Chamber and committees

I refer the member to thequestion S2W-23947, answered on 21 March 2006. 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 thequestion S2W-23947, answered on 21 March 2006. 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 thequestion S2W-23947, answered on 21 March 2006. 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.

The principal measure of economicgrowth is the Gross Value Added (Gross Domestic Product at basic prices) seriesfor Scotland published on a quarterly basis by the Scottish Executive.This publication provides measures of activity in real terms for the Scottish economyas a whole, presented as indices, in addition to a more detailed breakdown of theeconomic performance of industrial sectors within the Scottish economy. Economicgrowth is determined by calculating the rates of change of the activity indices.

The data sources used in thecompilation of the GDP series are varied. In the majority of cases, data collectedby the Office for National Statistics relating to the activities of a sample ofbusinesses located in Scotland are used. These data provide up to date measures of turnoverwhich are deflated (to remove the effect of price changes) and, in some cases, seasonallyadjusted to yield the true underlying growth rates.

For some industrial sectors,notably agriculture, electricity generation, banking and public administration,the estimates are based on information received directly from companies, industrybodies or other Government Departments.

Further information on the compilationof the quarterly GDP statistics is available on the Scottish Executive website http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/18879/GDPCalc.

The music industry has no officialdefinition, but we take it to mean any activity which encourages involvement inmusic making across all age groups and music styles, and recognises and celebratesthe social, personal and economic value of music and music making.

The information requested isnot held centrally. The majority of funding for the music industry by the Executiveis routed through the Enterprise Networks, the Scottish Funding Council and the Scottish Arts Council. The Executive does not hold details of their expenditureas this is an operational matter for them. In addition, other Executive Departmentshave, in this period, provided substantial funding towards various music initiatives.Examples of these are:

The Health Department’s NationalProgramme for Improving Mental Health and Well-being funding to the Scottish Associationfor Mental Health (SAMH) to fund the One in Four booklet and music CD, plusan associated festival to promote its message, and

The Environment and Rural AffairsDepartment’s Rural Challenge Fund funding for local initiatives to bring music andother cultural opportunities to rural communities, with particular emphasis on enablingyoung people to access facilities and events.

This information is not routinelycollated nor centrally compiled. The most recent relevant data is contained in the2003 Mapping the Music Industry in Scotland report compiled independentlyon behalf of Scottish Enterprise. Economic and employment data for 2003 obtainedfor the report include the following: £106 million generated annually in sales andmusic services; the industry is made up of approximately 2,040 full-time employeesand 2003 part-time workers, and annual consumer spending of around £331 millionon musical instruments and live and recorded music.

The Scottish Executive uses arange of criteria including considering the effects on economic activity, measuredin terms of the impacts on the broader creative industries sector. The ScottishArts Council also measures audience participation figures for the music activitywhich it funds.

I shall reply to the member as soon as possible.

It is unacceptable that certain individuals latch on to marches purely as an excuse to indulge in bigoted and abusive behaviour. Following the publication of the Action Plan on Tackling Sectarianism in Scotland we now intend to look at the powers currently available to the police to deal with inappropriate behaviour around marches and parades.