Scottish Enterprise published its annual report and accounts on 2 October 2017. Highlands and Islands Enterprise published its annual report and accounts on 16 October 2017.

No external research has been commissioned by the Scottish Government as yet, but it is reviewing the availability of evidence that exists in this area for Scotland and is undertaking a joint project with the STUC examining the potential impact of technological change on the Scottish labour market. This project will report back to the next Biannual meeting between the First Minister and the STUC in November. There is no cost to government for this research aside from staff time. This will complement a Scottish Enterprise research report on Automation and Sector Impacts published late last year as part of its Future Focus programme and will build upon these findings to determine the scope of further research.

Ryanair are the only passenger airline currently serving Prestwick Airport. However, we do not hold information on the number of Ryanair flights broken down for each day.

Two freight operators, Air France and Cargolux, currently operate scheduled flights to Prestwick Airport with approximately six flights per week. We do not, however, hold this information broken down by flights per day. A range of other cargo operators use Prestwick on an ad-hoc basis.

Passenger numbers broken down by departing and arriving passengers for 2015, 2016 and 2017 (to September) are provided in the following table. Figures have been provided for Ryanair as the only scheduled passenger airline serving Prestwick during this period. Figures are also provided for other flights which include passengers on non-scheduled, chartered, military, general aviation and diverted flights. We do not hold a breakdown of these ‘other’ flights:

* Total passenger figures January to September 2017

Source: Glasgow Prestwick Airport

The volume of arriving and departing freight transported through the airport since 2015 is provided in the following table. We cannot provide the freight volume figures broken down by airline as this information is commercially sensitive.

* Total freight figures January to September 2017

Source: Glasgow Prestwick Airport

Scottish Government officials are supporting Benny Higgins in taking this work forward. The core Secretariat is currently resourced by four dedicated members of staff from the Scottish Government Economic Policy Unit, augmented by a variety of additional skills and expertise from across other portfolios as required.

The Scottish Government has not set a fixed budget for this work but will ensure that the appropriate financial support is provided whilst ensuring maximum value for public money.

No - the Scottish Government does not currently have access to the additional borrowing flexibilities provided in the Fiscal Framework. As these powers only took effect on 1 April 2017, four rolling quarters of GDP data after this date, which are part of the required criteria for considering these flexibilities, have not yet accumulated.

There are 27 statistical staff employed in the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser to collect and analyse economic data. These staff cover a range of work streams including: National Accounts (GDP, Input-Output tables, National Accounts and Public Sector Finances); Business and Trade; Energy and Climate Change; and Labour Market statistics.

Further details are available in the Scottish Economic Statistics Plan 2017-18 - http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Economy/ScotStat/Planning/SESP-2017-18.

Pre-release access arrangements for Scottish Government Official Statistics are in compliance with the UK Statistics Authority's Code of Practice for Official Statistics and Scottish legislation (Pre-release Access to Official Statistics (Scotland) Order 2008). Pre-release access continues across other parts of the UK following equivalent pre-release access orders. Access lists are regularly reviewed and the Chief Statistician has responsibility for deciding who receives pre-release access to Scottish Government Official Statistics.

The Scottish Government has begun a recruitment process to appoint an individual to lead the Analytical Unit which will have its own dedicated staff. This appointment and resourcing of the unit is being taken forward in consultation with the Enterprise and Skills Strategic Board. In the interim, analytical support for the Strategic Board is being provided by Scottish Government analysts supported by the analytical capacity from the wider Enterprise and Skills system.