Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 27 November 2012
27 Nov 2012 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
St Andrew’s Day
I will try my best to keep to that time, Presiding Officer. It is nice to have a few extra minutes in what has been an excellent debate. I will say a bit more about the spirit in which it has been conducted later.
Twice in the past two or three weeks, I have stood in the chamber and realised that I should have stuck in at school a bit more. We had a debate about Malawi a couple of weeks ago during which I learned a lot about what is happening in that country. The information that we have heard in today’s debate—about the history of St Andrew, the things that are happening across our country now, and the things that have happened in the past—has encouraged me to have a closer look at some of the things that we do and to learn a bit more about our history.
St Andrews is in the region that I represent. What Rod Campbell said about what is happening in and around that area was excellent. The way in which he managed to bring Michael Jackson into the debate was probably the most impressive and sophisticated way that I have ever heard a celebrity brought into a debate in the Parliament. I congratulate him on that.
The fact that we have focused so much on what the date means to so many other people shows that it is important. Stewart Stevenson mentioned two or three things, although I am sure that he kept out of the debate a few other things that have happened in his life on 30 November.
Twice in the past two or three weeks, I have stood in the chamber and realised that I should have stuck in at school a bit more. We had a debate about Malawi a couple of weeks ago during which I learned a lot about what is happening in that country. The information that we have heard in today’s debate—about the history of St Andrew, the things that are happening across our country now, and the things that have happened in the past—has encouraged me to have a closer look at some of the things that we do and to learn a bit more about our history.
St Andrews is in the region that I represent. What Rod Campbell said about what is happening in and around that area was excellent. The way in which he managed to bring Michael Jackson into the debate was probably the most impressive and sophisticated way that I have ever heard a celebrity brought into a debate in the Parliament. I congratulate him on that.
The fact that we have focused so much on what the date means to so many other people shows that it is important. Stewart Stevenson mentioned two or three things, although I am sure that he kept out of the debate a few other things that have happened in his life on 30 November.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick)
NPA
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-04970, in the name of Fiona Hyslop, on St Andrew’s day: a celebration of Scotland.14:55
The Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs (Fiona Hyslop)
SNP
I am delighted to open the debate, which I hope will give us the opportunity to discuss what is great about Scotland and how we can use St Andrew’s day to ce...
Annabel Goldie (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention?
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
Indeed.
Annabel Goldie
Con
I am grateful to the cabinet secretary for her graciousness in permitting me to intervene. I know that the cabinet secretary does not care for the impact of ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith)
Lab
Cabinet secretary.
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
We could debate who is churlish. I would accept that Annabel Goldie’s amendment is not a crude attempt to hijack the debate for constitutional purposes if sh...
Margo MacDonald (Lothian) (Ind)
Ind
The cabinet secretary has given an impressive list, but I wonder whether there could be something that is a bit more imaginative—a huge St Andrew’s day prize...
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
That is a good point and it is one reason why the national book prize that the Saltire Society runs will be announced on St Andrew’s day, as a St Andrew’s pr...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I call Patricia Ferguson, who has a generous nine minutes.15:08
Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome the opportunity to speak in today’s debate on the continuing relevance of St Andrew’s day to contemporary Scotland. I signal that Scottish Labour w...
Margo MacDonald
Ind
I am not in the least biased, so here is an idea. At Christmas, we wear Christmas tree badges, brooches and so on. I am sure that we could get something for ...
Patricia Ferguson
Lab
I thank Mrs MacDonald for that helpful suggestion. Perhaps we could have a saltire and a union jack, although that may be pushing it too far. I can just see ...
Annabel Goldie (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
On seeing the title of today’s debate, I was reminded of a time when the St Andrew’s day debate was confined to members’ business. It is now elevated to the ...
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
I do not dispute that, which is why we have it in our motion. What I do not understand is what are all the celebrations that will take place all over Scotlan...
Annabel Goldie
Con
That is what many people in Scotland—hundreds of thousands of them apparently, according to recent polls—feel instinctively is part of their identity. They d...
Margo MacDonald
Ind
Will the member give way?
Annabel Goldie
Con
I am getting a little tight for time, Ms MacDonald; I have referred to you in my speech.
Margo MacDonald
Ind
On a point of historical accuracy, we have nothing to be proud of in Scotland when it comes to the slave trade.
Annabel Goldie
Con
My point is that it was a United Kingdom Parliament that put an end to slavery and that Scotland was part of that. It was also as part of the United Kingdom ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
We move to open debate and speeches of six minutes, please. There is a little bit of time for interventions, at this stage.15:26
Roderick Campbell (North East Fife) (SNP)
SNP
As the MSP for North East Fife, which is home to the town of St Andrews, I am privileged to participate in today’s debate on Scotland’s day of national celeb...
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
Perhaps I can supply a connection with “Thriller”. Apparently, the producer of the video was inspired by “Tam o’ Shanter”, perhaps reflecting the theme, so t...
Roderick Campbell
SNP
I thank the cabinet secretary for that useful piece of information.Cities for life day is an event that does not gather as much interest in Scotland as it do...
Margo MacDonald
Ind
Can Roderick Campbell say who won the football match?
Roderick Campbell
SNP
It was a 0-0 draw.St Andrew’s day has also borne witness to cultural and historically significant firsts. The first international football match gathered tog...
Margaret McDougall (West Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome the opportunity to speak in the Scottish Government debate on St Andrew’s day, although a Scottish Government celebration of St Andrew’s day might ...
Fiona McLeod (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP)
SNP
First of all, I refer members to my register of interests as the chair of the Scottish Library and Information Council and as a member of the Chartered Insti...
Rob Gibson (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP)
SNP
The idea behind celebrating St Andrew’s day on 30 November was partly handed down to us by the old church, and we are stumped with that, in a way. We cannot ...
Mark Griffin (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome the opportunity to speak in today’s debate. When I read the motion as I sat down to write my speech last night, I wondered where to begin in seekin...