Chamber and committees

The First Minister visited Qatar on the 30 and 31 October, Abu-Dhabi on 1 November and Dubai on 2 and 3 November. The trip was an excellent opportunity to build economic links with Qatar and the UAE and to promote Scotland as a world leader in innovation and research and the home of a number of sustainable investment opportunities in the energy sector and elsewhere. The level of interest in collaborating with Scotland in terms of trade and investment and through the sharing of expertise and innovative technologies was extremely high in both Qatar and the UAE. The links that have been formed on the First Minister’s visit will now be followed through to ensure that they result in real and substantial economic benefits for Scotland.

In Qatar the First Minister met with the Emir, HH Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani and the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, HE Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al-Thani. Discussions covered the current world economic situation and the common desire between Qatar and Scotland to invest in long-term sustainable projects. Qatar and Scotland are both world leaders in renewable energy and they both recognise the potential opportunities in long-term co-operation in hydrocarbons through innovative new technologies that can be developed into stronger economic partnership between the two countries. Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Government along with their Qatari counterparts are taking forward work on developing these links.

Whilst in Qatar the First Minister also took part in a roundtable discussion about diversifying a hydrocarbon-reliant economy with industry leaders in Qatar and opened McGrigors’ new office in Doha, showcasing Scotland’s world leading reputation in legal services. The First Minister also visited the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha.

In Abu Dhabi the First Minister met with HH Sheikh Hamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Crown Prince’s Diwan, Managing Director of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) and Chairman of Etihad Airlines and HH Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al-Qasimi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade. As a result of these meetings, Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Government are undertaking more detailed work with ADIA and the UAE Government to explore opportunities for investment in Scotland and to develop import and export activity between the two countries, notably in the food and drink sector.

The First Minister also met with the Masdar institute, Abu-Dhabi’s world-leading centre for investment and research in new energy technologies. Masdar has an extensive portfolio of investments in renewable energy projects and has entered into a number of agreements with world leading companies in this sector. The Masdar CEO, HE Dr Sultan Al-Jaber and the First Minister agreed that Masdar and Scotland should enter into a joint Framework for Action, the first such agreement between Masdar and another country. The agreement is to be signed early in 2012. It will ensure that Scottish Enterprise and MASDAR act as conduits for renewable energy companies in Scotland and the UAE to work together and for academic and research institutions in both countries to collaborate on research and development.

The First Minister also met with the HE Abdullah Saif Al Nuaimi, Vice Chairman of TAQA, Abu Dhabi’s major energy company. Following the meeting, TAQA committed to further capital investment over the next two years at broadly similar levels to 2010 and 2011. TAQA has invested over $1bn in North Sea operations over the past 3 years. This announcement was an endorsement of Scotland’s oil and gas industry and TAQA plans to develop its operations in the North Sea in light of recent analysis which shows that the North Sea will remain a viable economic proposition for many years to come.

Finally, the First Minister visited Dubai where he met with HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance to discuss the economic and cultural links between Scotland and the UAE. His Highness was pleased that the current direct Emirates airlines flight to Dubai from Glasgow was such a success. The First Minister also discussed the work of the Al-Maktoum College of Higher Education in Dundee and His Highness’ leadership in positively promoting Islamic culture.

The First Minister also unveiled the plans for Weir Engineering’s new facility in Dubai which will represent a doubling of Weir’s investment in Dubai and an increase in the workforce from 185 to 300. The First Minister then attended a reception to showcase Holland and Sherry’s new Dubai office. Holland and Sherry are one of the world’s leading cloth and textile companies and have based their operations and distribution in Peebles since the 1960s.

On the last day of the visit the First Minister officially opened the new Heriot Watt campus in Dubai. The 300,000 sq ft campus is a result of a £35 million investment by Heriot Watt University and Eikon Holdings and will eventually hold 4,500 students (with 2500 students already in attendance). The new campus showcases Scotland’s international standing in further education, highlighting the value other nations place on Scotland’s knowledge, skills and expertise.

The trip has resulted in great opportunities for Scotland, particularly in terms of attracting inward investment from countries actively looking for partners with sustainable and viable long-term investment propositions. The trip also showcased Scotland in the Middle East by promoting some of Scotland’s most successful businesses and academic institutions. Media coverage in the Middle East was extensive and overwhelmingly positive, with local newspapers featuring aspects of the visit and announcements each day. In addition the First Minister was featured on national and local TV and Radio broadcasts. It is estimated that the coverage in the written press alone was equivalent to over $500,000 worth of advertising to promote Scotland.

The Scottish Government is committed to maintaining the important work of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) in recording, maintaining and making accessible information on Scotland’s built environment. Their work represents a vital part of Scotland’s cultural heritage.

However, as a small non-departmental public body with a higher proportion of fixed costs, the current economic climate poses particular challenges. I have therefore commissioned Historic Scotland to undertake a strategic options appraisal on the future delivery of RCAHMS core functions. The review will be undertaken in collaboration with RCAHMS. It will start immediately and report early in 2012.

The start date of 2014-15 for the refurbishment of Clyde Valley High School was based on the Scottish Future’s Trust’s (SFT) assessment of North Lanarkshire Council’s readiness to commence the project. However, changing the project from capital to revenue funding may allow the project to commence sooner than originally envisaged. The precise date for commencement is a matter for the Council and the SFT to determine.

On costs, the Scottish Government has indicated to local authorities that, under a revenue funded project, their total contribution towards design and construction will be no more than it would have been under a capital funded project. There will be no additional costs for authorities moving from capital grant to revenue funding for the school building programme.

On 20 June 2011, the First Minister, Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth and I represented the Scottish Government at the 16th Summit of the British-Irish Council in London. The summit was attended by all eight member administrations and was hosted by the UK Government.

The meeting began with a significant discussion on economic growth where the First Minister made the case for flexibility particularly in relation to capital expenditure and for the fiscal levers necessary to help economic recovery in Scotland. The Council acknowledged the challenging economic circumstances facing its members and considered how member administrations could continue to learn from each others successes.

The Council then welcomed a paper on an all islands approach to energy resources and had a very positive discussion about greater cooperation on renewables and improving connection and transmission between member administrations and other European nations, including developing the North Sea grid.

Member administrations discussed the establishment of the Standing Secretariat; the headquarters of which are due to be located in Edinburgh. The Council agreed to a target start date of 1 January 2012, subject to final details and related issues being agreed.

I am placing a copy of the Summit Communiqué agreed by the British Irish Council in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre. (Bib. number 53002).

The Scottish Government works with partners to support independent living for older people through the development and realisation of new technology services across Scotland. Domestic safety continues to be an important element of Telecare services in Scotland, many of which link hard-wired smoke detectors to appropriate emergency services.

NHS24 is leading on Telecare service developments across Scotland and, with the Scottish Government, will continue its strategic dialogue with fire service representatives to monitor and where appropriate address particular concerns about the role Telecare can play in support of domestic fire safety.