SNP's new role for Scotland on world stage

PIPE bands parading in New York have become a familiar example of Scotland's presence on the world stage.

But events such as Tartan Week in the United States could be in for a revamp as the Executive launches a wide-ranging review into how Scotland is represented abroad.

The Executive's international strategy is under scrutiny in a shift of direction under the new SNP administration towards higher-profile political and commercial contact.

Scotland's man in Washington, Michael Kellet, is leaving his job in the British embassy and ministers have yet to decide how - or even if - he will be replaced. It is understood staff at Scottish Development International (SDI), the Executive's global inward investment agency, could take on a more wide-ranging role in the US.

Direct political contact with other countries has already been given a higher profile under the new Holyrood regime with the creation of an external affairs role within the Office of the First Minister. Alex Salmond espouses closer links with the likes of Norway, with whom plans are being mooted for a joint energy grid to share the spoils of North Sea oil and gas production. Linda Fabiani, the new minister for Europe and external affairs, has just returned from Brittany where she has been supporting the Lorient Festival of Celtic culture.

But opposition parties fear "SNP globetrotters" are unnecessary as Scotland is represented through embassies and consulates of the UK.

Among the priorities for the SNP is better representation at Europe. Earlier this year, a leaked report from Holyrood's top official in Brussels revealed Scotland's interests were being routinely ignored by Whitehall during negotiations and that Scottish ministers and civil servants were being kept "out of the loop" by London counterparts.

A senior SNP figure said yesterday: "It is quite clear Scotland has been underperforming in Europe, even in the context of devolution. The feedback from officials was that the Welsh Assembly was getting more effective representation at Europe."

He also hinted Scotland could be making more contact with other countries to discuss "policy issues" on social legislation or joint initiatives such as the EU's Northern Periphery Programme - a scheme to improve transport and education in remote areas of Europe such as Scotland's Highlands and Islands.

Although support for Tartan Week is unlikely to be withdrawn, insiders say there could be a greater emphasis on events outside New York in order to maximise news coverage of the event.

Professor Douglas Yuill, director of the European Policies Research Centre at the University of Strathclyde, said: "There is already a lot of contact between Scotland and Europe, including civil servants based in Brussels. Scotland is not unique in this - there are also representatives of the Spanish regions and the German Länder, for example. The EU emphasises the importance of exchanging policy ideas between countries."

In a recent exclusive interview with The Scotsman, Scotland's top civil servant said officials were prepared for a greater emphasis on international relations under the SNP regime. Sir John Elvidge said: "We will continue to have a strong and probably a stronger presence in Brussels. I don't see a barrier to talking to directly to the Commission. We already have a directorate concentrating on international relationships. It would be easy for that directorate to evolve as the scale of our work develops."

Mr Kellet, the highly regarded First Secretary of Scottish Affairs at the British Embassy in Washington, is leaving his post after being promoted within the civil service. Although the Executive wants to be represented in the United States, it is unable to say whether it will have any future presence in the British embassy.

Mr Kellett was unavailable for comment yesterday, but a spokeswoman for the Executive said: "Michael Kellet has over the past two years been very effective in representing the Scottish government in the USA. The Scottish government will continue to be represented in the USA, whose relationship with Scotland remains important."

David McLetchie, Scottish Conservative chief whip, said: "Scotland sits at the top tables in world affairs through being part of the United Kingdom. Historically, the Union has been the platform which has spread the influence of Scotland across the world. We don't need the SNP Globetrotters to do that job for us. Where there is a genuine international dimension to the devolved responsibilities of the Scottish Executive then well and good - otherwise it should be home fixtures only."

• Additional reporting by Peter MacMahon

FUN WITH LITTLE IMPACT IN MANHATTAN

TARTAN Week has always generated more headlines in Scotland than in the United States where it takes place.

The annual event, which celebrates the Declaration of Arbroath, receives £650,000 in funding from the Executive because of its usefulness to VisitScotland and Scottish Development International (SDI) in promoting Scotland to an American audience.

But although kilts and pipe bands in Manhattan create amusement for New Yorkers, it is far from clear whether the event has made any long-term impact on visitor numbers in Scotland.

Ministers are understood to be examining how the event programme can be improved to attract more attention for Scotland in America. .

Official representation of Scotland abroad remains under the control of Westminster and British embassies, although Scotland has its own officials at the British embassy in Washington and in Brussels.

Labour's Holyrood administration was keen to avoid diplomatic clashes with Labour counterparts in Westminster but the SNP is less concerned, as witnessed by last week's insistence that the saltire should be flown from government buildings.

Alex Salmond has already made his intentions clear by meeting four European Commissioners from other countries on his recent visit to Brussels.

Jim Mather will be the first SNP minister to make a public speech in North America when he addresses the charity he founded, the Scotland Funds, in Toronto on 15 October.