Data for Scotland: Reshaping the nation through population statistics

This paper is concerned with the ninth and only non-thematic responsibility of the Scottish Parliament - the need to underpin parliamentary decision-m aking and debate with policy-oriented research and statistical evidence. De velopments in the research support infrastructure which are designed to mee t data needs for the devolved Scotland are described. It is instructive to comprehend these initiatives within the broader context of on-going contest ations over Scotland's identity. It is argued that the consequences of how Scotland's research base is developed may be as significant for the future of Scotland as any socioeconomic policy intervention that may result from i nterpretation of Scottish Household Survey data.