The Scottish Government

Scottish Government

FIRST MINISTER'S SPEECH TO THE CONSULAR CORPS

JANUARY 20, 2004

Victoria Quay, Edinburgh

Introduction

I am delighted to welcome you here this evening.

I want today to set out for you what we are looking to achieve over the current 4-year Parliament, both in terms of improving the lives of the people of Scotland and of our international engagement: what we are doing to promote Scotland, and Scotland's interests, throughout the world.

What devolved government in Scotland is doing

Devolution in 1999 gave us the best of both worlds. It gave us powers over domestic affairs - education, health, the justice system, economic development and more, whilst taking strength from the United Kingdom.

We continue to value our place within the United Kingdom. But we have taken up the challenge to not just find Scottish solutions to Scottish problems, but create Scottish success as well.

Our young parliament has had its critics - it wouldn't be a parliament without them. But from those early turbulent days of the first term, our government is now settled down to get on with the real hard work of delivering for the people of Scotland. Not for a quiet life, but as a springboard for action.

Getting the basics right

We are more than six months into a new Partnership Agreement between two political parties this 2nd 4 year term. That Agreement is working well - and is delivering for Scotland. Just as the last one did in slightly different circumstances.

The very least the people of Scotland want their parliament to do is to make Scottish schools better and for health services to improve. Better services are a basic bottom line for the people we represent.

And, people want crime, disorder and vandalism dealt with too. Decent, hardworking families have had enough of the dis-respect of the few that is shown to the many. And they expect their political leaders to do something about it. And rightly so.

And to do all that effectively though, Scotland must have a healthy, vibrant, growing private sector. An economy that creates the wealth to resource the public services and those public services that educate our children, take care of the sick and open doors of opportunity to those denied it in the past.

That is why growing Scotland's economy is the number one priority for our devolved government - and it will be throughout the next 4 years.

We are responsible for the public funds we spend, but we must take responsibility to help raise those funds too. Scotland's people do need opportunities - opportunities to good jobs, fulfilling careers, and chances to achieve ambitions. And we need more than just a public sector in order to do that.

Our government is investing - as never before - in infrastructure, railways, public transport, roads, direct air links, and in telecommunications. And we are investing in the skills and knowledge of our people. Using the powers that we have in our devolved Scotland.

We have world class levels of graduates in our economy, outstanding centres of excellence in our universities and a network of colleges that are in touch with their local economies too. This is all good - but the modern international economy is more competitive than ever.

And that is why we are backing the emerging high growth industries - in life sciences, ICT and energy - by investing heavily in University research and its link to business. Meanwhile modern Apprenticeships, enterprise education and vocational education open up the world of work to young Scots.

And all of these things must be for a greater purpose - to create a strong, confident Scotland.

Our country has a long tradition of being outward-looking. Scots have travelled the world, learning new ideas and contributing to the development of others. We are rightly proud of that.

But we want to build a culture of confidence and aspiration for modern Scotland. A country mature in its pride in the past, welcoming diversity and ambitious for the future.

We want others to see Scotland as a place they want to visit and in which they want to live and do business here in Scotland.

It is still relatively early days for our new democracy. But we have made a really good start.

We are getting on with the things that the people of Scotland expect us to - tackling crime and anti social behaviour, creating first class public services.

But all the while we are having regard to the long term and a vision for the kind of Scotland we want to help create. And positioning Scotland internationally to be in the right place at the right time. New Scottish offices, new academic partnerships and new business opportunities in Asia, the Americas and else where.

Promoting Scotland

Scotland is a small country - but with a big voice. We are known and we are recognised - much more than many countries of a similar size are throughout the world.

We have a lot going for us.

• We are cultured people. The arts and sport can celebrate and interpret tradition and history, but they also push boundaries too. They can project Scotland as a tolerant as well as a creative nation too.
• We have some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. And our cities, as well as our countryside, are magnets to attract people from throughout the world.
• There is a strong affection among the millions internationally who make up the Scottish diaspora.
• But that affection is also seen more widely: in the enthusiasm of the stars who attended the MTV awards held here in Edinburgh in November; the welcome extended to Scottish football supporters overseas; the decisions of the many people who come to visit Scotland every year and then return.

In future I want those around the world who regard themselves as friends of Scotland to know that it is:-

• not just about our landscape and history, but also about our people.
• not just about what Scotland was, but what Scotland is now, and what it will be in the future.
• That our future will be better than our past.

Above all:-

• I want the world to know that Scotland is open: for visitors, for business, and for new people to live and work here.

We will announce our plans to attract people to come and live in Scotland over the coming weeks.

To do this we will reform the way we promote Scotland overseas, to make the efforts of the Scottish agencies involved more focused and more coordinated. I want to make sure that we are working together consistently and effectively to get these messages out.

Overseas activity

We have been very busy promoting Scotland abroad. In 2002 we promoted business, tourism, sport and food & drink in Sweden. Last September we did the same thing in Barcelona and last summer Scotland featured prominently in the prestigious Folklife Festival at the Smithsonian Institutions in Washington DC, which drew upwards of 1 million visitors. And only last week Jim Wallace visited the New York Stock Exchange to explore stronger relationships between New York's financial community and Scotland.

In these next few months, you will see increasing activity overseas from the Scottish government.

And we recognise that promoting Scotland overseas is vitally important to Scottish business. And the economic imperative is the driving force for our activity overseas.

Scotland is about to take a major role in events this year to celebrate the 100 years of Entente Cordiale.

France is Scotland's third biggest export market and the second largest source of tourists. Becoming vigorously involved in Entente Cordiale is good for Scottish culture - but it is very good for Scottish business too.

And I will be announcing this Scottish Programme on Thursday here in Edinburgh at the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Also in 2004, the Scottish Ministers, and many of the Executive's Agencies, will be promoting Scotland elsewhere including events in the Netherlands. These will range from economic and trade engagements, architecture exhibitions, and justice and social inclusion events.

Fresh Talent

Last year I said that Scotland, for reasons of economic growth and social development, must address its predicted population decline, below 5 million by 2010, and changing demographic profile.

Population trends matter. Population decline - if left unchecked - will affect both supply of, and demand for, public services and will impact on economic growth in Scotland. That is why I have and intend to make it such a high priority to tackle.

I argued that the best way to do this was to attract people to live and work in Scotland; to retain talent within our borders, to attract ex-Scots back home - and attract new talent from all over the UK, Europe and further a field.

We cannot separate the reasons why Scots will prosper here at home from the reasons why ambitious young talent would want to come here.

I believe that people will increasingly choose places to work because of the quality of life they and their family will have when they set up home.

The economic development of a modern small country depends on the way its society develops, as much as on supply side investment and reform. Our confidence, our culture, our public services will all have an impact.

And as First Minister, I am aware that when I describe our country, I need to tell it like it really is. Scotland's devolved government must be in touch with the reality of Scotland today.

Sometimes, how others see Scotland might be a more accurate and balanced picture than how Scotland sees itself.

And is perhaps where you can help?

The research undertaken to date by our Fresh Talent team suggests a variety of misconceptions about how Scotland is viewed abroad and we are planning shortly to address these issues. I would welcome your views on how we may best change those inaccurate perceptions of Scotland in your own countries in order to present a true picture of all that Scotland can offer today.

We want to attract and welcome people to Scotland to live and work because:

• We welcome the skills they bring - and the contribution they make to our workforce and the partnerships that they will form for the long-term with countries throughout the world
• And we welcome the cultural diversity they bring - to open our eyes and ears to different ways of life and ideas.

That means creating the kind of society in Scotland that is welcoming and open, as well as one that offers economic opportunities.

Research suggests that Scotland does not currently figure internationally as a top destination to set up home. And you will not be surprised that I don't find that surprising!

I find this surprising. I know we are better than that. I want Scotland to climb the international league table. I believe we can compete with the best in attracting new talent to live and work here.

We are now building a consensus view of the challenge facing us amongst business organisations and Universities, political decision- makers and opinion formers in Scotland.

Our objectives are very clear:

• To retain the talent we have in Scotland;
• To attract Scots who have moved away to come back home;
• To be a magnet for people throughout the UK to re-locate; and
• But also to attract talent from elsewhere in the world, particularly overseas students once they graduate, who come to study and may wish to spend some time here.

To assist this, we intend to make it a lot easier for people to get all the information they need to set up home here. Whether they are students from overseas who are graduating, people or companies looking for work permits, or refugees who have been granted asylum in the UK, we want Scotland to be the first to respond.

We plan to create a 'one-stop' national relocation advice service. To help advise on jobs, accommodation, visas, work permits, school and university opportunities.

Because our Universities are critical in this project, I am determined that this service should be operating from the start of next academic year. Over 5000 overseas students graduate from Scottish universities each year - and thousands more from the rest of the UK.

We welcome citizens from your countries, and I wish to make it clear that we will do so in such a way that will be supportive to them and assist them to integrate, so that they gain maximum benefit from the positive aspects of living and working in Scotland and we gain the economic benefit such an enhanced and diverse culture can provide.

We have a great story to tell. We want to harness the goodwill that exists worldwide. I firmly believe that if we create a Scotland that all Scots can be proud to call home, a country bursting with opportunity, other people will want to call Scotland their home too.

European Strategy

I now want to touch briefly on the European Strategy, that was mentioned earlier by Andy, although I realise that this doesn't affect all of you.

Europe is of tremendous importance to Scotland. The European Union passes laws and takes decisions in a whole range of policies that, following devolution, cover the responsibilities of the Scottish Parliament. Furthermore, many of the EU decisions which are, in UK terms, reserved to Westminster - such as Financial Services -have a very major impact on us here in Scotland.

Over three-quarters of the work of the Scottish Executive and the Scottish Parliament is influenced by decisions taken in Brussels. We have therefore always sought to ensure that EU decision-making reflects Scotland's interests.

But, we are determined that Scotland will play an increasingly proactive role in Europe. During the first Parliament, Scotland established itself in the "Premier League" of legislative regions in the EU.

In this second Parliament, we are determined to build on that success. And we will do so in partnership with an outward-looking UK Government, which is engaged much more in the EU project than perhaps UK governments have been in the past .

So the Scotland's European Strategy is an important document. It sets out a clear and unambiguous framework for the Executive's work on EU issues. It is not a bundle of new initiatives; it is a strategic map for the Executive's current and future European activities - right across the board.

The Strategy sets out two over-arching goals for action in Europe. These are:-

• to position Scotland as one of the leading legislative regions in the European Union, with a thriving and dynamic economy; but also
• to bring effective influence to bear on the UK Government, EU Member States, regions and institutions on EU policy issues affecting Scotland.

The Strategy sets out systematically for the first time the key ways in which Ministers intend to engage on the EU issues in order to achieve our priority objectives. It spells out how we intend to work with Brussels and with European partners, with the UK Government, and here in Scotland. How we will operate within the Executive and through its Agencies and non-departmental bodies, the Scottish Parliament and our other key partners.

And it sets out how we will continue to focus and prioritise our efforts on the key short and medium term issues likely to have a significant impact on people's lives in Scotland.

I want to stress to you how important to us, working with the UK Government will be to achieving our Objectives.

We are closely involved in the development of their policy line for EU Council discussions. We attend Councils of particular interest to Scotland.

And in Brussels also, we are committed to an even more effective engagement with our MEPs, with the new Commissioners later this year and senior Commission officials. The Scottish Executive's Brussels office - Scotland House - is a crucial asset, well placed to present Scottish views directly to the EU institutions.

We also want to increase our collaboration with other Member States and European regions.

So we look forward to, working closely with the Consular Corps in Scotland on a wide range of issues.

We are very keen to share with you our perspective and our priorities - so you can report these back to your capitals and gain as clear as possible an understanding of our interests.

REGLEG

I want now to say a little about Scotland's role in Europe as a major legislative region.

I am absolutely delighted to have been invited by the leaders of other legislative regions in Europe to take up the Chair of REGLEG at our Conference in Salzburg back in November 2003. My leadership of this group will run until November this year. And, this will involve a number of events bother here and in Brussels.

REGLEG has been very successful in getting itself heard by the top decision makers in Europe.

That influence was reflected in the language on the role of the regions and the subsidiarity protocol contained in the draft EU Constitutional Treaty that emerged from the Convention on the Future of Europe last summer.

As the process of Treaty negotiation continues following last the European Council In December, which did not manage to reach a conclusion, we will continue to work with the UK Government to ensure that the Treaty proposals we both supported are retained in the future negotiations.

Under the Scottish Presidency, REGLEG will continue to press for direct and pre-legislative consultation for the regions.

The devolution of power is one of the most effective ways in which decisions made by Member State governments and the EU can more closely reflect the concerns, interests and daily lives of people. Legislative regional authorities are close to the citizens of Europe, particularly in the bigger nations. It is therefore important for everyone that the Commission consults widely before bringing forward new legislation, and that this includes direct consultation of regions with legislative powers.

I believe that more effective legislation will result from this approach. And it will do more than just deliver more effectively the policy benefits we all get from membership of the EU. It will help to clearly show those benefits to the citizens of the Union, here in Scotland and elsewhere.

EU Enlargement

Finally, I want to say a little about Scotland's place in that expanding Europe.

The Enlargement of the EU on 1 May this year will be an incredibly historic event. It will be good not only for the new Member States, but for all of Europe, the UK and for Scotland. It will present opportunities, about which I want to say a little more. But also challenges. Challenges that effective regional governments can help the EU to overcome. If you want to resolve a difficult issue among 25 or more member states, you need to share some of the pain of that process within the next level of government if ambition is to be matched by delivery. And, this is a point you will hear me making again and again in the coming months. I think that the regions can play a large role in ensuring that an enlarged Europe stays close to the people it represents.

Enlargement will change the political landscape of Europe as we know it. It can lead to increased prosperity and stability across the continent. The importance of this cannot be overstated.

The countries joining the EU are old friends and allies - of the UK and of Scotland. Close links already exist between us. These links can only become closer as a result of Enlargement. I very very much welcome that.

The EU is already one of Scotland's most important markets accounting for more than 55% of manufactured products such as whisky, office machinery and communications equipment and 42% of service sector exports sold inside the EU. The enlarged EU will be an even more important market - containing some of the fastest growing economies and opportunities for us to develop in new directions.

Scotland's got a great deal to offer the new Member States. We are continuing to modernise and make use of cutting edge technology. We have experience in energy management - in oil and gas. And our services sector is establishing new partnerships all the time.

All of these contacts will become easier as transport links are further improved. And, in the past year we have established the Rosythe-Zeebrugge ferry link. And through our Route Development Fund we have increased the range of direct flights from Scotland to European destinations, building on the establishment last year of the first direct air connection between Scotland and Central Europe - the Edinburgh-Prague flight. These are all links that can and will be built upon.

Conclusion

I hope that has given you a bit of a flavour of where we are going, my confidence in the Partnership Agreement and a flavour of Fresh Talent. In all these many ways I think Scotland is opening up to the world and within its own borders too, and I look forward to working closely and productively with you over the next few years as we take this exciting agenda forward.