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‘Scotland’s Population 2012: the Registrar General’s Annual Review of Demographic Trends’ is published today. The report contains information about births, deaths and marriages during the year, together with other demographic information. A copy of the report is available in the Scottish Parliament Reference Centre (BIB 55269), or from the Registrar General’s website at:

www.nrscotland.gov.uk.

On 30 April 2013, the Scottish Parliament unanimously passed a resolution, lodged in my name and supported by the leaders of all the parties within the Parliament, in the following terms:

That the Parliament notes the publication on 29 November 2012 of Lord Justice Leveson’s report, An inquiry into the culture, practices and ethics of the press; further notes the subsequent production of the draft Royal Charter on self-regulation of the press on 18 March 2013; agrees to Scottish participation in the Royal Charter, subject to its amendment to reflect properly Scotland’s devolved responsibilities, Scots law and Scottish circumstances; further agrees to consider possible incentives for membership of a new regulatory body for the press, and asks the Scottish Government to proceed on this basis, recognising that, in the event of a material change to the text of the Royal Charter, the Parliament will be consulted again.

Following that mandate from the Parliament, the Scottish Government has been in discussion with the UK Government to achieve a Royal Charter that reflects properly Scotland’s devolved responsibilities, Scots law and Scottish circumstances. I have also consulted with the leaders of the non-governmental parties as part of the consensual approach we have adopted in Scotland.

The Scottish Government sent draft illustrative amendments to the UK Government on 1 April 2013 and to the Education and Culture Committee on 19 and 23 April 2013. We sent the same draft illustrative amendments to the Press Board of Finance on 28 May 2013. These draft illustrative amendments informed the advice that the Education and Culture Committee published on 24 April 2013.

I am content that the amendments proposed to be included in the draft Royal Charter currently being discussed by the Westminster parties reflects Scottish interests appropriately – in particular, that there is appropriate reference to to the Arbitration (Scotland) Act 2010; that experience of the nations and regions within Great Britain will be reflected in the membership of the Boards of the Recognition Panel and of any recognised regulator, and that the Scottish Parliament will have a continuing role before amendment of the Royal Charter, in relation to devolved competences, or its dissolution.

Although we are fully aware that any requirement for a vote to be carried by a two thirds majority in any one Parliament could be over-turned by a future Parliament, as part of the cross party support that should be required for any decision on dissolution or amendment we have agreed to the inclusion of that provision for the Scottish Parliament in draft Royal Charter currently being considered.

I have written to the leaders of the non-Governmental parties in the Parliament, and to the Convener of the Education and Culture Committee in these terms and will place a more specific list of Scottish amendments in the Scottish Parliaments Information Centre (Bib. number 55326).

We understand that a revised draft Royal Charter is to be considered at a meeting of the Privy Council on 30 October 2013.

The total cost incurred by the Scottish Government was £19,452.92. This breaks down as:

Scottish Government’s legal costs for Counsel: £3,960 inc VAT

Law accountant fees: £1,680

Information Commissioner’s fees: £13,812.92

Good progress is being made towards our ambitious languages policy in schools across Scotland. We are supporting local authorities as they actively develop their strategy for the introduction of 1+2 by 2020, building on existing good practice and extending provision further. This includes piloting aspects of 1+2 and local authorities working together to consider issues such as training.

To help with this, we have provided all local authorities with £4 million additional funding in 2013-14 and are in discussions about the detail of further additional funding for 2014-15.

National Records of Scotland has today published 2011 Census: Key results on Population, Ethnicity, Identity, Religion, Health, Housing and Accommodation in Scotland - Release 2A (Laying number: SG/2013/167). This report presents the first part of the second release of results from the 2011 Census in Scotland, which was held on 27 March 2011. Release 2A consists of the Key and Quick Statistics tables for the following topics:

Population

Ethnicity, Identity, Language and Religion

Health

Housing and Accommodation

These topics are published at Scotland, council area and health board level. A copy of the report is available from the Scotland’s Census website at:

www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk.

The Scottish Government provides funding to the Royal Society of the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) to promote and raise awareness of home safety issues across Scotland, including poisonings as a consequence of ingesting the contents of the laundry and dish washing products.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde with support from RoSPA has recently launched an initiative called “Not for play…keep them away”. This is raising awareness to families in the Glasgow area with a three or four month old child in an effort to curb liquitab poisonings. As part of the campaign, free cupboard locks are also being provided, which should help to make sure that laundry and dishwasher tablets are kept away from children.

It must be recognised however, that cupboard catches are child resistant, not child-proof so there is still a need for ongoing awareness and vigilance. Any accident is one too many and the Scottish Government will continue to work closely with RoSPA to promote home safety. I will instruct my officials to seek feedback on how this campaign is received and to continue to consider what more can be done on a national basis to support this issue.

My recent trip to Scandinavia sought to learn about their experiences of implementing successful policies that relate to my portfolio, such as empowering rural communities, waste management, and the promotion of local food.

At Sweden’s national Deposit Return scheme I heard how it has boosted recycling, harnessed high volumes of good quality recyclables and helped tackle the problem of litter. I also visited the Copenhagen House of Food, which coordinates the distribution of fresh local food across the public sector.

As well as meeting the Swedish Secretary of State for Rural Affairs and the Environment Minister, I also met representatives of Sweden’s Rural Parliament and, of course, since then, I am pleased to have announced that the first meeting of Scotland’s first Rural Parliament will take place next year.

The Minister for External Affairs and International Development, Humza Yousaf visited China and Hong Kong from 25 to 27 June 2013 spending one day in Beijing, one day in Shenzhen and one day in Hong Kong. The main purpose of the minister’s visit was to undertake a series of diplomatic, cultural, business and trade engagements and promote Sino-Scottish collaboration. The minister was joined on the visit by the Chief Executive of Scottish Development International, Anne MacColl.

The first meeting of the visit was with the British Ambassador to China, Sebastian Wood. The minister then met with the Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CFA) Mr Xie Yuan. The meeting provided an opportunity for the Minister to thank Mr Xie for the ongoing support of the CFA to our engagement with China and assistance they provide in facilitating ministerial visits for the Scottish Government.

At the meeting the minister formally presented Mr Xie with a copy of the Scottish Government’s latest China Plan Working With China, especially translated into Mandarin for the occasion. The four priority areas of the plan were outlined by the Minister as well as the four guiding principles of our engagement as being: Securing Sustainable Economic Growth, Respect for Human Rights and the Rule of Law, Understanding of Culture and Increasing Scotland’s Influence. The minister expressed our gratitude at the endorsement the Plan had received from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, when it was published in December 2012.

The minister then met with Vice Minister Xia of the Civil Aviation Authority of China (CAAC). Vice President Xie of the China Friendship Association and Consul General Li of the Chinese Consulate Edinburgh were also present at the meeting showing their collective support for the establishment of a direct air link between Scotland and China. The meeting was constructive and all sides reiterated their desire to see progress made, agreeing that the establishment of such a route should be mutually beneficial and economically viable.

In the afternoon in Beijing, the minister witnessed a number of contract signings the first being between Sgurr Energy and Guangdong Electric Power Design Institute (GEDI). The contract will be delivered over two years and will see Sgurr Energy advise one of China’s leading design institutions on its landmark Zhuhai offshore wind farm.

The minister then witnessed the signing ceremony for the launch of the Chartered Corporate Banker Qualification, a partnership between WMI China and BPP Professional Education. This is an accredited qualification based on the standards set in Scotland and the projections are that 50,000 Chinese corporate banking graduates and professionals will take this qualification within the first three years of launch.

The minister’s final engagement of the day was to witness the signing of a partnership agreement between TEFL Scotland Ltd and the National Website for Primary and Middle School Teacher’s Further Education (Teacher.com.cn). This partnership will result in TEFL Scotland doubling its workforce in the Highlands with a growth from 10 to 20 jobs in Scotland.

Wednesday was spent in Shenzhen and the first meeting of the day was with Madam Wu, the Vice Mayor of Shenzhen. The meeting was also attended by the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, the Rt Hon Donald Wilson, and the British Consul General for Guangdong, Alastair Morgan. The meeting followed on from the First Minister’s visit to Shenzhen in December 2011 and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Scottish Government and Shenzhen Municipal Government in July 2012. The Vice Mayor and the minister discussed how to strengthen collaboration, particularly in the field of creative industries.

The minister’s meeting with the Vice Mayor was followed by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Edinburgh City Council and Shenzhen Municipal Government on establishing joint International Creative Business Incubation Centres. Partners in Creative Industry is a long term programme designed to generate international collaboration through business and investment across Edinburgh and Shenzhen in the creative sectors.

The minister then witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the University of Glasgow and University of Electronic Science and Technology of China to launch a joint engineering programme. The programme’s approval from the Chinese Ministry of Education makes this a unique partnership for Scotland. The approval will allow the engineering programmes to be delivered to up to 240 students per annum over a four year period with potential for further growth. The joint programme will create 15 jobs in Glasgow.

That evening, the minister supported the SRUC Golf Education Alliance presenting industry qualification certificates to the latest accredited members of China's golf industry. The First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs had met SRUC Elmwood International during previous visits and there are now 15 Chinese universities and colleges across China signed up to the alliance and between them circa 3,000 students are currently studying various aspects of golf management.

The minister then addressed a business networking reception of around 100 attendees from across the priority sectors including, ICT and creative industries, life sciences, textiles and education as well as Shenzhen municipal government officials. The reception provided an opportunity for the minister to further highlight the importance that Scotland places on our bilateral links with Shenzhen.

Thursday was spent in Hong Kong where the first engagement of the day was with the British Consul General of Hong Kong and Macao. The minister then met with Roy Halliday, Chief Executive of Standard Life Hong Kong who spoke encouragingly about growth in Hong Kong and China of insurance business.

The next engagement was at the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park (HKSTP) to witness the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Scottish Development International and HKSTP. The MoU provides a framework for co-operation and knowledge transfer between Scotland and Hong Kong in the low carbon sector by inviting leading Scottish companies and organisations to locate in the HKSTP. Also present were Dr Christine Loh, Under Secretary for the Environment of the Environment Bureau, Hong Kong Administration and Nicholas Brooke, Chairman of the HKSTP.

At the HKSTP the minister also met with senior representatives of Scotland’s well established research pool visiting Hong Kong to develop collaboration opportunities with academic R&D organisations in Hong Kong. This provided the minister with an opportunity to emphasise the importance of the research pooling model helping to advance Scotland’s position as a leading knowledge partner and seek views from the delegation on how we can strengthen research collaboration.

The final engagement of the visit was to host a dinner in Hong Kong with twelve Global Scots and Scots business leaders. This presented the minister with an opportunity to thank them for their continued support and effort on behalf of Scotland. The minister was able to update them on Scotland’s latest headlines in business and politics and listen to their views, reflecting our own, about the importance of Hong Kong as a bridge into mainland China.