Recommendation 10

We appreciate the wide range of work undertaken by UK embassies across a range of interests, from security to international development assistance to consular support. Our inquiry has focused on the economic and cultural promotion of Scotland internationally, and our recommendations will therefore focus on this narrower area of competence. We were pleased to see and hear of the positive activity undertaken by many UK Government staff to promote Scottish industry and interests overseas, experienced first-hand during our visit earlier this year to New York City and Washington DC. However, we also heard from witnesses that across the wider UK embassy network, practice can vary depending on the background or understanding of the particular Ambassador or Head of Mission in post at the time, with a need for a greater consistency across the network in promoting Scotland internationally.