NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Economy of Scotland

The economy of Scotland is closely linked with the rest of Europe, and is essentially a mixed economy. Scotland has the third largest GDP per capita of any region of the United Kingdom after London and the South East of England. ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (2288x1712, 1324 KB) Summary The headquarters of the Bank of Scotland in Edinburgh. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (2288x1712, 1324 KB) Summary The headquarters of the Bank of Scotland in Edinburgh. ... Headquarters on The Mound, Edinburgh The Bank of Scotland is a commercial bank in Scotland (and to a lesser extent the rest of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland). ... Look up mound on Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Edinburgh (pronounced ; Scottish Gaelic: ) is the capital of Scotland and its second-largest city. ... The economy of Europe is comprised of more than 665 million people in 48 different states. ... This box: â€¢ â€¢ A mixed economy is an economy that has a mix of economic systems. ... This article is becoming very long. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... South East England is one of the official regions of England. ...

Scotland was one of the industrial powerhouses of Europe from the time of the Industrial Revolution onwards, being a world leader in manufacturing and shipbuilding related industries, at the time, which today has left a legacy in the diversity of goods and services which the Scottish economy produces from textiles, whisky and shortbread to aeroengines, buses, computer software, ships, avionics and microprosssors to banking, insurance and other related financial services. This article is becoming very long. ... World map exhibiting the location of Europe. ... A Watt steam engine. ... Manufacturing, a branch of industry which accounts for about one-quarter of the worlds economic activity, is the application of tools and a processing medium to the transformation of raw materials into finished goods for sale. ... Men from Francisco de Orellanas expedition building a small brigantine, the San Pedro, to be used in the search for food Shipbuilding is the construction of ships. ... This article is about the type of fabric. ... Whisky, or whiskey, refers to a broad category of alcoholic beverages that are distilled from fermented grain mash and aged in oak casks. ... Shortbread rounds Shortbread is a type of biscuit (cookie) which is traditionally made from one part white sugar, two parts butter, and three parts plain white flour, although other ingredients like ground rice or cornflour are sometimes added to alter the texture. ... A Pratt and Whitney turbofan engine for the F-15 Eagle is tested at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, USA. The tunnel behind the engine muffles noise and allows exhaust to escape. ... This article is about the form of transport. ... Computer software (or simply software) refers to one or more computer programs and data held in the storage of a computer for some purpose. ... Men from Francisco de Orellanas expedition building a small brigantine, the San Pedro, to be used in the search for food Shipbuilding is the construction of ships. ... The onboard electronics used for piloting an aircraft are called avionics (AVI-ation electr-ONICS). ... A microprocessor (sometimes abbreviated ÂµP) is a programmable digital electronic component that incorporates the functions of a central processing unit (CPU) on a single semiconducting integrated circuit (IC). ... For other uses, see Bank (disambiguation). ... Insurance, in law and economics, is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent loss. ...

In common with most other advanced industrialised economies, Scotland has seen a decline in the importance of the manufacturing industries and primary-based extractive industries. This has, however, been combined with a rise in the service sector of the economy which is now the largest sector in Scotland, with significant rates of growth over the last decade. This article is becoming very long. ... Manufacturing, a branch of industry which accounts for about one-quarter of the worlds economic activity, is the application of tools and a processing medium to the transformation of raw materials into finished goods for sale. ... This box: The tertiary sector of industry (also known as the service sector or the service industry) is one of the three main industrial categories of a developed economy, the others being the secondary industry (manufacturing), and primary industry (extraction such as mining, agriculture and fishing). ... This article is becoming very long. ...

The British Pound Sterling is the official currency of Scotland, and the central bank of the UK is the Bank of England which retains responsibility for the monetary policy of the whole of the United Kingdom. ISO 4217 Code GBP User(s) United Kingdom Inflation 2. ... This article is becoming very long. ... Headquarters London Governor Mervyn King Central Bank of United Kingdom Currency Pound Sterling ISO 4217 Code GBP Base borrowing rate 5. ... Monetary policy is the government or central bank process of managing money supply to achieve specific goalsâ€”such as constraining inflation, maintaining an exchange rate, achieving full employment or economic growth. ...

Overview

After the Industrial Revolution, the Scottish economy concentrated on heavy industry, dominated by the shipbuilding, coal mining and steel industries. Scottish participation in the British Empire also allowed the Scottish economy to export its output throughout the world. However heavy industry declined in the latter part of the 20th century leading to a remarkable shift in the economy of Scotland towards a technology and service sector based economy. The 1980s saw an economic boom in the Silicon Glen corridor between Glasgow and Edinburgh, with many large technology firms relocating to Scotland. Today the industry employs over 41,000 people. Scottish-based companies have strengths in information systems, defence, electronics, instrumentation and semi-conductors. There is also a dynamic and fast growing electronics design and development industry, based around links between the universities and indigenous companies like Wolfson^[1], 4i2i^[2], Linn, Nallatech^[3] and Axeon^[4]. There is also a significant presence of global players like National Semiconductor and Motorola. Other major industries include banking and financial services, education, entertainment, biotechnology, transport equipment, oil and gas, whisky, and tourism. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Scotland is just over £74 billion ($130 billion) (2002) [1], giving a per capita GDP of £14,651 ($25,546) (2002). This article is becoming very long. ... Men from Francisco de Orellanas expedition building a small brigantine, the San Pedro, to be used in the search for food Shipbuilding is the construction of ships. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The old steel cable of a colliery winding tower Steel is an alloy whose major component is iron, with carbon content between 0. ... The British Empire in 1897, marked in pink, the traditional colour for Imperial British dominions on maps. ... Silicon Glen is a nickname for the high tech sector of Scotland. ... For other uses, see Glasgow (disambiguation). ... Edinburgh (pronounced ; Scottish Gaelic: ) is the capital of Scotland and its second-largest city. ... {{Infobox Education| country name = Scotland | agency image = | agency = Scottish Executive | leader titles = Minister for Education and Young People Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning| leader names = Peter Peacock Nicol Stephen | budget = Â£4. ... 4i2i Communications Ltd. ... Linn Products is a Glasgow, Scotland-based company that manufactures hi-fi, home theater, and multi-room audio systems. ... Categories: Electronics companies of the United States | Companies based in California | Corporation stubs ... Motorola (NYSE: MOT) is a United States-based multinational communications company based in Schaumburg, Illinois, a Chicago suburb. ... For other uses, see Bank (disambiguation). ... Financial services is a term used to refer to the services provided by the finance industry. ... A stilt-walker entertaining shoppers at a shopping centre in Swindon, England Entertainment is an event, performance, or activity designed to give pleasure or relaxation to an audience (although, for example, in the case of a computer game the audience may be only one person). ... The structure of insulin Biotechnology is technology based on biology, especially when used in agriculture, food science, and medicine. ... Natural olive oil Synthetic motor oil Oil, in a general sense, is a chemical compound that is not miscible with water, and is in a liquid state at ambient temperatures. ... A gas is one of the four major phases of matter (after solid and liquid, and followed by plasma, that subsequently appear as a solid material is subjected to increasingly higher temperatures. ... Whisky, or whiskey, refers to a broad category of alcoholic beverages that are distilled from fermented grain mash and aged in oak casks. ... Tourists at Oahu island, Hawaii Tourism is the act of travel for predominantly recreational or leisure purposes, and also refers to the provision of services in support of this act. ... IMF 2005 figures of total GDP of nominal compared to PPP. Absolute, not adjusted for population. ... This article is becoming very long. ...

Edinburgh is the financial services centre of Scotland and the sixth largest centre in Europe, with many large financial firms based there, including the Royal Bank of Scotland (the second largest bank in Europe), HBOS (owners of the Bank of Scotland) and Standard Life Insurance. Glasgow is Scotland's leading seaport and is the fourth largest manufacturing centre in the UK, accounting for well over 60% of Scotland's manufactured exports. Shipbuilding, although significantly diminished from its heights in the early 20th century, is still a large part of the Glasgow economy. The city has the UK's largest and most economically important commerce and retail district after London's West End. Glasgow is also one of Europe's top 20 financial centres and is home to many of the UK's leading companies. Other important industries include textile production, chemicals, distilling, brewing and fishing. Image File history File links Royal Bank of Scotland Â£100 illustration OR EITHER File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Royal Bank of Scotland Â£100 illustration OR EITHER File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc (LSE: RBS) is the successor to The Royal Bank of Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: [1]), founded in 1727 by Royal Charter of King George I.[2] Based in Edinburgh, it is a banking and insurance holding company. ... HBOS plc is the holding company of the HBOS Group, formed on the 10 September 2001 by, and named after, the principals involved in the merger of Halifax plc, the former Halifax Building Society, with the Bank of Scotland. ... Headquarters on The Mound, Edinburgh The Bank of Scotland is a commercial bank in Scotland (and to a lesser extent the rest of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland). ...

Natural Resources

Scotland has a large abundance of natural resources from fertile land, suitable for agriculture, to oil and gas. In terms of mineral resources, Scotland produces coal, zinc, iron, oil-shale. The coal seams beneath central Scotland, in particular in Ayrshire and Fife contributed significantly to the industrialisation of Scotland during the 19th century. The mining of coal - once a major employer in Scotland has declined in importance since the latter half of the 20th century, due to cheaper foreign coal and the exhaustion of many seams. The last deep-coal mine continues to operate at Longannet on the Forth Estuary. This article is becoming very long. ... This article is becoming very long. ... Ayrshire (Siorrachd Inbhir Ã€ir in Scottish Gaelic) is a region of south-west Scotland, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. ... Fife (FÃ¬obh in Gaelic) is a council area of Scotland, situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with landward boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire. ... This article is becoming very long. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is becoming very long. ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999... The Firth of Forth from Calton Hill The Forth Bridges cross the Firth Satellite photo of the Firth and the surrounding area Map of the Firth The Firth of Forth (Scottish Gaelic: Linne Foirthe) is the estuary or firth of Scotlands River Forth, where it flows into the North...

Agriculture and forestry

Only about one quarter of the land is under cultivation - mainly in cereals. Barley, wheat and potatoes are grown in eastern parts of Scotland such as Fife and the Scottish Borders. The Tayside and Angus area is a centre of production of soft fruits such as strawberries, raspberries and loganberries, owing to the mild climate. Sheep raising is important in the less arable mountainous regions, such as the northwest of Scotland which are used for rough grazing, due to its geographical isolation, poor climate and acidic soils. Parts of the east of Scotland (areas such as Aberdeenshire, Fife and Angus) are major centres of cereal production and general cropping. In such areas, the land is generally flatter, coastal, and the climate less harsh, and more suited to cultivation. The south-west of Scotland - principally Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway - is a centre of dairying. Agriculture, especially cropping in Scotland, is highly mechanised and generally efficient. Farms tend to cover larger acreages than their European counterparts. Hill farming is also prominent in the Southern Uplands in the south of Scotland, resulting in the production of wool, lamb and mutton. Cattle-Rearing particularly in the east and south of Scotland results in the production of large amounts of beef. Farming in Scotland has been particularly hard hit in recent years and is still recovering from the effects of the BSE and the European ban on the importation of British beef from 1996. Dairy and Cattle farmers in south-west Scotland were affected by the 2001 UK Foot and Mouth outbreak, which resulted in the destruction of much of their livestock as part of the biosecurity effort to control the spread of the disease. Binomial name Hordeum vulgare L. Barley (Hordeum vulgare) is a major food and animal feed crop, a member of the grass family Poaceae. ... Species T. aestivum T. boeoticum T. compactum T. dicoccoides T. dicoccon T. durum T. monococcum T. spelta T. sphaerococcum References: ITIS 42236 2002-09-22 For the indie rock group see: Wheat (band). ... Binomial name Solanum tuberosum L. The potato (Solanum tuberosum) is a perennial plant of the Solanaceae, or nightshade, family, grown for its starchy tuber. ... Scottish Borders (often referred to locally as The Borders or The Borderland) is one of 35 local government unitary council areas of Scotland. ... Angus (Aonghas in Gaelic) is one of the 32 local government council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy area. ... Strawberries Promo Strawberries is an album by The Damned released October 1982 on Bronze Records (catalogue #BRON 542). ... Raspberries has multiple meanings: For the tart fruit of the plant Rubus idaeus, see Raspberry. ... Binomial name Rubus loganobaccus L.H. Bailey The loganberry (Rubus loganobaccus) is a hybrid produced from crossing a blackberry and a raspberry. ... This article is becoming very long. ... This article is becoming very long. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Fife (FÃ¬obh in Gaelic) is a council area of Scotland, situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with landward boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire. ... Angus (Aonghas in Gaelic) is one of the 32 local government council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy area. ... This article is about cereals in general. ... A coastal image featured on a United States postal stamp. ... Tillage (American English), or cultivation (UK) is the agricultural preparation of the soil to receive seeds. ... This article is becoming very long. ... Ayrshire (Siorrachd Inbhir Ã€ir in Scottish Gaelic) is a region of south-west Scotland, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. ... Dumfries and Galloway (DÃ¹n Phris agus an Gall-Ghaidhealaibh in Gaelic) is one of 32 council areas of Scotland. ... Dairy farming is a class of agricultural enterprise, raising female cattle for long-term production of milk, which may be either processed on-site or transported to a dairy for processing and eventual retail sale. ... A crop is any plant that is grown in significant quantities to be harvested as food, livestock fodder, or for another economic purpose. ... This article is becoming very long. ... The Southern Uplands is the southernmost of Scotlands three major geographic areas (the others being the Central Belt and the Highlands). ... This article is becoming very long. ... Long and short hair wool at the South Central Family Farm Research Center in Boonesville, Arizona Wool is the fibre derived from the fur of animals of the Caprinae family, principally sheep, but the hair of certain species of other mammals such as goats, alpacas and rabbits may also be... It has been suggested that Lambing be merged into this article or section. ... This article is becoming very long. ... A cut of beef. ... The Three-Letter Acronym or Abbreviation (TLA) BSE could stand for Bachelor of Science in Engineering Baku Stock Exchange Barbados Stock Exchange Battle Space Entity (military simulations) Black Sun Empire - Dutch drum and bass production trio Bolshaya Sovetskaya Entsiklopediya (Ð‘Ð¾Ð»ÑŒÑˆÐ°Ñ Ð¡Ð¾Ð²ÐµÑ‚ÑÐºÐ°Ñ ÐÐ½Ñ†Ð¸ÐºÐ»Ð¾Ð¿ÐµÐ´Ð¸Ñ, Great Soviet Encyclopedia) - the most comprehensive encyclopedia ever written in Russian... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... Notice telling people to keep off the North York Moors. ... A biosecurity guarantee attempts to ensure that ecologies sustaining either people or animals are maintained. ...

Because of the persistence of feudalism and the land enclosures of the 19th century the ownership of most land is concentrated in relatively few hands (some 350 people own about half the land). In 2003, as a result, the Scottish Parliament passed a land reform act that empowered tenant farmers and communities to purchase land even if the landlord did not want to sell.

About 13,340 km² of land in Scotland is forested [2] - this represents around 15% of the total land area of Scotland. The majority of forests are in public ownership, with forestry policy being controlled by the Forestry Commission. The biggest plantations and timber resources are to be found in Dumfries and Galloway, Tayside, Argyll and the Scottish Highlands. The economic activities generated by forestry in Scotland include planting and harvesting as well as sawmilling, the production of pulp and paper and the manufacture of higher value goods. Forests, especially those surrounding populated areas in Central Scotland also provide a recreation resource. The Forestry Commission is a government body in the United Kingdom. ... Dumfries and Galloway (DÃ¹n Phris agus an Gall-Ghaidhealaibh in Gaelic) is one of 32 council areas of Scotland. ... Tayside (Taobh Tatha in Gaelic) was a local government region of Scotland from 1974 to 1995. ... Argyll, archaically Argyle (Airthir-Ghaidheal in Gaelic, translated as [the] East Gael, or [the] East Irish), sometimes called Argyllshire, is a traditional county of Scotland. ... The Scottish Highlands are the mountainous regions of Scotland north and west of the Highland Boundary Fault. ...

Fishing

The waters surrounding Scotland are some of the richest in Europe. Fishing is an economic mainstay in parts of the North East of Scotland and along the west coast, with important fish markets in places such as Aberdeen and Mallaig. Fish such as herring, crab, lobster, haddock and cod are landed at ports such as Fraserburgh, Stornoway, Lerwick and Oban. There has been a large scale decrease in employment in the fishing industry within Scotland due to EU restrictions on the total tonnage of catch that can be landed, caused by overfishing in the North Sea and parts of the North Atlantic. In tandem with the decline of sea-fishing, commercial fish farms - especially in salmon, have increased in prominence in the rivers and lochs of the north and west of Scotland. Inland waters are rich in fresh water fish such as salmon and trout. Scottish fishing boats moored in Fraserburgh. ... World map exhibiting the location of Europe. ... For other uses, see Aberdeen (disambiguation). ... Mallaig harbour from the ferry to the Isle of Skye Mallaig is a port in Lochaber, on the west coast of the Highlands of Scotland. ... Species Clupea alba Clupea bentincki Clupea caspiopontica Clupea chrysotaenia Clupea elongata Clupea halec Clupea harengus Clupea inermis Clupea leachii Clupea lineolata Clupea minima Clupea mirabilis Clupea pallasii Clupea sardinacaroli Clupea sulcata Herrings are small oily fish of the genus Clupea found in the temperate, shallow waters of the North Atlantic... Superfamilies Dromiacea Homolodromioidea Dromioidea Homoloidea Eubrachyura Raninoidea Cyclodorippoidea Dorippoidea Calappoidea Leucosioidea Majoidea Hymenosomatoidea Parthenopoidea Retroplumoidea Cancroidea Portunoidea Bythograeoidea Xanthoidea Bellioidea Potamoidea Pseudothelphusoidea Gecarcinucoidea Cryptochiroidea Pinnotheroidea * Ocypodoidea * Grapsoidea * An asterisk (*) marks the crabs included in the clade Thoracotremata. ... For the magazine, see Lobster (magazine) Subfamilies and Genera Neophoberinae Acanthacaris Thymopinae Nephropsis Nephropides Thymops Thymopsis Nephropinae Homarus Nephrops Homarinus Metanephrops Eunephrops Thymopides Clawed lobsters comprise a family (Nephropidae, sometimes also Homaridae) of large marine crustaceans. ... Binomial name Melanogrammus aeglefinus (Linnaeus, 1758) Haddock is a marine fish distributed on both sides of the North Atlantic. ... Species Gadus morhua Gadus macrocephalus Gadus ogac Cod is the common name for the genus Gadus of fish, belonging to the family Gadidae, and is also used in the common name of a variety of other fishes. ... Fraserburgh is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland on the extreme North East corner. ... Lews Castle in Stornoway Stornoway (SteÃ²rnabhagh in Scottish Gaelic) is a burgh on Lewis (LeÃ²dhas), in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, with a population of approximately 5,600 people in the town itself, out of a total population of 26,370 for the whole of the Western Isles. ... Location within the British Isles The Market Cross,Central Lerwick Lerwick is the only burgh and main port of the Shetland Islands, found more than 160 km (100 miles) off the north coast of mainland Scotland. ... View of Oban from Druim Mor. ... The North Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean, located between the coasts of Norway and Denmark in the east, the coast of the British Isles in the west, and the German, Dutch, Belgian and French coasts in the south. ... For other uses, see Atlantic (disambiguation) The Atlantic Ocean is Earths second-largest ocean, covering approximately one-fifth of its surface. ... Illustration of a male Coho Salmon The Chinook or King Salmon is the largest salmon in North America and can grow to 1. ... For the Second World War frigate class, see River class frigate The Murray River in Australia A waterfall on the Ova da Fedoz, Switzerland A river is a large natural waterway. ... A loch is the name given to a body of water in Scotland or Ireland. ... This article is becoming very long. ... Illustration of a male Coho Salmon The Chinook or King Salmon is the largest salmon in North America and can grow to 1. ... Rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss Biwa trout, Oncorhynchus masou subsp Trout is the common name given to a number of species of freshwater fish belonging to the salmon family, Salmonidae. ...

Image File history File linksMetadata North_Sea_oil_platform. ... Image File history File linksMetadata North_Sea_oil_platform. ... The North Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean, located between the coasts of Norway and Denmark in the east, the coast of the British Isles in the west, and the German, Dutch, Belgian and French coasts in the south. ...

Oil and gas

With Scottish waters consisting of a large sector of the North Atlantic and the North Sea, containing the largest oil resources in the European Union - Scotland is the EU's largest petroleum producer, with the discovery of North Sea oil transforming the Scottish economy. Oil was discovered in the North Sea in 1966, with the first year of full production taking place in 1976. With the growth of oil exploration during that time, as well as the ancillary industries needed to support it, the city of Aberdeen became centre of the North Sea Oil Industry, which it still is today, with the port and harbour serving many oil fields off shore. Sullom Voe in Shetland is the site of a major oil terminal, where oil is piped in and transferred to tankers. Similarly the Flotta Oil Terminal in Orkney is linked by a 230 km long pipeline to the Piper and Occidental oil fields in the North Sea ^[5]. The oil related industries are a major source of employment and income on these islands. It is estimated that the industry employs around 100,000 workers (or 6% of the working population) of Scotland ^[6]. // North Sea Oil Platforms North Sea oil refers to oil and natural gas (hydrocarbons) produced from oil reservoirs beneath the North Sea. ... The Scottish Adjacent Waters Boundaries Order 1999 is a statutory instrument of the parliament of the United Kingdom, defining the boundaries between waters which are to be treated as internal waters or territorial sea of the United Kingdom adjacent to Scotland and those which are not. It was introduced in... Pumpjack pumping an oil well near Sarnia, Ontario Ignacy Åukasiewicz - inventor of the refining of kerosene from crude oil. ... Peak Oil Depletion Scenarios Graph which depicts cumulative published depletion studies by ASPO and other depletion analysts to illustrate that though the Hubbert Peak of conventional oil passed in the Spring of 2004, there are several decades of high production ahead. ... This article is becoming very long. ... Pumpjack pumping an oil well near Sarnia, Ontario Ignacy Åukasiewicz - inventor of the refining of kerosene from crude oil. ... // North Sea Oil Platforms North Sea oil refers to oil and natural gas (hydrocarbons) produced from oil reservoirs beneath the North Sea. ... For other uses, see Aberdeen (disambiguation). ... Sullom Voe is an inlet between North Mainland and Northmavine on Shetland in Scotland, and an oil terminal sited on its shore. ... Shetland (formerly spelled Zetland, from etland) formerly called Hjaltland, is one of 32 council areas of Scotland. ... Flotta shown within Orkney Islands Flotta is a small island in Orkney, Scotland, lying in Scapa Flow. ... Orkney (sometimes known as the Orkney Islands) is an archipelago in northern Scotland, situated 10 miles north of the coast of Caithness. ... The North Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean, located between the coasts of Norway and Denmark in the east, the coast of the British Isles in the west, and the German, Dutch, Belgian and French coasts in the south. ... This article is becoming very long. ...

Whilst in recent years, North Sea oil production has been in decline, it is estimated that there are reserves of two billion tonnes in the North Sea - as much as has been produced in the last 25 years, with most oil fields being expected to remain economically viable until at least 2020 ^[7]. Recently with the prevailing high oil price, there has been a resurgence in oil exploration, specifically in the North East Atlantic basin to the west of Shetland and the Outer Hebrides, in areas that were previously considered marginal and unprofitable ^[8]. Shetland (formerly spelled Zetland, from etland) formerly called Hjaltland, is one of 32 council areas of Scotland. ... Western Isles redirects here. ...

Energy

Scotland is endowed with some of the best energy resources in Europe, and is a net exporter of electricity, with a generating capacity of 10.1GW primarily from coal, oil, gas and nuclear generation ^[9]. With prevailing international concern over the use of fossil fuels in power generation, Scotland has been identified as having significant potential for the development of renewable energy sources, with abundant wave, tidal and wind power. Image File history File links Cockenzie_Power_station. ... Image File history File links Cockenzie_Power_station. ... Cockenzie Power Station, from North Bridge Edinburgh Cockenzie and Port Seton is a unified town in East Lothian, Scotland, situated on the coast of the Firth of Forth, four miles north east of Musselburgh. ... Edinburgh (pronounced ; Scottish Gaelic: ) is the capital of Scotland and its second-largest city. ... This article is becoming very long. ... World map exhibiting the location of Europe. ... Lightning strikes during a night-time thunderstorm. ... Coal Coal (IPA: ) is a fossil fuel extracted from the ground by coal mining, either underground mining or open-pit mining (surface mining). ... Natural olive oil Synthetic motor oil Oil, in a general sense, is a chemical compound that is not miscible with water, and is in a liquid state at ambient temperatures. ... A gas is one of the four major phases of matter (after solid and liquid, and followed by plasma, that subsequently appear as a solid material is subjected to increasingly higher temperatures. ... A nuclear power station. ... This article is becoming very long. ...

The Scottish Executive has set ambitious targets that 18% of Scotland's electricity generation be derived from renewable sources by 2010, rising to 40% by 2020. Currently renewable energy sources provide Scotland with 13% of its electricity production, with onshore wind generation making the largest contribution, and supporting several thousand jobs. There are many windfarms along the coast and hills, with plans to create one of the world's largest onshore windfarms at Barvas Moor on the Hebridean island of Lewis ^[10]. The Executives logo, shown with English and Scottish Gaelic caption The term Scottish Executive is used in two different, but closely-related senses: to denote the executive arm of Scotlands national legislature (i. ... This article is becoming very long. ... The Isle of Lewis Looking towards the Uplands in the centre of the Island of Lewis Lewis (LeÃ²dhas in Scottish Gaelic) or The Isle of Lewis (Eilean LeÃ²dhais), is the northern part of the largest island of the Western Isles of Scotland or Outer Hebrides (Na h-Eileanan...

There have also been major developments in harnessing the wave and tidal potential around the Scottish Coast, with the LIMPET (Land Installed Marine Power Energy Tranformer) ^[11] energy converter being installed off the island of Islay, which produces power for the national grid. LIMPET, developed in Scotland, is the world's first commercial scale wave-energy device. Landsat image of Islay Islay (pronounced ; Scottish Gaelic: , or ee-luh), a Scottish island, known as The Queen of the Hebrides, is the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides. ... The National Grid is the high-voltage electric power transmission network in Great Britain, connecting power stations and major substations and ensuring that electricity generated anywhere in Great Britain can be used to satisfy demand elsewhere. ... This article is becoming very long. ...

Manufacturing

Manufacturing in Scotland has shifted its focus in recent years with heavy industries such as shipbuilding and iron and steel declining in their importance and contribution to the economy. It is generally argued that this has been in response to increasing globalisation and competition from low cost producers across the world, which has eroded Scotland's comparative advantage in such industries over the later half of the 20th century. However, the decline in heavy industry in Scotland has been supplanted with the rise in the manufacture of lighter, less labour intensive products such as optoelectronics, software, chemical products and derivatives as well as life sciences. Not only has the decline of heavy industry, in the last 20 to 30 years, resulted in a sectoral shift of labour, it has led to smaller firms, strengthening links with the academic community and substantial, industry-specific retraining programmes for the workforce. Image File history File links Glenfiddich_Distillery_stills. ... Image File history File links Glenfiddich_Distillery_stills. ... Glenfiddich distillery. ... Moray (Moireibh in Gaelic), one of the 32 unitary council regions (or areas) of Scotland, lies in the north-east of the country and borders on the regions of Aberdeenshire and Highland. ... This article is becoming very long. ... Men from Francisco de Orellanas expedition building a small brigantine, the San Pedro, to be used in the search for food Shipbuilding is the construction of ships. ... General Name, Symbol, Number iron, Fe, 26 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 8, 4, d Appearance lustrous metallic with a grayish tinge Atomic mass 55. ... The old steel cable of a colliery winding tower Steel is an alloy whose major component is iron, with carbon content between 0. ... Globalization is a term used to describe the changes in societies and the world economy that are the result of dramatically increased trade and cultural exchange. ... In economics, the theory of comparative advantage (sometimes known as Ricardos Law) explains why it can be beneficial for two parties (countries, regions, individuals and so on) to trade, even though one of them may be able to produce every item more cheaply than the other. ... Optoelectronics is the study and application of electronic devices that interact with light. ... Computer software (or simply software) refers to one or more computer programs and data held in the storage of a computer for some purpose. ... A chemical substance is any material substance used in or obtained by a process in chemistry: A chemical compound is a substance consisting of two or more chemical elements that are chemically combined in fixed proportions. ... Biology studies the variety of life (clockwise from top-left) E. coli, tree fern, gazelle, Goliath beetle Biology is the science of life (from the Greek words bios = life and logos = word). ...

Whisky

Main article: Scotch Whisky An independent bottling of Royal Brackla Single Malt Scotch whisky is whisky made in Scotland. ...

Scotch Whisky is probably the best known of Scotland's manufactured exports contributing around £800 million to the Scottish economy, supporting 41,000 jobs as well as adding £2 billion to the balance of trade making it one of the UK’s top five manufacturing export earners^[12]. The Whisky industry also generates a substantial income for the government with around £1.6bn raised in duty each year^[13]. The principal whisky producing areas include Speyside and the island of Islay where there are 8 distilleries providing a major source of employment for the island. In many areas the whisky industry is closely related with tourism, with many distilleries also functioning as tourist attractions. Duty is a term loosely applied to any action (or course of action) which is regarded as morally incumbent, apart from personal likes and dislikes or any external compulsion. ... Speyside can refer to: The famous whisky producing region properly known as Strathspey The type of whisky produced in Strathspey, Speyside Single Malts The town of Speyside in Trinidad and Tobago This is a disambiguation page, a list of pages that otherwise might share the same title. ... Landsat image of Islay Islay (pronounced ; Scottish Gaelic: , or ee-luh), a Scottish island, known as The Queen of the Hebrides, is the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides. ... Tourists at Oahu island, Hawaii Tourism is the act of travel for predominantly recreational or leisure purposes, and also refers to the provision of services in support of this act. ...

Electronics

Main article: Silicon Glen Silicon Glen is a nickname for the high tech sector of Scotland. ...

The electronics industry in Scotland Silicon Glen is the phrase that is used to describe the growth and development of Scotland's hi-tech and electronics industries in the Central Belt through the 1980s and 1990s, analogous to the larger concentration of hi-tech industries in Silicon Valley, California. Companies such as IBM (which maintains a plant at Greenock near Glasgow) have been in Scotland since the 1950's being joined in the 1980's by others such as Sun Microsystems at Linlithgow. 45,000 people are employed by electronics and electronics-related firms, accounting for 12% of manufacturing output. Today, Scotland produces 28% of Europe’s PCs; more than seven per cent of the world’s PCs; and 29% of Europe’s notebooks.^[14] Silicon Glen is a nickname for the high tech sector of Scotland. ... High tech refers to high technology, technology that is at the cutting-edge and the most advanced currently available. ... The Central Lowlands are a broad area of low-lying and heavily populated land in central Scotland. ... The 1980s refers to the years of 1980 to 1989. ... This article is 150 kilobytes or more in size. ... A view of downtown San Jose, the self-proclaimed Capital of Silicon Valley. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area Ranked 3rd - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 kmÂ²) - Width 250 miles (400 km) - Length 770 miles (1,240 km) - % water 4. ... International Business Machines Corporation (known as IBM or Big Blue; NYSE: IBM) is a multinational computer technology corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, USA. The company is one of the few information technology companies with a continuous history dating back to the 19th century. ... For other uses see Greenock (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Glasgow (disambiguation). ... 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... Sun Microsystems, Inc. ... Linlithgow town in the background, the Loch in the mid-ground with the Palace in the foreground Linlithgow (Scottish Gaelic: Gleann Iucha, Scots Lithgae) is a town and Royal Burgh in Scotland. ... World map exhibiting the location of Europe. ... Apple Macintoshes like the iMac Core Duo are personal computers. ...

Textiles

Historically textiles were a large employer in Scotland in places such as the Scottish Borders, Shetland and the Outer Hebrides - areas where there is much production of wool. Knitwear and tweed are traditionally seen as cottage industries but names like Pringle have given Scottish knitwear and apparel a presence on the international market. Despite increasing competition from low-cost textile producers in SE Asia and the Indian Subcontinent, textiles in Scotland is still a major employer with a workforce of around 22,000. Furthermore the textiles industry is the 7th largest exporter in Scotland accounting for over 3% of all Scottish manufactured products^[15] Scottish Borders (often referred to locally as The Borders or The Borderland) is one of 35 local government unitary council areas of Scotland. ... Shetland (formerly spelled Zetland, from etland) formerly called Hjaltland, is one of 32 council areas of Scotland. ... Western Isles redirects here. ... Tweed is a type of fabric using the twill weave. ... Pringle of Scotland (known generally simply as Pringle) is a leading Scottish knitware manufacturer. ... World map showing the location of Asia. ... Satellite image of the Indian subcontinent Map of South Asia (see note) This article deals with the geophysical region in Asia. ... This article is becoming very long. ...

Exports

In 2004, total Scottish exports (excluding intra-UK trade) was provisionally estimated to be £17.5 billion, of which 70% (£12.2 billion) were attributable to manufacturing. The largest export products for Scotland are whisky, electronics, and financial services. ^[16] Whisky, or whiskey, refers to a broad category of alcoholic beverages that are distilled from fermented grain mash and aged in oak casks. ...

Major Trading Partners

Excluding intra UK trade, the United States and the EU constitute the largest markets for Scotland's exports. As part of the United Kingdom and the European Union, Scotland fully participates in the Single Market and Free Trade Area which exists across all EU member states and regions. Recently with the high rates of growth in many emerging economies of SE Asia such as China, Thailand and Singapore, there has been a drive towards marketing Scottish products and manufactures in these countries, with Singapore entering the top ten markets for Scottish exports in 2004. A single market is a customs union with common policies on product regulation, and freedom of movement of all the four factors of production (goods, services, capital and labour). ... A free trade area is a designated group of countries that have agreed to eliminate tariffs, quotas and preferences on most (if not all) goods between them. ... World map showing the location of Asia. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Services

Banking

Edinburgh is Europe's fifth largest financial centre^[17], with influential financial players such as the Royal Bank of Scotland , the Bank of Scotland, Scottish Widows and Standard Life all having a presence in the city. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2048x1536, 605 KB) Photographed by me August 2006 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2048x1536, 605 KB) Photographed by me August 2006 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Standard Life was Europes largest mutual company, as its shareholders voted for demutualisation as was widely expected in 2006. ... Edinburgh (pronounced ; Scottish Gaelic: ) is the capital of Scotland and its second-largest city. ... Edinburgh (pronounced ; Scottish Gaelic: ) is the capital of Scotland and its second-largest city. ... The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc (LSE: RBS) is the successor to The Royal Bank of Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: [1]), founded in 1727 by Royal Charter of King George I.[2] Based in Edinburgh, it is a banking and insurance holding company. ... Headquarters on The Mound, Edinburgh The Bank of Scotland is a commercial bank in Scotland (and to a lesser extent the rest of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland). ... Scottish Widows is an investment company located in Edinburgh, Scotland, now a subsidiary of the Lloyds TSB Group. ... Standard Life was Europes largest mutual company, as its shareholders voted for demutualisation as was widely expected in 2006. ...

Banking in Scotland has a long history, beginning with the creation of the Bank of Scotland, in Edinburgh, in 1695. Today Scotland is home to 4 clearing banks - the Bank of Scotland, the Royal Bank of Scotland, the Clydesdale Bank and Lloyds TSB Scotland. The Royal Bank of Scotland which is the second largest bank in Europe, fifth largest in the world by market capitalisation and has significant international operations recently opened its new global headquarters in Edinburgh augmenting the city's position as a major financial centre. Many other international banks are beginning to operate bases in Scotland, as the sector expands. In 2005 Scotland ranked second only to London in the European league of headquarters locations of the 30 largest banks in Europe as measured by market value ^[18]. Headquarters on The Mound, Edinburgh The Bank of Scotland is a commercial bank in Scotland (and to a lesser extent the rest of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland). ... Edinburgh (pronounced ; Scottish Gaelic: ) is the capital of Scotland and its second-largest city. ... Events January 27 - Change of emperor of the Ottoman Empire from Ahmed II to Mustafa II (1695-1703) July 17 - The Bank of Scotland is founded by an Act of Parliament of the old Scottish Parliament. ... This article is becoming very long. ... Headquarters on The Mound, Edinburgh The Bank of Scotland is a commercial bank in Scotland (and to a lesser extent the rest of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland). ... The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc (LSE: RBS) is the successor to The Royal Bank of Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: [1]), founded in 1727 by Royal Charter of King George I.[2] Based in Edinburgh, it is a banking and insurance holding company. ... Categories: Stub | Banks of the United Kingdom ... The Lloyds TSB sign, outside a branch in York Lloyds TSB Group plc (LSE: LLOY) is a bank, based in the United Kingdom, which was created in 1995 following the merger of the TSB Group and the Lloyds Bank Group. ... The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc (LSE: RBS) is the successor to The Royal Bank of Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: [1]), founded in 1727 by Royal Charter of King George I.[2] Based in Edinburgh, it is a banking and insurance holding company. ... World map exhibiting the location of Europe. ... Market capitalization, often abbreviated to market cap, mkt. ... Edinburgh (pronounced ; Scottish Gaelic: ) is the capital of Scotland and its second-largest city. ... This article is becoming very long. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... World map exhibiting the location of Europe. ...

Finance in Scotland also features unique characteristics. Although the Bank of England remains the central bank for the UK Government, three Scottish clearing banks still issue their own banknotes: (the Bank of Scotland, the Royal Bank of Scotland and the Clydesdale Bank). These notes have no status as legal tender in England, Wales or Northern Ireland; but in practice they are universally accepted throughout the UK , as well as in the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. The full range of Scottish bank notes commonly accepted are £5, £10, £20, £50 and £100. (See British banknotes for further discussion). Headquarters London Governor Mervyn King Central Bank of United Kingdom Currency Pound Sterling ISO 4217 Code GBP Base borrowing rate 5. ... A Â£20 Bank of England banknote. ... Headquarters on The Mound, Edinburgh The Bank of Scotland is a commercial bank in Scotland (and to a lesser extent the rest of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland). ... The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc (LSE: RBS) is the successor to The Royal Bank of Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: [1]), founded in 1727 by Royal Charter of King George I.[2] Based in Edinburgh, it is a banking and insurance holding company. ... Categories: Stub | Banks of the United Kingdom ... Legal tender or forced tender is payment that cannot be refused in settlement of a debt denominated in the same currency by virtue of law. ... The Channel Islands are a group of islands off the coast of Normandy, France, in the English Channel. ... British banknotes are the banknotes of the United Kingdom and British Islands, denominated in pounds sterling (GBP). ...

Centered primarily on the cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow, the development of financial services industry in the Scottish Economy, has taken place over the last 10 to 20 years. The sector makes a significant contribution to the economy employing 5% of the Scottish workforce or 113,160 people and generating £5bn or 6% of Scotland's GDP ^[19]. The financial services industry in Scotland is also one of its fastest growing areas with a growth rate of over 35% over the period 2000 to 2005 ^[20]. Edinburgh (pronounced ; Scottish Gaelic: ) is the capital of Scotland and its second-largest city. ... For other uses, see Glasgow (disambiguation). ... This article is becoming very long. ... This article is about the year 2000. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Investment, Insurance and Asset Servicing

Scotland is one of the world's biggest fund management centres with over £300bn worth of assets directly serviced or managed in the country. ^[21]. Scottish fund management centres have a major presence in areas such as pensions, property funds, investment trusts as well as in retail and private client markets. Similarly asset servicing on behalf of fund managers has become an increasingly important component of the financial services industry in Scotland with Scottish based companies providing expertise in securities servicing, investment accounting, performance measurement, trustee and depositary services and treasury services.

Tourism

It is estimated that tourism accounts for 3% of Scotland's economic output. Scotland is a well-developed tourist destination with attractions ranging from unspoilt countryside, mountains and abundant history. Tourism is responsible for sustaining 200,000 jobs mainly in the service sector, with tourist spending averaging at £4bn per year ^[22]. Domestic tourists (those from the United Kingdom) make up the bulk of visitors to Scotland. In 2002, for example, UK visitors made 18.5 million visits to Scotland, staying 64.5 million nights and spending £3.7 billion. In contrast, overseas residents made 1.58 million visits to Scotland, staying 15 million nights and spending £806 million. In terms of overseas visitors, those from the United States made up 24% of visits to Scotland, with the United States being the largest source of overseas visitors, and Germany (9%), France (8%), Canada (7%) and Australia (6%), following behind. ^[23] Image File history File linksMetadata Gleneagles_Hotel_and_grounds. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Gleneagles_Hotel_and_grounds. ... Glen Eagles is a glen or valley in the Ochil Hills. ... Perthshire (Siorrachd Pheairt in Gaelic) was a county in central Scotland, which extended from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, Rannoch Moor and Ben Lui in the west, and Aberfoyle in the south. ... Scotland is a well-developed tourist destination, with tourism generally being responsible for sustaining 200,000 jobs mainly in the service sector, with tourist spending averaging at Â£4bn per year [1]. Domestic tourists (those from the United Kingdom) make up the bulk of visitors to Scotland. ... This article is becoming very long. ... Scotland is the most mountainous region of the United Kingdom. ... Stirling Castle has stood for centuries atop a volcanic crag defending the lowest ford of the River Forth. ... Tourists at Oahu island, Hawaii Tourism is the act of travel for predominantly recreational or leisure purposes, and also refers to the provision of services in support of this act. ... This article is becoming very long. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... This article is becoming very long. ...

Infrastructure

See also: Transport in Scotland The transport system in Scotland is generally well-developed. ...

Infrastructure in Scotland is varied in its provision and its quality. The densest network of roads, railways and motorways is concentrated in the Central Lowlands of the country where around 70% of the population live. The motorway and trunk road network is principally centred on the cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow and connecting them to other major concentrations of population, and is vitally important to the economy of Scotland. Key routes include the M8 motorway, which is one of the busiest and most important major routes in Scotland, with other primary routes such as the A9 connecting the Highlands to the Central Belt, and the A90/M90 connecting Edinburgh and Aberdeen in the east. The M74 and A1, in the west and east of the country, respectively, provide the main road corridors from Scotland to England. The Scottish Executive has stated that it intends to spend £3bn on a capital investment scheme to improve Scotland's road and rail system, over the next decade ^[24], with the setting up of a national agency in January 2006 - Transport Scotland to oversee this. Many roads in the Highlands are single track, with passing places. Image File history File links Glasgow_International_Airport_Terminal. ... Image File history File links Glasgow_International_Airport_Terminal. ... Glasgow International Airport (IATA: GLA, ICAO: EGPF), located in Renfrewshire, 8 miles (13 km) west of Glasgow, near the towns of Paisley and Renfrew, is the largest and busiest airport in Scotland, and sixth busiest in the UK [1]It was the first airport in Scotland to handle over one... This article is becoming very long. ... This article is becoming very long. ... This page is related to transport; you may be looking for the 2002 Bollywood movie Road. ... A motorway (United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand, and some Commonwealth nations) is both a type of road and a classification. ... The Central Belt of Scotland is a common term used to describe the area of highest population density within Scotland. ... Edinburgh (pronounced ; Scottish Gaelic: ) is the capital of Scotland and its second-largest city. ... For other uses, see Glasgow (disambiguation). ... The M8 at Charing Cross in Glasgow The M8 runs under Sauchiehall Street and the Bridge to nowhere Kingston Bridge, looking eastward up the River Clyde Glasgows urban motorway, the M8 is the busiest motorway in Scotland. ... This article is becoming very long. ... The A9 north of Brora The A9 is a major road running from the Falkirk area in the south of Scotland to Thurso in the far north, via Stirling, Bridge of Allan, Perth and Inverness. ... The Scottish Highlands are the mountainous regions of Scotland north and west of the Highland Boundary Fault. ... The A90 is a major road in Scotland. ... The M90 motorway is a major road in Scotland. ... Edinburgh (pronounced ; Scottish Gaelic: ) is the capital of Scotland and its second-largest city. ... For other uses, see Aberdeen (disambiguation). ... M74 near Larkhall. ... Also known as the Great North Road. ... This article is becoming very long. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London (de facto) Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification - by Athelstan AD 927 Area - Total 130,395 kmÂ² (1st in UK) 50,346 sq mi Population - 2006 est. ... The Executives logo, shown with English and Scottish Gaelic caption The term Scottish Executive is used in two different, but closely-related senses: to denote the executive arm of Scotlands national legislature (i. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Transport Scotland was created on January 1, 2006 as the national transport agency of Scotland. ...

The rail network is primarily centred on the central belt and is used principally as a means of public transport, with some freight movements - for example from the port at Grangemouth. After a large rationalisation of routes in the 1960s, which led to station and line closures, the rail network is currently being expanded, to cope with ever increasing levels of passenger demand. The rail-operator First ScotRail operates most routes within Scotland, with long-distance connections to London operated by GNER or Virgin Trains. Proposals which have been mooted include the construction of a high-speed MAGLEV rail system connecting Edinburgh and Glasgow which, it estimated, will cut journey times between the two cities by around 30 minutes ^[25]. Other measures suggested include the electrification of the rail system in order to cut journey times. Grangemouth petrochemical works, November 2006 Grangemouth is a burgh in the council area of Falkirk, Scotland, and formerly in the County of Stirling. ... First ScotRail is the brand under which First Group PLC runs its railway franchise to operate all domestic passenger services within Scotland, as well as the cross-border Caledonian Sleeper service to London, England. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... GNER White Rose train at Kings Cross railway station Great North Eastern Railways (GNER) is a British train operating company (TOC) owned by Sea Containers Ltd. ... Virgin Trains is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. ... Maglev can refer to General Magnetic levitation Magnetic levitation trains This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Edinburgh (pronounced ; Scottish Gaelic: ) is the capital of Scotland and its second-largest city. ... For other uses, see Glasgow (disambiguation). ...

In 2004, 22.6 million passengers used Scotland's airports, with their being 514,000 aircraft movements ^[26] with Scottish airports being amongst the fastest growing in the United Kingdom in terms of passenger numbers. Plans have been published by the major airport operator BAA plc to facilitate the expansion of capacity at the major international airports of Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen, including new terminals and runways to cope with a large forecasted rise in passenger use. Prestwick Airport also has large air freight operations and cargo handling facilities. Scotland is well-served by many airlines and has an expanding international route network, with recent long-haul services to Dubai, New York, Atlanta and Pakistan. 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... BAA plc is the owner and operator of seven major United Kingdom airports and operator of several airports worldwide, making the company one of the largest transport companies in the world. ... Glasgow International Airport (IATA: GLA, ICAO: EGPF), located in Renfrewshire, 8 miles (13 km) west of Glasgow, near the towns of Paisley and Renfrew, is the largest and busiest airport in Scotland, and sixth busiest in the UK [1]It was the first airport in Scotland to handle over one... Edinburgh Airport, (also called Turnhouse) located in Edinburgh, Scotland, is the sixth largest international airport in the UK. Its IATA Airport Code is EDI. It is located 13 km (8 miles) West of the city centre. ... Aberdeen Airports main terminal building Aberdeen Airport, Aberdeen International Airport or Aberdeen Dyce Airport (IATA: ABZ, ICAO: EGPD) is the third largest airport in Scotland, and one of the UKs top 10 by number of flights [1]. The airport is located in Dyce, approximately 5 nautical miles (9... Glasgow Prestwick International Airport (IATA Airport Code: PIK, ICAO code: EGPK) is a facility situated north of the town of Prestwick in Ayrshire, Scotland. ... Coordinates: Emirate Dubai - Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Area - City 4,114 kmÂ² Population (2006)[1] - City 1,321,453 - Density 293. ... NY redirects here. ... This article is about the state capital of Georgia. ...

Major deep-water Port facilities exist at Aberdeen, Grangemouth, Greenock, Peterhead, Scapa Flow and Sullom Voe. Scotland is connected to mainland Europe by a dedicated ferry service between Rosyth (near Edinburgh) and Zeebrugge in Belgium. In addition to this many remote island communities on Scotland's western seaboard are served by lifeline ferry services operated by the state-owned company Caledonian MacBrayne, which carry tourists as well as freight and are vital to the economies of these islands. Seaport, a painting by Claude Lorrain, 1638 The Port of Wellington at night. ... For other uses, see Aberdeen (disambiguation). ... Grangemouth petrochemical works, November 2006 Grangemouth is a burgh in the council area of Falkirk, Scotland, and formerly in the County of Stirling. ... For other uses see Greenock (disambiguation). ... Peterhead is a town in Scotland with a population of approximately 18,000. ... Aerial Photo of Scapa Flow Scapa Flow is a body of water in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom, sheltered by the islands of Mainland, Graemsay, Burray, South Ronaldsay and Hoy. ... Sullom Voe is an inlet between North Mainland and Northmavine on Shetland in Scotland, and an oil terminal sited on its shore. ... World map exhibiting the location of Europe. ... Rosyth (pronounced Ross-sythe) (Scottish Gaelic: Ros Saoithe) is located on the Firth of Forth on Scotlands east coast, a mile (1. ... Edinburgh (pronounced ; Scottish Gaelic: ) is the capital of Scotland and its second-largest city. ... The church of Zeebrugge Zeebrugge (French: Zeebruges) is a harbour-town at the coast of Belgium, a subdivision of Bruges, for which it is the modern port. ... Caledonian MacBrayne (usually shortened to Cal-Mac) is the major operator of passenger and vehicle ferries between the mainland of Scotland and all major islands on Scotlands West coast. ...

The Role of the Public Sector

See also: Politics of Scotland The Politics of Scotland forms a distinctive part of the wider politics of the United Kingdom, with Scotland one of the constituent countries of the United Kingdom. ...

The public sector, in Scotland, has a significant impact upon the economy and comprises central government departments, local government, and public corporations. In quarter 3 of 2005, there were 577,300 people employed in the public sector, which accounts for 23.4% of employment in Scotland - this includes all medical professionals employed within the National Health Service in Scotland, those employed in the emergency services and those employed in the state education and higher education sector^[27]. This is in addition to employees of the government in the civil service and in local government as well as public bodies and corporations. The logo of NHS Scotland NHSScotland is the official corporate style of the National Health Service operations in Scotland. ... Emergency services are public services that deal with emergencies and other aspects of Public Safety. ... Scottish public bodies are the state sponsored organisations of Scotland. ...

There is a clear separation of responsibility of the powers of both the UK government and the devolved Scottish Executive in relation to the formulation and execution of national economic policy as it affects Scotland - this is set out under Section 5 of the Scotland Act 1998. The Executives logo, shown with English and Scottish Gaelic caption The term Scottish Executive is used in two different, but closely-related senses: to denote the executive arm of Scotlands national legislature (i. ... This article is becoming very long. ... The Scotland Act 1998 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom at Westminster. ...

UK Government

The UK Government along with the Parliament of the United Kingdom retains full control over Scotland's fiscal environment, in relation to taxation (including tax rates and tax collection) and the overall share of central government expenditure apportioned to Scotland, in the form of an annual block grant. It also retains complete responsibility for the operation of the Welfare State, in terms of pensions, unemployment insurance and child benefit - as part of the UK-wide Welfare State exercised by the UK Department for Work and Pensions and HM Treasury. The United Kingdom is a unitary state and a democratic constitutional monarchy. ... The Houses of Parliament, seen over Westminster Bridge The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories. ... This article is becoming very long. ... Child benefit (or childrens allowance) is a social security payment payable given to the parents or guardians of children. ... The Department for Work and Pensions is a department of the Government of the United Kingdom, created on June 8, 2001 from the merger of the Employment part of the Department for Education and Employment and the Department of Social Security. ... The new eastern entrance to HM Treasury HM Treasury, in full Her Majestys Treasury, informally The Treasury, is the United Kingdom government department responsible for developing and executing the UK Governments financial and economic policy. ...

Scottish Executive

The Scottish Executive has very limited power to raise or lower the rate of income tax in Scotland by up to 3p in the pound, but has the power to vary business rates and can regulate the application of local taxes such as the council tax levied by local authorities in Scotland. Nevertheless the Scottish Executive has full control over how Scotland's annual block grant is divided between government departments, such as healthcare and education and on state-owned enterprises, such as Scottish Water and Caledonian MacBrayne. The Scottish Executive does however have control over Economic Development policy, and controls, funds and regulates the national Economic development Agency - Scottish Enterprise. In 2006, for example, the budget of the Scottish Executive was around £25bn, ^[28] which the Scottish Executive can spend on the areas under its jurisdiction such as education, healthcare, transport, the environment and justice. An income tax is a tax levied on the financial income of persons, corporations, or other legal entities. ... Business rates are a United Kingdom tax charged to businesses and other occupiers of non-domestic property. ... The Council Tax is the main form of local taxation in England, Scotland and Wales. ... For local government purposes, Scotland is divided into 32 areas designated as Council Areas which are all governed by unitary authorities designated as Councils. They have been in use since April 1, 1996, under the provisions of the Local Government etc. ... This article is becoming very long. ... Scottish Water is a state-owned company in Scotland that provides water and sewer facilities. ... Caledonian MacBrayne (usually shortened to Cal-Mac) is the major operator of passenger and vehicle ferries between the mainland of Scotland and all major islands on Scotlands West coast. ... Scottish Enterprise is the main national economic development agency of Scotland. ... The Executives logo, shown with English and Scottish Gaelic caption The term Scottish Executive is used in two different, but closely-related senses: to denote the executive arm of Scotlands national legislature (i. ...

Local Government

Main article: Council Tax The Council Tax is the main form of local taxation in England, Scotland and Wales. ...

The 32 unitary authorities in Scotland have the ability to levy a local tax, called the Council Tax which is used to pay for local services such as refuse collection, street lighting, roads, pavements, public parks and museums. The value of residential property is the base for the tax, with each dwelling allocated to one of eight bands coded by letters A through H (H being the highest) on the basis of its assumed capital value. Each local authority sets a tax rate expressed as the annual levy on a Band D property inhabited by two liable adults. The budget of local authorities is supplemented by direct grants from the Scottish Executive. For local government purposes, Scotland is divided into 32 areas designated as Council Areas which are all governed by unitary authorities designated as Councils. They have been in use since April 1, 1996, under the provisions of the Local Government etc. ... The Council Tax is the main form of local taxation in England, Scotland and Wales. ... Look up Grant, grant in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The Executives logo, shown with English and Scottish Gaelic caption The term Scottish Executive is used in two different, but closely-related senses: to denote the executive arm of Scotlands national legislature (i. ...

Education

Main article: Education in Scotland {{Infobox Education| country name = Scotland | agency image = | agency = Scottish Executive | leader titles = Minister for Education and Young People Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning| leader names = Peter Peacock Nicol Stephen | budget = Â£4. ...

Education in Scotland is well-funded with very high levels of participation in all sectors of education. Participation in further and higher education is especially high, with Scottish universities generally being recognised as amongst the best in the teaching of medicine, law, engineering, science and technology. Increasingly Scotland is being seen as an exporter of education, with the number of overseas students applying to studying at universities throughout Scotland, rising substantially in recent years ^[29]. Most universities are linked with a flourishing research and development sector; the University of Dundee is at the heart of a biotechnology and medical research cluster ^[30]; the University of Edinburgh is a centre of excellence in the field of Artificial Intelligence and the University of Aberdeen is a world-leader in the study of offshore technology in the oil and gas industry ^[31] . Scotland generally has a well-educated population - adult Literacy rates are at over 99%. medicines, see medication and pharmacology. ... Equality and the balancing of interests under law is symbolised by a blindfold and weighing scales For other senses of this word, see Law (disambiguation). ... Engineering is the design, analysis, and/or construction of works for practical purposes. ... Part of a scientific laboratory at the University of Cologne. ... By the mid 20th century humans had achieved a level of thinking mastery sufficient to leave the surface of the planet for the first time and explore space. ... The University of Dundee is the principal university in the city and Royal burgh of Dundee, Scotland. ... The structure of insulin Biotechnology is technology based on biology, especially when used in agriculture, food science, and medicine. ... See drugs, medication, and pharmacology for substances that are used to treat patients. ... The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1582,[4] is a renowned centre for teaching and research in Edinburgh, Scotland. ... Hondas humanoid robot AI redirects here. ... The University of Aberdeen was founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland. ...

Health

Main article: NHS Scotland The logo of NHS Scotland NHSScotland is the official corporate style of the National Health Service operations in Scotland. ...

Another major component of central government expenditure in Scotland is on healthcare and healthcare related services. The National Health Service (NHS) is the publicly controlled provider of the majority of healthcare in Scotland, with the NHS being a major employer not only in terms of doctors nurses and other key healthcare workers, but also in terms of administration. The service is administered differently from the rest of the United Kingdom and is largely free at the point of use to residents in Scotland, except for dental services (where those over 19 must pay) and prescriptions (free to the elderly and subsidised for others). In the short term spending on healthcare in Scotland remains high in response to the nations' poor diet and high instance of heart disease. In the medium to long term, the challenges of an ageing population are likely to increase demand for health services and put increasing pressure on the health service in Scotland. , the information in this article describes the current English public health service. ... This article is becoming very long. ... A Dentist and Dental Assistant perform surgery on a patient. ... Heart disease is an umbrella term for a number of different diseases which affect the heart. ... This article is becoming very long. ...

Other Economic Indicators^[32]

Manufacturing GVA (£million): 11,110 (2003) Manufacturing, a branch of industry which accounts for about one-quarter of the worlds economic activity, is the application of tools and a processing medium to the transformation of raw materials into finished goods for sale. ... The Gross value added is GDP - taxes on products + subsidies on products = GVA GVA + taxes on products - subsidies on products = GDP See also Measures of national income and output External links GVA - Gross Value Added ...

Number of VAT registered companies: 126,025 (2003 est.) Value added tax (VAT) is tax on exchanges. ...

Number of Large Companies (250+ employees) in Scotland: 2,240 (2004) This article is becoming very long. ...

Employment Rate (% of adults of working age): 74.7 (2004) Employment is a contract between two parties, one being the employer and the other being the employee. ...

Median Gross Weekly Earnings of full-time workers on adult rates (£): 392.70 In probability theory and statistics, a median is a number dividing the higher half of a sample, a population, or a probability distribution from the lower half. ...

Claimant Unemployment Rate (%): 3.5 (2004) An 1837 political cartoon about unemployment in the United States. ...

People of working age claiming key Social Security benefits (%): 16.7 (Feb. 2005)

References

Scottish Financial Enterprise (SFE) is the independent membership body that represents and promotes the interests of Scotlands international financial services industry. ...

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