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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Gates takes in vista at Holyrood | Gates takes in vista at Holyrood |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Microsoft founder Bill Gates is due to join more than 300 business leaders at a conference being held at Holyrood. | Microsoft founder Bill Gates is due to join more than 300 business leaders at a conference being held at Holyrood. |
| The Government Leaders Forum will discuss skills gaps and Scotland's progress on e-democracy. | |
| On Monday, Microsoft announced plans to provide computer training for 100,000 Scots over the next three years. | |
| The two-day conference, which comes on the day Microsoft launched its Windows Vista operating system, will be opened by the Duke of York. | |
| The Green Party said the parliament should not be supporting a huge multinational with monopoly powers. | The Green Party said the parliament should not be supporting a huge multinational with monopoly powers. |
| Mr Gates and Chancellor Gordon Brown will take part in a question and answer session on Wednesday. | Mr Gates and Chancellor Gordon Brown will take part in a question and answer session on Wednesday. |
| Politics these days is too important to be left just to the politicians George ReidPresiding officer | Politics these days is too important to be left just to the politicians George ReidPresiding officer |
| It is the first time the forum has come to Britain and the event has been billed as the parliament's biggest business conference yet. | It is the first time the forum has come to Britain and the event has been billed as the parliament's biggest business conference yet. |
| Leaders taking part include Danuta Hubner, European Commissioner for Regional Policy, and Wim Kok, the former prime minister of the Netherlands. | Leaders taking part include Danuta Hubner, European Commissioner for Regional Policy, and Wim Kok, the former prime minister of the Netherlands. |
| The forum aims to get government and academic delegates to look at key areas relating to connected government, digital learning, employability skills and the transition to the knowledge economy. | The forum aims to get government and academic delegates to look at key areas relating to connected government, digital learning, employability skills and the transition to the knowledge economy. |
| 'Only fitting' | 'Only fitting' |
| The Scottish Executive has arranged for 14 youngsters to speak to Mr Gates, who is the world's richest man, and meet other delegates to discuss the impact of e-democracy. | The Scottish Executive has arranged for 14 youngsters to speak to Mr Gates, who is the world's richest man, and meet other delegates to discuss the impact of e-democracy. |
| Presiding Officer George Reid said: "It seems only fitting that Holyrood hosts the first forum to be held in the live context of a working legislature. | Presiding Officer George Reid said: "It seems only fitting that Holyrood hosts the first forum to be held in the live context of a working legislature. |
| "Holyrood was designed as a model of participate governance." | "Holyrood was designed as a model of participate governance." |
| The Duke of York is due to open the two-day conference | The Duke of York is due to open the two-day conference |
| He said the Festival of Politics, Scotland 's Futures Forum and the petitions system helped to involve people in decision-making." | He said the Festival of Politics, Scotland 's Futures Forum and the petitions system helped to involve people in decision-making." |
| "Politics these days is too important to be left just to the politicians," he said. | "Politics these days is too important to be left just to the politicians," he said. |
| Microsoft's announcement of training for 100,000 Scots was a result of the company joining forces with two other multinationals, State Street and Cisco. | Microsoft's announcement of training for 100,000 Scots was a result of the company joining forces with two other multinationals, State Street and Cisco. |
| The training will be provided for Scots who lack the IT skills to find jobs. | The training will be provided for Scots who lack the IT skills to find jobs. |
| It is part of a Europe-wide project begun by the forum three years ago to help 20 million people to find employment. | It is part of a Europe-wide project begun by the forum three years ago to help 20 million people to find employment. |