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As I announced on 8 December 2016, data collated by Creative Scotland tells us that the screen sector spent a record £52.7 million on film and television production in Scotland in 2015. This is an increase of almost £7 million on what was spent in 2014, and more than double the £23 million spent in 2007. With the additional backing that Scottish Government and Creative Scotland have been providing to the screen sector since 2015, we expect that spend to increase even further in 2016.

The Scottish Government was disappointed by the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement and lack of measures to help households given the deterioration in the economic and fiscal outlook, primarily due to the UK Government's decision to leave the EU.

As the Institute for Fiscal Studies highlights, this will result in lower nominal wage growth and higher inflation resulting in a weaker outlook for real wages and living standards compared to March.

On 25 November 2016, the Welsh Government hosted a summit meeting of the British-Irish Council in Cardiff. The meeting was attended by Ministers from all eight Member Administrations and was chaired by the Welsh First Minister. The Scottish Government was represented by the First Minister, the Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland’s Place in Europe, Minister for Childcare and Early Years and myself.

Discussion at the meeting focussed on the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union. The First Minister voiced the concerns felt by many regarding the real life implications for Scotland of being removed from the EU. She emphasised the importance and benefits of the single market for the United Kingdom and the ability to trade freely across the United Kingdom.

The Council also discussed the importance of Early Years to children’s life chances. The First Minister outlined the Scottish Government’s approach and aim of transforming the lives of children and young people by giving them the best possible start in life.

The Communiqué that was issued by the British-Irish Council, after the meeting, can be found on the website at:

https://www.britishirishcouncil.org/sites/default/files/communiqu%C3%A9s/9%20%20Communique%20FINAL_0.pdf

Reports that UK businesses have experienced their first decrease in capital financing in five years following the EU Referendum indicates that the heightened uncertainty facing the UK economy is weighing on investment intentions.

The economic uncertainty caused by the UK Government’s response to the EU referendum result will clearly have a negative impact on investment and our economy. Until the negotiations are concluded, it is essential that businesses are provided with certainty and guidance to ensure that investment and job creation is not impeded. The biggest boost the UK Government can provide to businesses across the UK is to provide assurance that it will seek continued membership of the single market in its negotiations with the EU.

According to the Edinburgh Festivals 2015 Impact Study the Edinburgh Festivals generate £313 million worth of additional tourism revenue for the Scottish economy each year.

The Edinburgh Festivals attract audiences of more than 4.5 million annually - a similar level to the FIFA World Cup, with only the Olympic Games having a bigger audience.

As reported in the Edinburgh Festivals 2015 Impact Study, the total annual economic impact to the city of Edinburgh is £280million. To put this into context the most recent independent economic impact for Golf tourism to Scotland is estimated to be worth £220million annually.

The Edinburgh Festivals lead to new employment opportunities, with the Festivals sustaining 5,660 full-time equivalent jobs in Edinburgh and 6,021 in Scotland (Scotland figure does not include Edinburgh).

Impact Study

The most recent Edinburgh Festivals Impact Study was published on 26 July 2016. The Edinburgh Festivals 2015 Impact Study was written by economic and social researchers BOP Consulting, building on the Impact Study in 2010.

The study was commissioned by the Festivals Forum and funded by the Scottish Government, City of Edinburgh Council, Scottish Enterprise, Creative Scotland and EventScotland.

The study analysed audiences, journalists, delegates, participants, volunteers, temporary staff and teachers at the 12 Edinburgh Festivals which make up Festivals Edinburgh, the strategic umbrella body which takes the lead on the festivals joint direction.

The 12 participating Festivals, in alphabetical order, were:

Edinburgh Art Festival; Edinburgh Festival Fringe; Edinburgh International Book Festival; Edinburgh International Festival; Edinburgh International Film Festival; Edinburgh International Science Festival; Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival; Edinburgh Mela; Edinburgh’s Hogmanay; Imaginate Festival; Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo; Scottish international Storytelling Festival.

Edinburgh Festivals initial statistics show:

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe initial figures show a 7.7% rise in ticket sales to over 2.4 million. They hosted 50,266 performances of 3,269 shows in 294 venues across the city.

EIF played host to over 2,400 artists from 36 nations and attracted audiences from 84 countries. The festival took in over £4million in ticket sales for the first time. Free outdoor concert ‘Deep Time’ had approximately 27,000 people attending.

Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo sold out for the 16^th year, in record breaking time, with 215,800 tickets sold, generating £9.6million in the box office.

Edinburgh International Book Festival hailed this year’s event as the most successful in its history reporting a 3.5% increase in ticket sales and books sales up by 3% - the highest ever sales in the Book Festival’s 33-year history. They sold 62,000 books in 17 days which is more than many high street book stores sell in an entire year.

The Festivals contributed to increase Edinburgh Airport figures by 12%.

The Registrar General for Scotland has published Scotland’s Census 2021 – Topic Consultation Report on 15 August 2016 and it is available from the Scotland's Census website: www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/consultation

Scotland’s Census 2021 is being designed and managed in Scotland to best meet the needs of its users. This consultation represents the first step in helping National Records of Scotland understand these needs and how they are changing.

Scotland’s Population 2015: the Registrar General’s Annual Review of Demographic Trends’ will be published at 9:30am. on 10 August 2016. The Report contains information about births, deaths and marriages during the year, together with other demographic information. A copy of the report will be available in the Scottish Parliament Reference Centre, or from the Registrar General’s website at www.nrscotland.gov.uk, from 9:30am on 10 August 2016.

On 22 July 2016, the Welsh Government hosted an extraordinary meeting of the British-Irish Council in Cardiff. The Summit was attended by Ministers from all eight Member Administrations and was chaired by the Welsh First Minister. The Scottish Government was represented by the First Minister and myself.

The extraordinary meeting was called in light of the outcome of the UK Government’s referendum on the UK’s membership of the European Union and provided a first opportunity, since the vote, for BIC Members to meet.

The First Minister took the opportunity to express the concerns felt by many in Scotland. Scotland voted to remain in the EU in every local authority area and every area will be affected by the UK’s decision to leave.

The First Minister advised the Council that given the consequences of being removed from the EU, the Scottish Government will explore every option to protect Scotland's interests.

Along with the representatives of the other devolved administrations and Crown Dependencies, she stressed the importance of being fully involved in the development of the UK approach and objectives and the subsequent negotiations.

The Communiqué that was issued by the British-Irish Council, after the meeting, can be found here:

https://www.britishirishcouncil.org/sites/default/files/communiqu%C3%A9s/Cardiff%20Communique%20FINAL.pdf

The overall purpose of Scotland Week 2016 was to showcase Scotland’s cultural contribution to the world, and especially the United States, as well as strengthening the relationships we have created with key US contacts.

Over the course of the week, the minister participated in a number of engagements to show government support of the relationships the Scottish Affairs Office, Scottish Development International and VisitScotland have fostered.

The minister addressed the VisitScotland Diaspora breakfast which was attended by representatives from the key ancestral and diaspora societies and associations based in the New York area. This provided an opportunity to update this key audience on the Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design and to introduce the Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology.

The minister hosted a lunch for Scottish Development International in New York with key members of the GlobalScots network. The event presented an opportunity to recognise the valuable contribution made by this influential group to the Scottish business economy and hear at first-hand about future plans for engagement.

The minister’s visit included several cultural engagements: a visit to the ‘Scots Who Built New York’ exhibition which celebrates the iconic and historic buildings of New York built by Scottish architects; the promotion of the Scottish creative sector at a Scottish Music Festival in Bryant Park and attendance at the opening ceremony of the John Muir Exhibit on Ellis Island. The exhibit celebrates the life and legacy of Scots-born naturalist, John Muir, who founded the US National Park Service, which marks its 100^th anniversary in 2016.

The minister was the guest of honour at the St Andrew’s Society of New York’s Tartan Day celebration where she made a speech to congratulate and thank the Society for their tremendous philanthropic efforts both in the USA and in Scotland.

On behalf of the Scottish Government the minister hosted an event with the National Theatre of Scotland, which included a performance of “The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart”. This provided a great opportunity to promote Scottish arts and showcase Scotland’s international cultural impact.

The Minister also hosted a reception for Scottish University alumni in the US and spoke on the importance of building a strong Scottish Alumni network across North America. Alumni are advocates, not just for the Scottish higher education sector, but for Scotland as a whole and can help develop key networks.

The minister met with the Executive Director of New York Centre for Economic Opportunity, Matt Klein, and discussed respective efforts to combat poverty and foster new opportunities for economic prosperity, as well as further areas of mutually beneficial collaboration. She also met with Paul Heckler from the High Line to discuss urban regeneration projects and the fostering public-private partnerships for community restoration in New York and Scotland.

During the week the minister also laid a wreath in memory of all those who lost their lives in the 9/11 attack, which of course included a number of Scots. She then toured the 9/11 Museum and Memorial.

The week ended with the St Andrew’s Society of New York’s Kirkin’ ‘O the Tartan, followed by the Tartan Day Parade down 6^th Avenue, one of the longest running Scotland Week events.