Chamber and committees

The latest Gross Domestic Product(GDP) figures available for Scotland are presented in the Office for National Statistics regionalaccounts. This shows that in 2002 (the latest year available), Scottish GDP wasestimated to be £73 billion at current basic prices, resulting in an average GDPper head of £14,440. The UK equivalent (excluding extra-regio activity) was £15,259.This implies that, for the same population in Scotland in 2002, the average GDPper head would need to have been £820 higher (i.e. £4.1 billion or 5.7% on totalGDP) in order to reach the same level as the UK average (note that this would, inturn, result in an increase in the actual average UK GDP/head).

Based on the Scottish Executive quarterly GDP series, Scottish GDP grew by 1.6% in real terms from 2002to 2003, whereas the UK grew by 1.8% overall (including extra-regio). Assuming thepopulation were to stay the same or change by the same amount, this implies thatwe might expect the difference between Scotland and the UK to increase slightly in 2003. Office of National Statisticsintend to publish 2003 figures in December 2004.

The latest gross domestic productfigures available for Scotland are presented in the Office for National Statistics regionalaccounts. These show that in 2002 (the latest year available), Scottish Gross DomesticProduct (GDP) was estimated to be £73 billion at current basic prices, resultingin an average GDP per economically active person (2002 June to August Labour ForceSurvey) of £28,950. The UK equivalent (excluding extra-regio activity) was £30,760.This implies that, for the same population and workforce in Scotland in 2002,the average GDP per economically active person would need to have been £1,810 higherin order to reach the same level as the UK average. This means total GDP would have had to have been £4.5 billionor 6.2% higher. (Note that this would, in turn, result in an increase in the actualaverage UK GDP/economically active person).

Based on the Scottish Executive series at 2000 prices, Scottish GDP grew by 1.6% in real terms from 2002to 2003, whereas the UK grew by 1.8% overall (including extra-regio). In addition,between summer 2002 and 2003, the Labour Force Survey estimates thatthe number of economically active people in Scotland grew slightly faster thanin the UK overall. Therefore we would expect the difference between Scotland andthe UK in Gross Value Added per economically active person to widen by a smallamount in 2003.

DNA samples in Scotland canonly be retained if individuals are convicted of a criminal offence. The only exceptionsare samples which are volunteered and prints and samples taken under the TerrorismAct 2000, which allows for such samples to be retained for the purposes of terroristinvestigations.

Following a competitive tenderthe Scottish Executive commissioned DTZ Pieda Consulting and the Science, Technologyand Policy Research Unit at the University of Sussex to undertake research into business decisions on innovationand research and development.

The researchers have been askedto explore: the ways in which firms make decisions regarding the development ofnew products and processes, and the importance of different factors influencingthe extent, type and location of activity undertaken in support of product and processdevelopment. The study will also explore the reasons why particular firms do notundertake research and development or innovation.

It is planned to publish theresults of this research in the summer of 2004.

I announced on 6 May that thereare currently 31,392 Modern Apprentices in training. The retention of apprenticesis a matter for individual employers.

Theprocedural changes being introduced were not subject to external consultation sincethey represented the application of existing Executive policy to a well-establishedscheme.

The methodology was agreed byministers as being consistent with the sustainable development objectives describedin the Executive’s policy document, Meeting the Needs….Priorities, Actions andTargets for Sustainable Development in Scotland, published in 2002.

The decision to hold a referendumon the EU Constitution was only announced on 20 April and the details have not beenfinalised at this stage. The Scottish Executive continues to work closely with theUK Government on issues relating to the draft Constitutional Treaty and the IntergovernmentalConference and will consider proposals for a referendum on any Treaty as they areworked up.

I wrote to Dr Chris Masters,Chair of the Scottish Manufacturing Steering Group (SMSG), in November last yearwith a full update of progress towards the recommendations made in Nurturing WealthCreation. A copy of that letter can be found on the Scottish Executive website at www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/government/smsgupdate.pdf.

There are no current plans topublish a further update of progress, but I shall consider if that is appropriateonce the on-going review of support to manufacturers, a SMSG recommendation, iscomplete.

I understand that the Court ofSession awarded costs to the Chief Constable of Strathclyde Police in connectionwith the civil action brought by Ms McKie against the Chief Constable. The ScottishExecutive does not have any powers to overrule the decision to recover those costs.

Educating for Excellence;the Scottish Executive’s Response to the National Debate contains three commitments relating to National Qualifications.These are to consult on the future of the Age and Stage regulations; to addressthe relationship between Standard Grade and the new National Qualifications, andto reduce the amount of time spent on external exams.

Consultation seminars to discussthese commitments were held in late November 2003 with representatives from localauthorities, secondary schools and further education institutions, as well as pupilsand parents. The consultation on the future of the Age and Stage regulations wasannounced on 11 March 2004 and will last until 4 June 2004, with any changesas a result of the exercise introduced for session 2005-06.

Work to reduce unnecessary assessmentcontinues through the subject review process.