The Scottish Government

On the record briefing

First Minister Jack McConnell & Deputy First Minister Jim Wallace

On the Record Briefing,St Andrews House,January 7, 2004

First Minister Jack McConnell

Good afternoon and welcome along to St Andrew's House for our first on-camera briefing of the new year.

Jim Wallace and I have just concluded this morning's Cabinet meeting where we looked forward to the coming year and the many challenges and opportunities that it will present. We also discussed the Civil Contingencies Bill.

Scottish Ministers have been fully involved in the preparation of this Bill, which will be published in London today. Public security and efficient arrangements for emergency services have been our top priority in these discussions. This Bill recognises the role of our devolved government, properly providing for consultation on states of emergency, for powers to request specific measures in Scotland, and recognises our key role in managing any emergency provisions.

We will be preparing a Sewel Motion to the Scottish Parliament to ensure these measures can take effect.

Our partnership government finished 2003 in a strong position. We promised to be smarter, quicker, sharper - and we were.

We will maintain our momentum on reforming and improving our public services in 2004. Ministers will take legislation through parliament this session that will devolve more power to doctors and nurses and abolish NHS Trusts, improve local governance, secure further improvements in our court system and protect victims of crime. Our ASB proposals will be taken through Parliament too and individual Ministers will be holding briefings with you throughout this session on these topics.

Attainment in Scottish schools is up again, the longest waiting times for health treatment are coming down, the performance of our courts and the police service is improving and our economic strategy hasScotlandwell placed to benefit from the global economic upturn and the stableUKeconomy.

Growing the Scottish economy will remain the overall priority for the Ministerial team. Not to create wealth for its own sake, but because of the opportunities and the improvements in quality of life that a healthy economy contributes to. A key feature in the early part of this year will be reforming the way thatScotlandis promoted abroad and Jim will next week be travelling to theUnited States.

Deputy First Minister Jim Wallace

The Partnership Agreement has brought Long Term Thinking to the public policy table.

·Investment in education and skills - this year we will take forward our proposals to allow more opportunities for vocational education for those at school.

·Investment in transport - major public transport projects are now gathering pace.

·Investment in health promotion - fostering a culture change that will helpScotlandbe healthier and more productive.

Our commitment to growing the economy relies on these investments - in skills, transport and health - to deliver.

We have invested heavily in new Intermediate Technology Institutes - seeking to harness the world class reputation of our universities and research institutes;

We have committed significant resources to a co-investment fund which will help improveScotland's record on business start-ups and growth;

and we have responded positively to calls from the Scottish financial services sector to look at ways in which we can build onScotland's enormous success in this area..

Recognising the role of the Higher and Further Education sectors in securingScotland's success in the knowledge economy we are committed to building on the robust funding of our universities and colleges over the last three years.

And we have rolled forward Education forEnterprise- to inspire a new generation of Scottish entrepreneurs and to equipScotland's children with an enterprising approach.

This year we will refresh a Smart, SuccessfulScotlandto bring it up to date; but we will recognise that the economy, of all things, does not respond well to constant policy changes.

A gimmick-a-week will not match our strategy to invest in skills, grow businesses and make global connections.

Next week I will be promotingScotlandto important sectors of business in the east of theUSAby leading a Scottish Development International visit.

Concentrating on financial services and the energy sector, I will meet face-to-face some of the most influential partners and potential partners thatScotlandhas - including the New York Stock Exchange.

I will be promotingScotlandto some of the most influential American financial publications - Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and other specialist financial publications;

I will also be meeting Scottish companies who have taken the steps to expand and succeed in US markets, supported by the Executive.

InTexas, I will be looking to establish greater links and look for new opportunities in the oil and gas sector.

A highlight of my time in theUSAwill be participating in the inaugural Robert Burns Memorial Lecture to be delivered by the Secretary General of the United Nations Kofi Annan; on the theme of Burns' vision of the brotherhood of man.

It will be an occasion that captures the potential ofScotland.

A place with a proud heritage, ancient landscape and historic poetry which, whilst written 200 years ago, captures the outward-looking nature of the modernScotland- eager to do 21 ^st century business with the world.