Chamber
Plenary, 29 Nov 2007
29 Nov 2007 · S3 · Plenary
Item of business
St Andrew's Day
I want consensus in the debate, which is being held on the day before St Andrew's day. It is important that we celebrate Scotland together. Indeed, we should encourage the entire country to get involved. I had hoped that all the Opposition parties would find it in themselves to engage in a positive manner and focus on our national day, which is tomorrow, 30 November. I wanted to talk about an upbeat Scotland; that is what I intend to do, as soon as I have dealt with the Opposition amendments.
Iain Smith may have thrown me out of my seat just before the debate got under way, but I assure him that we will meet our manifesto commitment on St Andrew's day. We will make it a day in which Scots are engaged and a day that benefits Scottish confidence and the Scottish economy.
No Government—here or elsewhere—can force Scots to take a break. Unfortunately, we cannot decree a "full national holiday", under Scots law or United Kingdom law. Nor can we enforce jollity and happiness on the population, although, that said, people seem happier since May. I am only too pleased to accept the credit for that, on behalf of the Scottish National Party Government. We are leading by example and encouragement in making St Andrew's day a holiday across Scotland. We will continue to do that and we will encourage other employers to engage in this important day for Scotland.
A colleague from previous sessions of the Parliament is sitting in the public gallery for the debate. I commend Dennis Canavan for the sterling work that he did on St Andrew's day. [Applause.]
I know that my Labour Party colleagues want to celebrate all that is good in Scotland; all Scots want to do that. The Labour Party's acceptance of the winter festival in its amendment is a great step in the right direction. It is therefore a pity that the Labour Party then spoiled things by making a poor attack on the legislation on new year trading. As a member of the Parliament in the previous session, I was happy to support the overwhelming groundswell of public opinion in favour of a ban on shopping and trading on Christmas day, which is a day for families to be together. The question of trading on new year's day was left for a later date. Parliament remained unconvinced of the case for a ban.
Iain Smith may have thrown me out of my seat just before the debate got under way, but I assure him that we will meet our manifesto commitment on St Andrew's day. We will make it a day in which Scots are engaged and a day that benefits Scottish confidence and the Scottish economy.
No Government—here or elsewhere—can force Scots to take a break. Unfortunately, we cannot decree a "full national holiday", under Scots law or United Kingdom law. Nor can we enforce jollity and happiness on the population, although, that said, people seem happier since May. I am only too pleased to accept the credit for that, on behalf of the Scottish National Party Government. We are leading by example and encouragement in making St Andrew's day a holiday across Scotland. We will continue to do that and we will encourage other employers to engage in this important day for Scotland.
A colleague from previous sessions of the Parliament is sitting in the public gallery for the debate. I commend Dennis Canavan for the sterling work that he did on St Andrew's day. [Applause.]
I know that my Labour Party colleagues want to celebrate all that is good in Scotland; all Scots want to do that. The Labour Party's acceptance of the winter festival in its amendment is a great step in the right direction. It is therefore a pity that the Labour Party then spoiled things by making a poor attack on the legislation on new year trading. As a member of the Parliament in the previous session, I was happy to support the overwhelming groundswell of public opinion in favour of a ban on shopping and trading on Christmas day, which is a day for families to be together. The question of trading on new year's day was left for a later date. Parliament remained unconvinced of the case for a ban.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Alex Fergusson):
NPA
The next item of business is a debate on motion S3M-946, in the name of Linda Fabiani, on St Andrew's day. You have 11 minutes, minister, but I would be grat...
The Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture (Linda Fabiani):
SNP
I want consensus in the debate, which is being held on the day before St Andrew's day. It is important that we celebrate Scotland together. Indeed, we should...
Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab):
Lab
Will the minister give way?
Linda Fabiani:
SNP
No.When the winter festival was launched at the beginning of the month, some Labour members said that sending supplies of the saltire to pre-schools and coll...
Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con):
Con
I welcome what the minister says on the subject. However, does she accept that, when SNP candidates are out on the street during election campaigns, it is un...
Linda Fabiani:
SNP
There is absolutely nothing to stop any Scottish political party handing out the saltire to Scots people.I welcome the amendment in Ted Brocklebank's name, d...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
I am very grateful to you, as it happens. Thank you very much indeed.
Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab):
Lab
I am very pleased again to be taking part in the celebration of St Andrew's day and the winter festival that will follow. I am also happy to support the moti...
Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (Ind):
Ind
Does the member think that Russia and Greece remember that St Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland? Perhaps they concentrate on the fact that he is their p...
Malcolm Chisholm:
Lab
I am not in a position to answer that question, but I hope that the answer is the former.As with last year, many different events will be supported across th...
Ted Brocklebank (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con):
Con
This is perhaps the fifth time that I have spoken in a debate about St Andrew's day. It is a subject dear to me, as a native and resident of St Andrews. I am...
Tricia Marwick (Central Fife) (SNP):
SNP
I am sure that, as a fellow Fifer, the member will also recognise the status of Dunfermline as a city and royal burgh.
Ted Brocklebank:
Con
I fully take that on board.For newcomers to the debate, the usual form is for speakers—before getting down to the economic nuts and bolts of St Andrew's day ...
Iain Smith (North East Fife) (LD):
LD
For those of us who have been in the Parliament for a number of years, this may seem like a debate more on groundhog day than on St Andrew's day. Debates on ...
Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP):
SNP
I thank Iain Smith for reiterating the SNP's and this Government's commitment to St Andrew's day. I also remind him that if this country had full independenc...
Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD):
LD
Does Sandra White regard St Andrew's day and the saltire as the property of the whole of Scotland, regardless of political belief, or of only part of Scotland?
Sandra White:
SNP
I believe that the saltire can belong to anyone in Scotland or elsewhere—whatever they like. It is a flag and we, as a political party, are identified with i...
Bill Butler:
Lab
Will the member give way?
Sandra White:
SNP
No. I am sorry, I will not take an intervention. Suffice it to say, you were in majority Government and you could have delivered a bill instead of pretending...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Alasdair Morgan):
SNP
I did not deliver anything.
Sandra White:
SNP
Sorry, Presiding Officer. The Labour Party and the Lib Dems were in Government and could have delivered if they so wished. They should stop using that white ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
We are tight for time, so members must stick to their time limits.
Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab):
Lab
I speak to the motion in the name of the minister and will say a few words in support of the addendum amendment in the name of my colleague Malcolm Chisholm....
Bill Butler:
Lab
Very well.Does the Government not understand that such a reversal of the position that it took in March is considered widely to be unfair and that pandering ...
Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
Before I speak to the motion, I will deal with the point that Robert Brown made. He suggested that the SNP is somehow trying to hijack the saltire and use it...
Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab):
Lab
I welcome the opportunity to speak in the debate. The St Andrew's day holiday gives Scots the chance to celebrate Scotland's culture and all that is good abo...
Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con):
Con
Along with the rest of the Scottish Conservative group, I am genuinely excited and looking forward to St Andrew's day tomorrow. I hope that it is a big succe...
Keith Brown (Ochil) (SNP):
SNP
Will the member give way?
Gavin Brown:
Con
Yes, it would be a pleasure to take an intervention from the man who, I believe, invented phonics.
Keith Brown:
SNP
I would love to claim credit for that, but I did not.If Gavin Brown is asking the minister to ensure that the SNP Government does not use St Andrew's day for...