- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 March 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Patricia Ferguson on 27 April 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that the maximum possible number of Scottish athletes have the chance to participate in the Olympic Games.
Answer
We are currently consideringwhat further investment is needed to support our talented and emerging athletesto fulfil their potential and be part of future GB Olympic and Paralympic teams.We also welcome the Chancellor’s announcement in the recent Budget of additionalfunding for UK Sport’s World Class Performance Programme which will benefit thoseScottish athletes selected for GB/UK squads in the relevant sports.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 March 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Patricia Ferguson on 27 April 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the recent performance of the Scottish team at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, winning a record number of gold medals, indicates that a Scottish Olympic team would be able to compete with the best in the world.
Answer
The recent performance of the Scottish team in Melbourne indicates that it was the best prepared team ever totake part in a Commonwealth Games. Scottish athletes can and already do competewith and beat the best in the world whether they are representing Scotland or Great Britain.They do not need a Scottish Olympic team to be in a position to do so.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 30 March 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Patricia Ferguson on 27 April 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to the International Olympic Committee seeking the establishment of a Scottish Olympic committee and a Scottish Olympic team, in light of the performance of the Scottish team at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne and the call by the Danish Minister for Culture for Denmark’s devolved territories to have their own Olympic teams.
Answer
No.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 31 March 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Patricia Ferguson on 27 April 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what the roles and remits are of VisitScotland and VisitBritain in marketing Scotland in Australia.
Answer
VisitBritain is the leadagency in the delivery of the Scotland brand in new and emerging markets. VisitScotlandworks in partnership with VisitBritain to market Scotland in Australia asa great visitor destination, with Scotland a key element of the Britain brand.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 31 March 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 27 April 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will encourage the Scottish diaspora in Australia to contribute to reducing the skills shortage in Scotland.
Answer
The Scottish Executive intendsto engage with and mobilise the diaspora to further Scotland’s interestsfor the long-term benefit of our economy and society. We aim to encourage the diaspora’sactive participation and engagement in promoting Scotland as a great country tovisit, live, learn, work, do business and invest.
During the First Minister’s recentvisit to Melbourne, Australia he hosted one diaspora event and launched a quarterlydiaspora E magazine, Scotland-Now which generated more than 1,000 registrationswithin the first month.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 31 March 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 27 April 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take to promote direct air links with Australia.
Answer
The Scottish Executive’s RouteDevelopment Fund has been designed to work with the aviation market to bring forwarddirect air services where it can be demonstrated that services should be able tooperate on a long-term sustainable basis. We have examined the possibility of adirect Australian service and concluded that the underlying demand is not sufficientto compete with the range and frequency of services available from the hub airportsat this time. We are, however, continuing to work to increase the range and choiceof services from Scotland which will connect to Australia.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 31 March 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 27 April 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken, and will take, to encourage the Scottish diaspora in Australia to invest in the Scottish economy.
Answer
The Scottish Executive intendsto engage with and mobilise the Scottish diaspora to further Scotland’s interestsfor the long-term benefit of our economy and society. We aim to encourage the diaspora’sactive participation and engagement in promoting Scotland as a great country tovisit, live, learn, work, do business and in which to invest.
Scottish Development International(SDI) has established a permanent office in Australia to extend and developour business base and support our trade and inward investment efforts. The Executivewill work closely with SDI, where appropriate, to further Scottish interests inAustralia.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 31 March 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 27 April 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to promote employment opportunities and the Fresh Talent initiative at careers events at higher education institutions in Australia.
Answer
The Executive’s current activitiesto promote Fresh Talent overseas do not include attendance at any careers eventsin Australia.
However, we are working closelywith partners, such as the FCO, the British Council and Scottish Development International(SDI), to look for opportunities to promote Fresh Talent overseas. For example,the opening of an SDI office in Australia could result in new opportunities for the Executive towork closely with SDI to promote Fresh Talent in Australia.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 31 March 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Patricia Ferguson on 27 April 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what average amount was spent by visitors to Scotland from Australia in each year since 1997.
Answer
The estimated amount spentby visitors to Scotland from Australia in each year since 1997 (in money of the day) is shownin the following table:
| Year | £ Million |
| 1997 | 56 |
| 1998 | 35 |
| 1999 | 50 |
| 2000 | 34 |
| 2001 | 57 |
| 2002 | 48 |
| 2003 | 49 |
| 2004 | 68 |
Source: InternationalPassenger Survey.
The estimated amount spentby Australian visitors to Scotland in 2005 is not available yet.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 31 March 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 27 April 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what boundaries are implied by the use of the word Scotland in section 29(2)(a) of the Scotland Act 1998.
Answer
The boundaries of Scotland arewell recognised. They are not therefore set out in the Scotland Act 1998although section 126 of the Act makes clear that “Scotland”includes so much of the internal waters and territorial sea of the United Kingdomas are adjacent to Scotland.
