£5.5 billion tourism spend targeted.

The Scottish Government has pledged to increase total spend from overnight visitors to Scotland to £5.5 billion by 2020.

Tourism Secretary Fiona Hyslop will reiterate that Scotland must deliver world-class events to ensure the success of the country’s tourism sector.

Figures published last year estimated the value of the Scottish events industry to be worth £3.5bn. Edinburgh’s year-round festivals also generated £313m for the Scottish economy during 2015.

Scotland has impressively built on past success in securing major events having hosted the Ryder Cup and the Commonwealth Games in 2014 to secure a number of significant events in the sporting calendar in the coming years. Scotland will welcome the European Rugby Champions Cup, European Challenge Cup and World Badminton Championships in 2017, the 147th Open Championships at Carnoustie, the new multi-sport European Championships in 2018, the European Athletics Indoor Championships and Solheim Cup in 2019 and, in 2020, will be a host for the UEFA European Football Championships (EURO 2020).

Speaking ahead of a major events debate in the Scottish Parliament, Ms Hyslop said:

“Last year’s total overnight visitor spend in Scotland reached £4.9 billion. I’m committed to making sure that figure is increased to at least £5.5 billion by 2020, but this can only be achieved through a Team Scotland approach involving the public, private and third sectors working together. We have demonstrated we are a world leader in staging major events and we will ensure we continue to build on and benefit from our major events strategy by setting ambitious targets for ourselves.

“Our industries, including tourism and events, are facing uncertainty following the UK’s decision to leave the European Union and the Scottish Government is working hard to support and promote economic stability. We are committed to enhancing Scotland’s international reputation as a dynamic and creative nation and world-class tourism destination, whilst retaining our position as a leader in sport, art, culture and music events, and major conferences.

“We have enjoyed enormous tourism success to date but we cannot become complacent. It’s vital Team Scotland continues to work together in partnership to sell our nation as a world-class destination.”

ARTICLE SOURCE: http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Scotland-leading-on-the-world-stage-2b8d.aspx

Five universities remain in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

The University of Edinburgh, University of Glasgow, University of St. Andrews, University of Dundee and the University of Aberdeen remained in the top 200 universities for 2016-17 in the world’s most comprehensive global league table of higher education.

The new rankings mean Scotland has more institutions per head of population in the top 200 than any other country except Luxembourg.

The THE rankings examine a university’s strengths including research, knowledge transfer, international outlook and the teaching environment.

Minister for Further Education and Higher Education Shirley-Anne Somerville said:

“I welcome these figures which underline our strength in higher education and the value with which the Scottish approach is held globally. Credit is due to the staff and students at all five universities for their hard work to achieve this.

“Scotland continues to punch above its weight, having more institutions per head of population in the top 200 than any other country except Luxembourg. This continued strong performance is against a backdrop of other European universities suffering in the rankings due to the ascent of Asian institutions.

“The Scottish Government is investing over £1 billion in our higher education institutions in 2016-17, ensuring that all of our institutions receive financial support to enable them to deliver high quality teaching, world class research and knowledge exchange and remain internationally competitive.”

ARTICLE SOURCE: http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Scottish-universities-make-top-200-2b88.aspx

Extra funding to boost A&E resilience ahead of winter.

Health boards across Scotland are sharing an additional £9 million this year for emergency departments, hospitals and primary and social care teams to get ready for winter.

The funding supports dedicated multi-disciplinary teams to improve patient flow in A&E, across the hospital and in the community.

By enhancing staffing cover over winter, providing the same level of discharging at weekends as midweek or providing treatment in the community, patients will get the best care in the most appropriate place, preventing unnecessary hospital admissions and freeing up beds and resources for those who need them most.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon highlighted the funding during a visit to the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) unit at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh (RIE). Respiratory illness is a key diagnosis in three of the top five A&E cases, accounting for 45,000 emergency bed days every year. Since 2013, the COPD unit at RIE has worked collaboratively to reduce the level of admissions and free up nearly 3,000 bed days.

A recently published review of last winter shows that, despite increased admissions across Scotland, A&E waiting times improved significantly and the number of people delayed from leaving hospital was reduced.

Nicola Sturgeon said:

“A&E attendances last winter increased, yet emergency departments consistently improved their performance. This is testament to the immensely hard work and dedication of our NHS staff and follows a three year, £50 million unscheduled care fund which supported boards to make changes.

“The additional £9 million for this year will ensure patients get the best treatment in the most appropriate place, easing pressure on our A&E departments and maximising patient flows within hospitals which face additional admission demands in winter.

“The approach taken here at the RIE to target respiratory illness – which is the most common factor in A&E presentations in winter – has freed up 3,000 emergency bed days and demonstrates the value of successful working across the health and social care system.

“With more and more people now living with long term conditions, and a growing number of older people with multiple and complex conditions, it is also vital that the NHS has robust preventative care plans. Winter guidance was issued to boards in August and health boards are now well advanced in their unscheduled care planning – putting them on the front foot to build on last year’s good performance and deal with additional pressures throughout the coming winter.”

Dr Gourab Choudhury, Consultant Respiratory Physician and COPD Clinical Lead at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh said:

“Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is projected to be the third most common cause of death worldwide by 2050. People with COPD have breathing difficulties which can affect their day to day lives, and these can be far worse in winter when they are more at risk from colds and the flu.

“At least 30 per cent of patients with COPD could be cared for in their home surroundings, rather than requiring hospital admission, and in Edinburgh we have been working to improve the support available within communities through the development of a community based multidisciplinary COPD hub.

“The community team works closely with the team here at the hospital to assess patients, to encourage self-management and to quickly identify the right treatment when required. We have seen a real success in reducing the need for patients to be admitted to hospital, and are now looking at how we can extend this model of care across Lothian and Scotland.”

Vice President Royal College of Emergency Medicine Scotland, Martin McKechnie said:

“We have seen a sustainable difference in terms of unscheduled care performance over the last year, with last winter seeing some of the best performance we have seen in a number of years. The Scottish Government has demonstrated a strong commitment to working with partners such as the Royal College of Emergency Medicine and the Academy of Royal Colleges to ensure that patients who need to attend A&E and Assessment Units receive the best experience they deserve. It is also not by accident that Scotland has been performing better than anywhere else in the UK for over a year.

“The launch of the unscheduled care six essential actions in May 2015, and the early winter planning guidance issued in August, has supported the achievements we have seen. I also welcome the recognition and efforts by Government to focus on enhancing the community based support, which will see patients being treated in the most appropriate environment, avoiding inappropriate hospital admissions and easing unnecessary pressures on A&E and Assessment Units as we head into winter.”

ARTICLE SOURCE: http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/-9-million-commitment-to-emergency-care-2b77.aspx

Cashback for Communities to benefit 40 groups.

Community groups helping young people in disadvantaged areas are to receive almost £2 million funding from the Cashback for Communities scheme.

In total, 40 community groups will benefit, with projects as diverse as bike parks, 3G pitches and netball clubs receiving funding.

Cabinet Secretary for Justice Michael Matheson made the announcement at the Crags Community Sports Centre and Skelf Bikepark in Edinburgh where he met staff and young people involved with the community groups. He said:

“Cashback for Communities is a unique programme that seizes money from criminals and reinvests it back into our communities.

“As well as punishing those who break the law and peddle misery on Scottish society, Cashback offers activities and opportunities at community level to stop disadvantaged young people heading into crime or anti-social activity themselves.

“I am very pleased to be able to announce that no fewer than 40 community groups are to benefit from almost £2 million of funding from this round of the programme. This investment will allow facilities and equipment for activities such as football, netball, dance and kayaking to be improved around the country.

“The Scottish Government remains committed to tackling inequality and by keeping young people engaged and active in their communities, we can help them become both confident and responsible individuals.

“Cashback is essential to helping us achieving this goal which is why I am proud to continue to support its valuable work.”

ARTICLE SOURCE: http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/-2-million-funding-allocated-2b6a.aspx

Brown urges Treasury to adopt plan to protect economy in wake of EU vote.

The UK Government needs to take urgent action to support the efforts of the Scottish Government to stimulate growth in the wake of the EU referendum vote, Keith Brown said today.

The Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work has called on the Treasury to follow the Scottish example and bring forward a stimulus package based on increased capital spending.

An increase in UK infrastructure spend of £5 billion could provide an additional £400 million spend in Scotland, supporting around 3,000 jobs.

Mr Brown was speaking ahead of today’s (Tuesday) Parliamentary debate that will consider the £100 million capital stimulus package already put in place by the Scottish Government to keep the economy moving.

Along with increased capital spending, Mr Brown also said the Treasury could nurture growth by providing further support for exporting companies as the depreciation of Sterling provides an opportunity for companies to either move into new export markets, or start exporting for the first time.

Mr Brown said:

“The UK Government’s continued austerity means we are already facing a 10% real terms cuts to our budget over 10 years to 2020 and now the UK wide vote for Brexit threatens to make those cuts even harder.

“The Fraser of Allander report, out last week, shows that Brexit has put Scotland’s economy and our public services at further risk of cuts from Westminster.

“In contrast, the Scottish Government has acted swiftly to support the economy following the UK wide vote to leave the EU by bringing forward an additional £100 million of capital investment, setting out plans for a £500 million Scottish Growth Scheme to support businesses and working hard to secure Scotland’s continued place in the EU. The Scottish Parliament will have a full opportunity to debate our Scottish stimulus package this afternoon.

“But we haven’t seen the same action forthcoming at a UK level – where clarity on Brexit remains completely absent.

“However, there are actions the Treasury could take as a matter of urgency to help our businesses. Primary among them is increased capital spending, that would allow us to build on our own stimulus package, protecting and creating jobs. Further support exports at a UK level, would also help us add to what we are already doing in this area in Scotland and nurture increased growth. I am calling for the Treasury to take this action as a clear plan for how the UK Government can help at this critical juncture for our economy.

“Last week’s employment figures show our unemployment rate is now lower than the UK as a whole. But a failure to act at a UK level could put that really encouraging progress in jeopardy.

“Our priority will continue to be protecting our economy, while also working to preserve our EU membership and access to the single market. I hope the UK Government will act to support our efforts – in the Autumn Statement as a minimum, but ideally in shorter order than that.”

ARTICLE SOURCE: http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/UK-Government-must-act-to-support-jobs-in-Scotland-2b57.aspx

First Minister opens new Statoil Headquarters.

The oil and gas industry still has a strong future in Scotland, despite its current challenges, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said today as she announced new activity and investment in the sector.

She officially opened the new headquarters of Statoil in Aberdeen, as she provided an update on how initiatives to support the industry are progressing.

The new Statoil HQ is part of the company’s plans to expand its operation in the North Sea and by 2018 Statoil expects to employ up to 200 employees onshore and up to 500 positions offshore in the full team.

In addition, more than a thousand jobs will be supported in the supply chain as Statoil develops the Mariner field, with work expected to start in the summer of 2017.

Statoil’s expansion plans in both oil and gas and renewables demonstrate the versatility of Scotland’s energy sector, with Statoil also investing in offshore wind through the Hywind project – the world’s first floating offshore wind development, off the coast of Peterhead.

Ahead of a meeting with Oil & Gas UK, the First Minister also confirmed that the first 600 people have had applications approved for the three-year Transition Training Fund, launched in February to help Scotland retain the skills developed through the oil and gas industry.

She also announced that around 70 innovation projects with a total project value of around £16 million have benefited from £7 million of Scottish Government support to help firms reduce the risks associated with research and development. A further £1.1m has been invested to support business resilience in the oil and gas industry.

The First Minister said:

“The expertise that Scottish oil and gas firms have built up over many decades has positioned our energy sector as a world leader and while we realise that the industry and workforce is going through a difficult time, this investment and expansion from Statoil is a vote of confidence in the North Sea’s future.

“Last week’s Oil and Gas Production statistics demonstrate that the industry is adapting to the current period of low prices, but what the industry must be ready to do is to capitalise when the upturn comes.

“We are doing everything we can to support the sector. Only half way through the first year of our three-year Transition Training Fund, launched in February, already 600 people have had their applications for support approved, and separately, we’ve committed £1.1 million to projects to boost business resilience.

“In conjunction with the efforts of the Energy Jobs Taskforce, our Enterprise Agencies have now engaged with more than 700 companies in the oil and gas sector, and will continue to identify where help is most needed and lay foundations for the future of our energy sector.”

“Statoil is demonstrating its willingness to diversify through the Hywind and Batwind renewable energy projects, again using the world leading expertise and skills of Scotland’s workforce. We are committed to working with firms like Statoil to support Scotland’s mixed energy sector and prepare it for a positive future.”

Hedda Felin, Managing Director of Statoil Production UK, said:

“Statoil has a long term commitment to Scotland and to the UK Continental Shelf, as this new operations centre visibly demonstrates. Starting with just a handful of employees in the spring of 2013, Statoil has grown its workforce in Aberdeen to around 140. This autumn we will initiate another significant recruitment process, with around 40 open positions to be filled in coming months.”

The Mariner heavy oil field is progressing as planned and Statoil expects to commence production in 2018, with production expected for 30 years.

During her visit, the First Minister saw a model of the Noble Lloyd Noble jack up rig. The rig has just arrived in Scotland and will be berthed at Global Energy’s Nigg Energy Park before being positioned offshore in the Mariner field.

The rig will start drilling around November and stay in the Mariner field for four years.

ARTICLE SOURCE: http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Oil-and-Gas-expansion-2b53.aspx

Unlocking untapped potential within Scotland.

Empowering BBC Scotland will allow the corporation to address audience concerns and deliver better programming, Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop has said.

The UK Government’s renewal of the BBC Charter was published on Thursday, but the Scottish Government says the proposals do not deliver fully for the Scottish audience. Key asks were rejected, including; ensuring a fairer share of the licence fee money raised in Scotland is spent on productions made here and a move towards parity with S4C to enable MG Alba to increase Gaelic output.

The Scottish Government’s broadcasting blueprint, which was formed following positive and constructive discussions with the BBC, BBC Trust, Ofcom, the Scottish screen sector and a wide range of stakeholders across the nation, calls on the UK Government to go further and for the BBC to empower BBC Scotland.

The Scottish Government is committed to on-going engagement with BBC Scotland, offering its full support and assistance so the BBC in Scotland can realise its true potential. The Cabinet Secretary will also continue to meet with senior figures from the BBC and Ofcom, including the Director General, Lord Hall and Sharon White, Ofcom Chief Executive to progress the Scottish ask.

Ms Hyslop said:

“This has been a critical year for the BBC. It’s a year during which we have all worked together, in good faith, to help shape the next chapter in the BBC’s story. We cannot and will not settle for the status quo. We have an opportunity to ensure that the BBC keeps up with and reflects wider social and constitutional changes.

“I want to speak to what I believe is the sheer scale of untapped potential in Scotland that the BBC could utilise. Within BBC Scotland the corporation is fortunate to have some of the most gifted broadcasters, technical staff, and creative talent in the world. Scotland also has a wealth of independent production talent across a range of genres that the BBC could tap into and better commission.

“We support the ambitions of BBC Scotland staff to be a high quality broadcaster for the people of Scotland, but their ambitions will only be realised with increased investment and the decentralisation of commissioning authority away from Broadcasting House in London into Pacific Quay.

“With a far fairer share of the licence fee raised in Scotland being invested here we could see an additional £100 million spent delivering quality TV and radio output, supporting the growth of our creative industries. It’s estimated that for every £100 million of production spend in Scotland, around 1,500 jobs will be supported and will contribute £60 million to the Scottish economy.

“Audiences expect more and I want BBC Scotland to be empowered to harness this potential for Scottish audiences. I want to see their expertise and talent at work, delivering for Scotland, contributing to network schedules, and having the confidence and financial support to deliver on TV, radio, and online, in news, drama, children’s, comedy, current affairs, and factual entrainment.

“Empowering BBC Scotland in this way does not require changes through the Charter to be delivered; it just needs BBC itself to recognise the opportunity before them to transform broadcasting in Scotland.”

ARTICLE SOURCE: http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Future-of-the-BBC-2b37.aspx