I have a very short statement, convener. Thank you for inviting me to address you on the 2015-16 draft budget.
This year has seen a great deal of international interest in Scotland, with major events such as the Commonwealth games, the Ryder cup and, just last weekend, the MTV awards, which of course were all part of the homecoming 2014 programme. We have had the independence referendum, the positive manner in which it was conducted and the debate’s unprecedented level of public participation. All those things have enabled visitors and audiences around the world to see the best of Scotland.
It is against that backdrop of increased international opportunities that I have approached the 2015-16 budget allocations. In 2015-16 the Europe and external affairs budget is expected to increase to £17.9 million. The increase is due largely to the technical transfer to programme spending of just over £1 million running costs for the Brussels office, which will allow increased scrutiny by the committee of the office’s work and will bring the way that we fund the office into line with funding of other overseas offices in Beijing and Washington.
Last year when I appeared before you to discuss the budget we agreed on the importance of increasing Scotland’s profile and activity in Europe. I am therefore pleased that we have been able to embed the increases that we achieved in that area in the 2014-15 budget into the 2015-16 European relations budget. It means that we will be able to continue to expand our policy of seconding staff into European institutions, which we regard as a key way to build Scotland’s influence in Europe.
The major events line will increase by £0.85 million. The funding is intended to support VisitScotland’s work in connection with the 2015 Scottish open, which is being played at Gullane, and is part of the Scottish Government’s £1.2 million sponsorship of that event.
The lion’s share of the external affairs budget is the £9 million that will continue to be directed to help the world’s poorest countries in 2015-16.
The Scottish ministers continue our commitment to ensure that Scotland plays its part as a good global citizen. One way that we do that is through our work on international development. Our commitment is clearly evidenced by our securing a doubling of the baseline budget from £4.5 million to £9 million between 2007-08 and 2011-12. Despite the difficult financial context, of which all members will be aware, we are committed to keeping international development funding at that level for the duration of the spending review period, and we will do so again in 2015-16.
As part of our unique model, we provide funding for Scottish non-governmental organisations to work in partnership with organisations in the developing world on our priority areas and particularly on issues in which Scotland has specific skills and expertise, such as renewable energy. We will work across our priority countries to focus on the key objective of poverty alleviation and the achievement of the millennium development goals, and we must adhere to the principles of the Paris declaration on aid effectiveness.
In addition to our programmed international development work, the Scottish Government aims to respond where it can to international humanitarian emergencies and urgent appeals. Some of the money for that comes from my portfolio, but we also support contributions to such emergencies from other parts of the Scottish budget. Most recently, that has helped to ensure Scottish Government contributions to the international fight against Ebola, and we continue to monitor the situation in west Africa closely.
I am pleased that, this year, I have been able to increase the international strategy and reputation line slightly. That budget supports international communications and marketing for all of the Scottish Government’s priority countries, as well as the delivery of the Government’s Pakistan and India plans, which is an area that the committee has been interested in. The budget is being used to deepen relationships with key countries with which we engage diplomatically and economically.
Finally, I am pleased to have been able to maintain the level of funding for our overseas offices in China and North America. Our presence in those countries is a firm indication of the importance that we place on our relationships with them and the economic benefits that they bring to Scotland.
As members are aware, we want to ensure that Scotland is known as a good global citizen that has much to contribute to the world. With the budget, we continue our contribution to promoting Scotland’s interests and identity at home and abroad and to delivering the Scottish Government’s purpose and Scottish economic ambitions.