Scotland Performs Update

Rural Economy And Connectivity Committee

Scorecard

The following National Performance Framework indicators have been selected as relevant to the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee for the purposes of the Draft Budget Consultation Period.

The report below shows recent performance on these indicators as at 15 December 2016.

The hyperlinks take you to the Scotland Performs website for the latest information on each indicator.

Performance Improving
	Increase real terms productivity in Scotland To narrow the gap in participation between Scotland’s best and worst performing regions by 2017 ( cohesion) To reduce emissions by 42% by 2020 and 80% by 2050 ( sustainability) Increase the number of businesses Improve digital infrastructure Reduce deaths on Scotland’s roads Reduce children’s deprivation Improve the condition of protected nature sites Improve the state of Scotland’s marine environment Increase renewable electricity production
Performance Maintaining
	To rank in the top quartile for productivity against key trading partners in the OECD by 2017 Reduce traffic congestion Improve the skill profile of the population Increase the proportion of young people in learning, training or work Improve people’s perceptions of their neighbourhood Increase cultural engagement Increase the abundance of terrestrial breeding birds: biodiversity Increase natural capital Increase the proportion of journeys to work by public or active transport
Performance Worsening
	To raise the GDP growth rate to the UK level by 2011 To maintain our position in labour market participation as the top performing country in the UK Improve people’s perceptions of the quality of public services Reduce the proportion of individuals living in poverty Reduce Scotland’s carbon footprint

Performance Improving

Scotland's productivity increased by 1.3% in real terms during 2014. It is now 4.4% higher than the pre-recession level in 2007.

The gap in employment rates between the three local authorities with highest and lowest rates has fluctuated in recent years and is now at roughly the same level as in 2004.

In 2014, Greenhouse gas emissions were 45.8% lower than the Baseline Period. This exceeds the percentage reduction required to meet the 2020 target (42%) and is outperforming on the percentage reduction trajectory required to meet the 2050 target (80%).

The number of businesses per 10,000 adults has increased over recent years and is now at a series high level.

Next generation broadband was available at more premises in 2015 than in the previous four years.

The number of people killed on Scotland's roads decreased in 2015 and is part of a long term downward trend, despite the increase in 2014.

The percentage of children living in material deprivation decreased in 2014/15 following an increase in the previous two years. In 2010/11, there was a change to the questions asked in the survey.

The proportion of nature sites in a favourable condition increased in 2016, part of a gradual upward trend.

The percentage of fish stocks where the catch limit is consistent with scientific guidance increased in 2015, following a sharp declining trend since 2010. This is largely due to the 2016 Total Allowable Catch for mackerel being set in accordance with scientific advice.

The proportion of Scotland's electricity generated from renewable sources has been increasing fairly steadily since 2003.

Performance Maintaining

Scotland's productivity rank remained at 19th between 2011 and 2014, at the top of the third quartile. Between 2006 and 2010, the rank fluctuated between 16th and 18th.

Journeys perceived to have been delayed due to traffic congestion fluctuated between 2007 and 2015.

The percentage of the working age population with low or no qualifications continues to decline as part of a consistent downward trend.

The proportion of school leavers in learning, training or work increased between 2008/09 and 2015/16.

The percentage of people who rated their neighbourhood as a very good place to live increased between 2006 and 2011, but has remained stable since.

The percentage of adults who engaged in a cultural activity remained stable between 2012 and 2015. The survey question was changed in 2012. Previously the percentage had remained fairly stable since 2007.

The abundance of terrestrial breeding birds remained stable between 2014 and 2015, following a large increase in 2014.

The Natural Capital Asset Index has remained about the same for the last decade and is roughly at the same level as in 2000.

The proportion of adults who usually travel to work by public or active transport has remained stable for the last decade.

Performance Worsening

Scotland's annual GDP growth rate, on a 4Q on 4Q basis, was lower than the comparable UK rate in the first and second quarters of 2016.

Scotland's employment rate was the second highest in the UK in the second and third quarters of 2016.

The percentage of people who are 'very' or 'fairly' satisfied with local public services has fluctuated in recent years and decreased in 2015.

The proportion of people living in relative poverty is on a long downward trend, but has fluctuated since 2009.

Scotland's carbon footprint rose fairly steadily to a peak in 2007 before falling sharply in the following years. There was an increase in 2012.