Scotland

Hello everyone. My name is Dragon Lady, and I decided to devote this page to the home of my ancestry, Scotland. On these pages you will find information on History, Travel,and Port Glasgow, which is where I am from. After you are done looking at the information on my lovely country, please sign my guestbook, and tell me what you think. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to E-mail me.

Government in Scotland is currently in two tiers. National government is via the UK parliament in London, through the Secretary of state for Scotland and the Scottish Office based in Edinburgh. Local government is divided into 29 unitary authorities and three island authorities, having been subject to a major reorganisation in 1995. Scotland has it's own legal system, judiciary and an education system which, at all levels, differs from that found "south of the border" in England and Wales.

Scotland also has it's own banking system and it's own banknotes. Edinburgh is the second financial centre of the UK and one of the major financial centres of the world. There are four major international clearing banks in Scotland:

Bank of Scotland
Royal Bank of Scotland
Clydesdale Bank
TSB Scotland

There are also a significant number of merchant banks (for example the British Linen Bank) and other financial institutions (including leading insurance companies and investment funds) headquartered in Edinburgh. The Bank of England in Threadneedle Street, London, is the U.K. equivalent of the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank. It issues currency in the U.K. on behalf of the government, under Royal Charters of 1694 and 1946. However, the Bank of Scotland, the Royal Bank of Scotland and the Clydesdale Bank have all, by long standing tradition, issued their own banknotes. These banknotes are widely used throughout Scotland, and are generally accepted elsewhere in the United Kingdon, although strictly are not legal tender. Visitors are advised to exchange Scottish notes before leaving the U.K. Exchange rates are the same for Scottish and English notes. To further confuse the the visitor, other parts of the United Kingdom also issue their own banknotes, for example Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man.

The flag of Scotland is the cross of St. Andrew, also known as the Saltire. It is said to be one of the oldest national flags of any country, dating back at least to the 12th century. For more information on this flag, and The Royal Flag of Scotland click here.