Chamber and committees

The sponsored reception at the World Route Development Forum in Kuala Lumpur focused on the promotion of Scotland and the potential of the Scottish market for business and tourism. New contacts were made and existing contacts renewed with airlines from Europe, North America and Asia. Research carried out after the reception illustrated a high satisfaction rate from attendees.

In line with our strategy to improve Scotland''s international air links we will be sponsoring a reception at the World Forum in Beijing in September 2009 and hosting a stand to promote Scottish business and tourism opportunities. In addition, we will be supporting Scotland''s airport operators at the Routes Europe event in Prague in May 2009.

We have offered no financial support in the past 12 months for the establishment of new direct international routes serving Scotland. We have however provided market intelligence and data to a wide range of airlines on the potential of the Scottish market to sustain new and viable international air links.

The Court of First Instance''s annulment of the European Commission''s decision on advantages granted by the Walloon Region and by Charleroi Airport to Ryanair did not refer to the commission''s guidelines on aid for the start-up of new air routes or the issue of compatibility of aid. It is, however, the intention of the Commission to review the effectiveness and suitability of the guidelines and this work will commence by the end of 2009.

We have regular dialogue at both ministerial and official level with Scotland''s airport operators on a range of issues, including the maintenance and improvement of Scotland''s international air connectivity.

VisitScotland does not contribute directly to airlines'' marketing costs. However, they do carry out jointly funded partnership campaigns with various businesses including airlines. In the last 12 months, VisitScotland has spent approximately £2.35 million on jointly funded campaigns that involved airlines. VisitScotland''s broader marketing campaigns also point consumers to information on the accessibility of Scotland and specific air routes.

Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd also provides marketing support to promote and sustain air services in the Highlands and Islands. However, this information is commercially confidential.

No other government sponsored body contributes towards airline marketing.

Our strategy to maintain and improve Scotland''s international air connectivity has two elements: maintaining and developing Scotland''s profile within the airline sector, including at world events such as the World Route Development Forum, and the provision of market intelligence and data to airlines on the potential of the Scottish market to sustain new direct international air services. In implementing our strategy we work closely with Scotland''s airport operators.

We wish to see improvements in Scotland''s international air links which help to promote business connections and make Scotland more accessible for inbound tourists. Decisions on whether to serve the Scottish market are commercial ones for airlines in negotiation with Scotland''s airport operators. Although we have no specific targets, we believe that there is potential to improve links to existing and emerging markets in Europe, North America and Asia.

An evaluation of the former Air Route Development Fund is currently being undertaken and will be completed in 2009-10. A number of appraisal tests are being carried out as part of the evaluation to assess the impact of the fund and a full economic appraisal is being undertaken for each route which received investment.

No; this section of the A9 is in urgent need of major maintenance investment and we are taking the opportunity to provide an enhanced standard. The Strategic Transport Projects Review has identified dualling of the A9 as a strategic transport priority for Scotland. Our investment hierarchy is to maintain and safely operate our existing networks, make best use of these networks and finally, invest in targeted infrastructure improvements.

From 1 April 2009, only pay points 1 and 2 under the terms of the UK wide Agenda for Change agreement fall bellow the rate of £7 per hour. Pay point 1 is £6.76 per hour and pay point 2 is £6.94 per hour. Both are significantly above the national minimum wage.

Current numbers of employees receiving either pay point 1 or 2 within the Highlands and Islands health board areas are as follows:

Health Board	Total No of Employees at 30 September 2008 (excl. GPs and GDPs)	Number of Employees on Pay Points 1 and 2
Highland	8,825	569
Orkney	587	28
Shetland	569	0
Western Isles	1,063	26
Total	11,044	623

 

The following is the original answer (published on 20 April 2009); see below.

From 1 April 2009, only pay points 1 and 2 under the terms of the UK-wide Agenda for Change agreement fall bellow the rate of £7 per hour. Pay point 1 is £6.76 per hour and pay point 2 is £6.94 per hour. Both are significantly above the national minimum wage.

Current numbers of employees receiving either pay point 1 or 2 within the Highlands and Islands Health Board areas are as follows:

Health Board	Total No of Employees at 30 September 2008 (excl. GPs and GDPs)	Number of Employees on Pay Points 1 and 2
Highland	8,825	1,444
Orkney	587	28
Shetland	569	0
Western Isles	1,063	64
Total	11,044	1,536