Europe and Foreign Affairs
Scotland's place in the world and how we are represented in Europe and beyond is a crucial question and one which requires serious consideration.Today I was in Brussels to meet with European Commission officials, representatives of Member States and expat Scots on the day we launched our paper...
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A Bill proposing a referendum in 2010
The Scottish Government has announced its intention to bring forward a Referendum Bill in 2010 to give the people of Scotland the opportunity to have their say on the constitutional future of Scotland.The Bill will provide the framework for the conduct and mechanics of a fair and democratic...
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A Scottish Oil Fund
A Scottish oil fund is a simple concept - tax revenues from the North Sea are invested now to provide a permanent source of wealth long after the oil and gas are gone.Norway has done it and that fund is now worth £213 billion. Alberta in Canada and Alaska in the US have done it. In fact, the UK is...
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Your voice heard: Aug 08 - June 09
You can add your voice to the National Conversation here or pick up on points made by others.
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Finance Secretary John Swinney on Scotland Performs
The Government has now launched Scotland Performs, a website that aims to measure progress as we work towards our over-arching Purpose of creating a more successful country, with opportunities for all to flourish, through increasing sustainable economic growth.The Purpose provides a clear focus for...
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The Scottish Government - one year on
A year in Government is a long time, believe me. But when you are at the heart of it all, the time really flies.There genuinely is so much to do, and so little time in which to do it.But as we celebrate the first anniversary of the election that brought this Government to power we can look back...
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National Conversation with Scotland's Institutions
As First Minister of Scotland, it is my responsibility to lead discussion and debate on how we can build a more successful Scotland.This Government believes that independence for Scotland - where we are equal partners with the other nations of these islands - offers the best prospects for growing...
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A future Council of the Isles ...
Last month I was in Dublin for the British-Irish Council (BIC) - a body that brings together the two sovereign governments, three devolved administrations and three Island territories that form the British Isles.The Council is an important forum for cross-border partnership and ensures that the...
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Scotland in the World
Aberdeen University has just set up a 'Scotland in the World' Forum to consider our country's global standing and global potential.I was invited to deliver the inaugural lecture and I was delighted to explain how the Forum will be a major part of the wider National Conversation which is about the...
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Michael Russell, Minister for Environment
One of the best places to view Scotland - literally and metaphorically - is at the top of a hill.Recently I was in the Lammermuirs, learning from members of the Moorland Forum about heather, game birds, biodiversity, and a host of other things whilst all around there were the sounds and sights of...
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Nicola Sturgeon, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing
This is the first St Andrew's Day under an SNP Government, a day to celebrate Scotland at home and across the world.It is an opportunity to recall our rich history, to think of the future and of the potential of this great country of ours.On August 14 we launched the National Conversation. It is an...
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Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning
In May of this year the people of Scotland voted for a new approach and better future for Scotland. Now we are asking you to take part in a National Conversation on whether more powers would be beneficial for our country.For example, skills for work is a devolved area, but the UK Government often...
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Jim Mather, Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism
This Government's purpose and ambition of increased sustainable growth is the 'North Star' to which we should all be steering a constant course.Our objective of matching the UK growth rate by 2011 is important but it is only a step on the way to building a stronger economy able to match and exceed...
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Finance and Sustainable Growth Secretary John Swinney
For too long Scotland's economy has underperformed. Not only does our historically low growth rate compare poorly with the UK, but we are left standing by successful small independent countries like Ireland, Iceland, Denmark, Norway and Finland.For too long politicians have sat complacently while...
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Continuing the Conversation...
The White Paper says: The Scottish Government envisages a national conversation which will consider the entire range of possible changes to the current constitutional settlement for Scotland. The Government would welcome views on how to design the questions, processes, materials and arguments with...
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Bruce Crawford, Minister for Parliamentary Business
The online conversation is undoubtedly off to a flying start.The 1,000th comment in the National Conversation Blog was posted at 7.26am on Saturday morning. And the conversation continues to grow and expand in new places with the First Minister speaking to a packed out audience at Edinburgh's...
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First Minister Alex Salmond
We in the Scottish Government believe that sovereignty in Scotland lies with its people.That is why our manifesto for the Scottish Parliamentary elections this year promised to provide an opportunity for the people to consider the concept of Scottish independence in a referendum during this...
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