Scottish Diaspora

Question Time — Scottish Executive — Education and Young People, Tourism, Culture and Sport – in the Scottish Parliament at 2:00 pm on 23 December 2004.

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Photo of John Home Robertson John Home Robertson Labour 2:00, 23 December 2004

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to raise awareness of Scotland among the Scottish diaspora in North America. (S2O-4707)

Photo of Patricia Ferguson Patricia Ferguson Labour

The United States is Scotland's most important overseas market for business and tourism. In recognition of that, the Scottish affairs office, which is based in the British embassy in Washington, was established in October 2001. The office's remit is to promote contemporary Scotland, to act as a liaison for all Scottish agencies that work in the US and to be an outreach to the Scottish diaspora. In the course of her duties, the first secretary for Scottish affairs undertakes an extensive programme of speaking engagements throughout the US, advises those who seek to establish connections with Scotland and has lead responsibility for the Executive's contribution to tartan day.

Photo of John Home Robertson John Home Robertson Labour

I am grateful for that helpful reply. I am always a little nervous about what research into my family's genealogy might reveal. I know that at least one family member was transported to Virginia in 1716 as a Jacobite rebel. Does the Executive have plans to capitalise on renewed interest in genealogy to promote business and tourism? Following Governor Schwarzenegger's choice of John Muir, the great environmentalist from East Lothian, to feature on 2 billion US quarter-dollar coins, does the minister have further plans to raise awareness of Scottish connections with America through the good offices of the first secretary for Scottish affairs, about whom she just talked?

Photo of Patricia Ferguson Patricia Ferguson Labour

It is estimated that about 20 million US citizens claim Scots ancestry, so that market has major potential. We recognise that potential and we encourage people who have an interest in tracing their roots to visit Scotland. The website ancestralscotland.com can act as a first port of call for anyone, wherever they come from, who wants to find out about their Scottish roots and it will inspire them to travel to Scotland.

I was aware of John Home Robertson's ancestry, because he mentioned it a few years ago during a member's business debate on tartan day. It is obviously of great interest to him and to others. I was interested to hear about the initiative that was taken by Governor Schwarzenegger to promote John Muir on the back of quarter-dollar coins in America. I understand that John Muir was born in Dunbar in the constituency of John Home Robertson, who obviously therefore has an interest. From what he said, it strikes me that there might be potential for further initiatives, not least because John Muir was one of the founding fathers of environmentalism. It may well be that we could examine ways of using John Muir to promote green tourism around the world.