Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-18013 on 11 August 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the searchfacility for which can be found at: http://scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Immigration is a reservedmatter for which the Home Office is responsible. However, there is no evidenceto suggest that immigration rules inhibit our ability to attract major eventsto Scotland. Applications for entry into the United Kingdomare dealt with on a case by case basis under the immigration rules and, in relationto events, ensuring that participants have applied for entry is theresponsibility for the event organiser concerned.

Sportscotlandhas a target of 148 Scottish medallists by 2007. Many of these will be achievedby athletes competing in the Olympic and Commonwealth Games. Sportscotlandsupports and invests in approximately 60 sports in Scotland whichin turn use some of that investment to promote their individual sport to thepublic. Scottish athletes are used to promote their sport and sport in general throughthe Sporting Champions programme by making visits to schools to help inspireparticipation. The Executive takes advice on the promotion of sport from arange of people including current and former top athletes.

This is a matter for the IOCbut our understanding is that the IOC has no process for recognising nationalgoverning bodies of sport.

The International Olympic Committee decides on which Olympic Committees it will recognise. The Scottish Executive has no plans to explore the possibility of Scotland having its own Olympic Committee.

The remit of the Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland is specific to the Commonwealth Games and the Council is a member of the Commonwealth Games Federation.

I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-18014 on 11 August 2005. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility forwhich can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

I refer the member to theanswers given to questions S2W-17561 and S2W-17564 answered on 18 July 2005. Allanswers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-18013 on 11 August 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the searchfacility for which can be found at: http://scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-18013 on 11 August 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the searchfacility for which can be found at: http://scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

The Scottish Executive hasno plans to explore the possibility of Scotland fielding its own team in the Olympics.

Scottish athletes with thetalent to reach GB squad membership gain from competing with and againstathletes of a similar calibre. We believe that combining the strengths of all partsof Great Britain both offers a greater chance of internationalsuccess and offers athletes the opportunity to train with a larger pool ofworld class competitors.