Global Connections Survey - Definitions
Exports
Exports were defined as direct sales to customers based outside the UK, including those to visitors to Scotland. Figures exclude VAT, and exports of goods are on free on board basis (exclude overseas freight and insurance costs). Therefore goods which are sold to elsewhere in the UK and subsequently exported will not be included in these figures.
Industry Classifications
Companies have been classified under the Standard Industrial Classifications (SIC 03 for 2003 - 2007 results), defined by the activity of their largest local unit in Scotland based on the IDBR. SIC 2007 will be investigated for implementation for the next release of the Global Connections Survey.
More information on the SICs can be found here:
SIC Classification -
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/classifications/archived-standard-classifications/uk-standard-industrial-classification-1992--sic92-/index.html
SIC 2007 -
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/classifications/current-standard-classifications/standard-industrial-classification/index.html
Oil and Gas
Under the European System of Accounts (ESA95), the UK Continental Shelf is allocated to the extra-regio region (which also includes foreign embassies and military bases etc.). Because we have tried as far as possible to follow National Accounting principles, exports from the offshore oil & gas industry that are landed at Scottish terminals have not been included. In terms of the Standard Industrial Classifications, this means that SIC 11.1 has been excluded from the analysis. This is consistent with the approach taken with the Scottish quarterly GDP index, ONS estimates of Scottish GVA, GERS and the Scottish input-output tables.
Transfer Pricing
Inter-company sales from the Scottish branch(es) of a company to its overseas branch(es), have been treated as an export in this survey. The value of inter-company sales will have been set by the companies at a level they specify and this may not reflect the true market value of the product/service.