Scotland’s historic environment is a vital part of the country’s economy, Culture Minister Michael Russell told parliament today.

Speaking in a debate on the legacy of buildings and monuments, the Minister for Culture, External Affairs and the Constitution encouraged debate on how it can best be used to boost tourism, construction and regeneration.

The Minister said: "Clearly, there is enormous potential here to make creative coalitions in Scotland across all these boundaries, to realise the full value of our historic environment to our people and our economy. The potential here is staggering."

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Figures published earlier this year by the Historic Environment Advisory Council for Scotland showed that the historic environment sector contributes more than £2.3 billion to Scotland’s national gross value added (GVA), mainly through tourism, construction and regeneration. That is equivalent to 2.6% of the total Scottish GVA.

It directly supports 41,000 full time equivalent (FTE) jobs. Taking account of indirect and induced effects, this figure rises to 60,000 FTE employees.

It compares strongly with other distinctive Scottish sectors (whisky, gin and vodka £43,300 and sport £45,500).

Today’s debate follows a Heritage Summit held at Bute Hall on November 3, hosted by the Minister, which brought together interested parties to look at how to promote and protect our historic landscape of buildings and monuments.

The Minister added: "I have no doubt at all about the contribution the historic environment can make in many ways to achieving this government’s purpose of increasing sustainable economic growth.

"The time is ripe. We have major opportunities, with changes taking place in various parts of the sector."

(GK/KMcA)