Committee News Release
CEU 001/2003
Thursday 18 September 2003
EUROPEAN AND EXTERNAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE ANNOUNCES INQUIRY REMIT INTO
‘PROMOTING SCOTLAND WORLDWIDE’
The Scottish Parliament’s European and External Relations Committee today outlined the remit of its forthcoming inquiry into ‘Promoting Scotland Worldwide’.
The inquiry will examine the external relations policy, strategy and activities of the Scottish Executive. Key questions for the inquiry will include the success of:
• efforts to develop government to government links with the EU and internationally;
• efforts to promote Scotland abroad through initiatives on tourism, economic development, trade, education links, culture and heritage; and
• the success of Tartan Day and its future development, in particular the plans of the Scottish Executive for future involvement and resource allocation, as well as analysis of wider Scottish-North American links.
Committee Convener Richard Lochhead said:
“To what extent does the Scottish Executive have a clear policy, ambition and vision for external relations is the issue which will lie at the heart of our inquiry. Our Committee will focus on what is the rationale for promoting Scotland abroad, and how this is achieved by the Executive. The Executive’s actions in this area are so vital for trade, tourism and educational links, as well as building alliances with other nations worldwide.
“The effectiveness of high profile events like Tartan Day will also be included in our inquiry. The timing of our work is actually opportune with ‘Scotland with Catalunya’ happening in Barcelona this week.
“From my own involvement in the parliamentary delegation visiting Catalunya this week, there should be an opportunity to see at first hand the effectiveness of such initiatives.”
Remit of the Inquiry
The full remit of the inquiry is available on the Parliament’s website along with background information on current external relations policies and initiatives.
Timetable
The Inquiry runs from mid September 2003 until June 2004. This will enable the Committee to have a sustained period of evidence taking in what is a wide-ranging Inquiry, and particularly to assess the merits of Tartan Day 2004.
Submitting evidence
Interested individuals and organisations are invited to submit written
evidence to the Committee. The closing date for evidence is Friday 14
November 2003. Written evidence can, in exceptional cases, be received
after this date. See website for further details
on submitting evidence.
The contact for members of the media is:
James Mackenzie: 0131 348 5605
(RNID Typetalk calls welcome)
email: james.mackenzie@scottish.parliament.uk
For specific committee information, contact:
Stephen Imrie: 0131 348 5234
email: stephen.imrie@scottish.parliament.uk
For public information enquiries, contact: 0131 34 85000
For general enquiries, contact: 0845 278 1999 (local
call rate)
Visit our website at: www.scottish.parliament.uk