Select committee: Scottish Affairs Committee
Recommendation 7
Eighth Report - Promoting Scotland Internationally
Published 13 Sep 2023
Paragraph 32
Addressed to Scotland Office
Scottish Affairs Committee Promoting Scotland Internationally All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Recommendation (the committee's words)
Given that the Secretary of State has confirmed that there will be ministerial representation at New York “Tartan Week” next year, the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland should set out in its response to this report: • the outputs and impact arising from its participation in “Tartan Week” this year; and • how the UK Government will work with the Scottish Government in ensuring the most strategic and constructive inter-governmental approach. Following this, the UK Government should explore with international partners whether there is an opportunity to establish “Tartan Day” events in other countries where there are strong Scottish links.
From: Scottish Affairs Committee, Eighth Report - Promoting Scotland Internationally (HC 625), paragraph 32, 13 September 2023
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 30 November 2023 (deadline 13 November 2023).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government's response recognises the importance of promoting Scotland internationally but, in several areas, describes existing arrangements as the right approach rather than adopting the Committee's proposals.
- On a strategy for marking Scotland's key dates, it says that "Issuing prescriptive guidance to the overseas network does not necessarily provide the most effective way to promote the best of Scotland", so Posts keep discretion.
- On an international strategy, it says the Scotland Office and FCDO "will continue to provide leadership", but that this "remains a cross-government endeavour". It notes that horizon scanning is "a continual process" and that the Delivering for Scotland Board includes promotion of Scotland internationally.
- On Tartan Week, it says departments are discussing potential collaboration for 2024 in New York, and that "Detailed plans for this will be developed during the autumn/winter 2023."
- On trade, it says DBT works with the Scottish Government and SDI so that "services aren't duplicated", and says the UK Exports Minister and senior DBT officials "can appear before the Committee" to provide an update.