Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-05560 on 14 December 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

We are taking a number of actions to support and strengthen Scotland’s economy, in keeping with the priorities identified in our Economic Strategy.

We’ve taken action to support the economy’s resilience following the EU referendum result, including through our Capital Acceleration Programme. The Scottish Growth Scheme will help to support investment in Scotland. We’re taking forward a number of actions to improve our innovation performance, and our expansion of childcare will help parents to participate in the economy, supporting inclusive growth. We are promoting Scotland on the international stage through our Innovation and Investment Hubs in Dublin, London, Brussels and Berlin.

Our Enterprise and Skills Review will bring even greater integration and focus to the delivery of our enterprise and skills support, to help ensure we maximise the contribution our agencies make to improving Scotland’s economic performance.

Our intention is that the bodies involved in enterprise and skills delivery will each retain their separate legal status and chief executive. We will consult on potential governance options as part of taking forward phase two.

Ministers meet and engage with potential investors on a regular basis to discuss a broad range of opportunities. It would be inappropriate to provide more detail as these meetings are private, often discussing commercially sensitive matters.

The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate costs.

The Exports Statistics Scotland publication estimated that 50% of international exports were attributable to around 70 businesses in 2014. Due to the methodology used, we are unable to say how many businesses account for all international exports.

The Scottish Government will provide additional resource to Scottish Development International to cover the cost of increasing the number of people it has working in Europe. The precise costs are currently being determined by SDI.

The Scottish Government, working closely with our Scottish Development International and our enterprise agencies, undertakes a broad range of activity to help attract investment to Scotland. Our trade and investment strategy published in March this year set out a comprehensive action plan to boost Scotland’s international trade activity, including stimulating inward investment opportunities, and to make it clear that Scotland is open for business. The four point plan, announced by the First Minister in October, also set out actions which will play an important role in promoting Scotland and raising its global profile to potential investors.

Ministers meet and engage with potential investors on a regular basis to discuss a broad range of opportunities. It would be inappropriate to provide more detail as these meetings are private, often discussing commercially sensitive matters.