Bute House in Edinburgh, official residence of the First Minister. There was a "strategic discussion" around executive finance, previewing a Holyrood debate. There was no cabinet discussion of SNP plans for an independence referendum, though a timetable for a white paper can be expected in Mr Salmond's statement of priorities.

One area which Mr Salmond is likely to conflict with Westminster over is energy policy. Last night the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) issued a warning which said Scotland must not be isolationist, but should work with the UK government to ensure that future needs are met.

The message runs counter to the indications that Mr Salmond is preparing to defy Alistair Darling, the Trade and Industry Secretary, over the UK government's plans for new nuclear power plants.

Mr Darling will outline the proposals today in an energy white paper which will also set out the government's plans to reduce carbon emissions while replacing ageing generating capacity.

Mr Salmond has insisted there is "absolutely no chance" of new nuclear power stations being built in Scotland as he would use Holyrood's control of planning powers to veto them. Jim Mather, Holyrood's new Energy Minister, will today tell a conference in Aberdeen that Scotland can be at the forefront of wind and wave power development, while also harnessing clean coal and carbon capture technology, making energy a vital part of plans to boost economic growth.

The RSE report, which was published yesterday, says Scotland has to play its part in the global effort to tackle climate change and secure future energy supplies. "Scotland is no different from other countries and should think in a global context as well as act locally," the report said.

Green campaigners last night insisted Scotland has the capacity to be self-sufficient thanks to renewables and that new nuclear reactors were not needed to tackle climate change.