What information it has regarding the reasons for (a) Glasgow being unsuccessful and (b) Lisbon being successful in its application for the…

The location of the headquarters of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) was decided by headsof government at the Brussels European Council on 12 and 13 of December asrecorded in the presidency conclusions. There was strong competition from anumber of bids for the EMSA headquarters, including Glasgow. The conduct andprocess of the UK application for Glasgow were the responsibilityof the UK Government, and a full bid document was produced in co-operation withthe Scottish Executive. The Scottish Executive maintains close contact withthe UK Government on a range of EU matters including the process for the sitingof European agency’s headquarters.
The Scottish Executive strategy to promote the maritime sector in Glasgow, andthroughout Scotland, is through the ports policies set out in ModernPorts: A UK wide policy,(Bib. number 9874), through encouraging shipbuilding in Scotland, encouragingshipping as a sustainable method of transport, and through regular liaison withthe UK Government about reserved shipping polices as they affect Scotland.