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Scottish Government Ministers have had no discussions with (a) the UK Government or (b) the UK Border Agency regarding procedures in respect of the embarkation and disembarkation of cruise ship passengers.

The Scottish Government is aware of some concerns being expressed on the application and operation of the procedures. We are obtaining evidence and will write to both the UK Border Agency and the UK Government setting out our concerns.

The Scottish Government through its international trade and investment arm, Scottish Development International (SDI), provides comprehensive and tailored support for Scottish businesses seeking to export to China.

Support is wide ranging and is aligned to customer need. Assistance spans market awareness events, export skills development, strategy development support and help to develop or expand in the Chinese market.

Services include:

• Export assessment

• Market awareness events

• Smart exporter preparing to export and preparing for international growth programmes

• Export technical support

• International strategy development

• Overseas market research and identification of business opportunities

• Exhibition and missions

• In-country support via SDI offices and representation overseas, including GlobalScots

• Partnering support and assistance to establish a presence in China

SDI provides assistance directly in China through its offices in Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai and across Scotland via SDI trade advisers.

The First Minister signed a Cultural Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with China in December 2011 to strengthen Scotland’s cultural links with China. As part of the MOU the Scottish Government has provided networking opportunities to enable creative practitioners to develop cultural links and partnerships with the Chinese creative sector. Both Scottish Government and Creative Scotland have provided funding to support a number of Scottish performances in China this year including a tour by the Scottish Ensemble, a collaboration between Janis Claxton Dance and LDTX in Beijing, Scottish Opera educational project in Tianjin, National Theatre of Scotland tour of ‘Monster in the Hall’ and the forthcoming Royal Scottish National Orchestra tour.

The Scottish Government works with the British Council in China by supporting the ‘Connections through Culture’ initiative which provides support, information, advice, networking opportunities and development grants to cultural organisations in Scotland to build long lasting relationships and cultural collaborations between organisations in the two countries.

The Scottish Government through its international trade and investment arm, Scottish Development International (SDI), provides comprehensive and tailored support for Scottish educational institutions seeking to export to China. SDI’s offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong have supported a number of Scottish institutions in developing their ambitions for delivering their services to China.

Through SDI's dedicated education sector team, universities and colleges receive customised support to develop and enhance their international plans for China.

China remains a key market for Scottish institutions and education is an integral part of the priority areas identified in the Scottish Government's China plan. SDI’s aims in China are to: increase trade opportunities for Scottish institutions; expand and deepen Scotland's education links; and increase collaboration in research and development between China and Scotland.

The SDI led programme of activities for Scottish institutions interested in exporting internationally include:

• planning (or reviewing) an international/export strategy - amongst the support available is funding for an international strategy review, bespoke market intelligence and expertise from industry specialists in China such as GlobalScots;

• growing an export market by developing routes to the Chinese market and through receiving support to attend international trade shows, trade missions and exhibitions;

• advice on setting up in an overseas market by exploring partnering opportunities, developing overseas campus operations and working with the corporate sector.

SDI has recently supported Scottish institutions with: market research into areas of new opportunity in China; developing new partnerships with Chinese universities; undertaking training with Chinese businesses; establishing office presences in China; and further developing research linkages through partnership and joint research centres.

Tackling antisocial behaviour and making communities safer and stronger remains a top priority for this Government. Recorded crime in Scotland is at it a 37 year low and has fallen by 25% since 2006-7. There are also 17,373 Police officers (full-time equivalent) working in our communities.

In March 2009 the Scottish Government and COSLA jointly published their Framework for tackling antisocial behaviour, Promoting Positive Outcomes. It followed a thorough review of national antisocial behaviour policy, recognising that prevention; early and effective intervention; and diversion, should be at its heart.

Since 2007, over £1.6 million has been invested through CashBack for Communities across local authorities in the West Scotland region through a wide range of CashBack partner organisations including the Scottish Football Association (SFA), Scottish Rugby Union (SRU), Youth Scotland and Youthlink Scotland promoting positive inclusive behaviours through their activities.

The Scottish Government provides funding through the legal aid scheme to assist people who might not otherwise be able to afford legal representation in civil litigation or criminal cases. Applications for legal aid are considered by the Scottish Legal Aid Board, who applies the following statutory tests: probable cause, reasonableness and financial eligibility.

Criminal legal aid is automatically available in some circumstances, and may be granted by the court in other circumstances. Otherwise the test for criminal legal aid for solemn proceedings is undue hardship, and for summary and appeal proceedings undue hardship and the interests of justice.

Ministers cannot interfere in the operation of these tests in individual cases by the Scottish Legal Aid Board. Section 4 (2)(c) of the Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986 provides a power for Ministers to direct that payments be made from the legal aid fund outwith the usual statutory parameters, but this is only done in limited and unusual circumstances.

In order for legal aid to be granted, the applicant will require a solicitor who is prepared to represent them. For details of the position of people who may have difficulty finding a solicitor, I refer the member to the answer to S4W-10186 on
8 November 2012. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.