The arrival of the new Millennium and the establishment of the Scottish Executive both provide an important opportunity to re-assess the manner in which the knowledge and thinking of the Executive are presented to the external community. This re-assessment is driven by the wish to stimulate a more active discussion of the full range of issues surrounding economic development and better to inform that debate.
The primary economic statistics publication of The Scottish Office prior to May 1999 was the Scottish Economic Bulletin, which had been produced for almost 30 years and which provided a regular review of the Scottish economy and of key related issues, together with the primary economic statistics for Scotland. The Bulletin has now been replaced by three Scottish Executive publications on the Scottish economy:
Scottish Economic Statistics seeks to improve the flow of statistical knowledge, and make such knowledge as accessible as possible. Moreover, it is part of a wider effort currently in train within the Executive both to enhance the generation of statistical knowledge about key elements of the Scottish economy and to encourage its dissemination as widely as possible. The first article in this document - the Scottish Economic Statistics Programme - focuses on the programme of statistical development in the economic field and sets out the agenda of issues that the Scottish Executive will be pursuing throughout 2000. In particular, it highlights the important question of determining the underlying need for evidence-based policy making and the contribution that reliable statistical knowledge can make in this regard, while noting the importance of prioritisation in this respect in a world of necessarily constrained resources. It is hoped that one outcome of this developmental work will be continuing improvements in the development of this and related publications.
This first edition of the Scottish Economic Statistics has 2 parts to it:
As this is the first in a new series of publications, it is the intention that the contents and analysis will develop over time, through both the increased availability of official Scottish economic statistics, and also through feedback from users and commentators. For example, international comparisons are not contained within this edition. However, it is hoped that as consistent indicators are developed, such information will be presented in future editions. Also, as the scope of National Statistics expands, it may be appropriate to include additional sources of information about the Scottish economy which are not included in this edition.
This publication will be available on the Scottish Executive web pages on the internet. It is proposed that links will be developed to more detailed data sources, analysis and relevant Press Releases in the future. In the meantime, Scottish Executive Statisticians will continue to provide ad-hoc and bespoke analysis and extracts of official data sources, subject to the standard confidentiality restrictions.
Finally, I would acknowledge the major contribution made to the preparation and compilation of this report by Jill Alexander in the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser. In addition to those named authors in Part A of this edition, I would also acknowledge the contribution of Dr John Rigg and the statistical staff in the Economics Advice and Statistics units within the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Department, the Rural Affairs Department, the Development Department, and the continuing contributions and advice from officials in other Government Departments including most notably the Office for National Statistics, the Department for Education and Employment and the Department of Social Security.
DR ANDREW W GOUDIE
Chief Economic Adviser
February 2000