LocationNorthern part of Great Britain.
Area77,925 sq km (30,086 sq miles).
Population5.12 million (official estimate 2006).
Population Density65.7 per sq km.
CapitalEdinburgh.
Population: 458,000 (official estimate 2005).
LanguageEnglish. Gaelic is still spoken by some, mostly in the West and Highlands.
Head of GovernmentFirst Minister Alex Salmond since May 2007.
Head of StateHM Queen Elizabeth II.
For information on time,
religion, electricity, passport and visa, money, duty-free and health, see the main
United Kingdom section.
Recent HistoryDespite Scotland’s absorption into Britain following the 1707 Treaty (or Act) of Union, there has always been a strong streak of independence in the nation, and the regaining of independence has always been the aim of many Scots.
Scotland did achieve a much greater degree of autonomy from the UK government in 1999, when it regained its own parliament as part of the devolution process. The Scottish Parliament has control over matters such as education and health, and has its own tax-raising powers. The UK Government maintains control over issues such as defense and foreign policy. Scotland’s parliament is housed adjacent to the Palace of Holyrood House in Edinburgh.
Alex Salmond made political history after becoming the first Nationalist to be elected first minister of Scotland. The Scottish National Party (SNP) leader was voted into office in parliament by 49 votes to 46, after he was supported by the Greens. The Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives abstained. He heads the first minority administration since devolution.
Press• Scotland’s main national newspapers include
The Scotsman,
The Herald, and the tabloid
Daily Record.
•
Scotland on Sunday and the
Sunday Herald are major Sunday titles.
• There are numerous local daily evening papers.
Radio• BBC Radio Scotland is the major national English language station.
• All UK national
BBC stations are also available throughout the country, in addition to its Gaelic service,
Radio Nan Gaidheal.
• Commercial stations include
Forth One (Edinburgh),
Radio Clyde (Glasgow), and
Central FM (Stirling).
Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2009-December 2010 period.
Public holidays observed in Scotland are the same as those observed in the rest of the UK (see the main
United Kingdom section) with the exception of Easter Monday and the late August Summer Bank Holiday and with the addition of:
2009
2 Jan 2nd January.
3 Aug Summer Bank Holiday.
2010
2 Jan 2nd January.
2 Aug Summer Bank Holiday.
Contact Information:VisitScotlandFairways Business Park, Deer Park Avenue, Livingston EH54 8AF, UK
Tel: 0845 225 5121, in the UK only,
or (01506) 832 121.
Website:
www.visitscotland.comNoteIn New York, VisitBritain deals with enquiries relating to Scotland (see
United Kingdom section).
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