Chamber
Plenary, 07 Feb 2007
07 Feb 2007 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
Tartan
I welcome the opportunity that today's debate gives us to look at one of Scotland's most iconic and readily recognisable images—tartan. The subject evokes a wide variety of differing and complex views. It can be argued either that tartan is an essential and integral part of Scottish identity and our history or that it is a product and image popularised by a sentimental and largely outdated vision of Scotland. Some see the association with tartan as a valuable link with diaspora Scots across the world or as a romantic distraction from a modern Scotland—a reminder of our bloody past and military traditions.
It can be argued either that the image of tartan belongs to Scotland's past or that tartan continues to play an important role in Scotland's economy and cultural identity. For what it is worth, my view tends towards the latter.
We can be certain of two things. One is that everyone has a view on tartan, and the other is that tartan is one of a select handful of images, products and events that are immediately and consistently recognised across the globe as quintessentially Scottish. That gives us and our tartan industry, if I can call it that, an important opportunity to secure niche markets and maximise the potential of the brand.
The traditional and cultural values that are associated with tartan give it great potential in world markets. It appeals to particular overseas tourism markets in, for example, the United States, Canada and Australia. Capitalising on and developing interest in tartan can support the marketing of Scotland more generally, particularly in the strong niche market of ancestral tourism, but also through more recent promotional developments, such as tartan week in the United States, in which a number of members have participated.
Tartan as a trademark of Scotland is recognised everywhere. I am keen that we work to strengthen that brand and exercise some control here in Scotland as the guardians of the authentic article. That can only be of benefit to Scottish businesses. By promoting tartan and Scotland's tartan industry, we are standing up for Scottish businesses and working to promote and grow our textiles sector. For example, we aim to grow our textiles industry by using tartan in innovative ways, such as in the design industry as a key component of a modern, successful textiles sector.
If we accept the obvious potential benefits of tartan, we can start to think of ways to maximise the economic, marketing and promotional opportunities of tartan and the tartan industry in a modern, dynamic, competitive and outward-looking Scotland. The two are not mutually—
It can be argued either that the image of tartan belongs to Scotland's past or that tartan continues to play an important role in Scotland's economy and cultural identity. For what it is worth, my view tends towards the latter.
We can be certain of two things. One is that everyone has a view on tartan, and the other is that tartan is one of a select handful of images, products and events that are immediately and consistently recognised across the globe as quintessentially Scottish. That gives us and our tartan industry, if I can call it that, an important opportunity to secure niche markets and maximise the potential of the brand.
The traditional and cultural values that are associated with tartan give it great potential in world markets. It appeals to particular overseas tourism markets in, for example, the United States, Canada and Australia. Capitalising on and developing interest in tartan can support the marketing of Scotland more generally, particularly in the strong niche market of ancestral tourism, but also through more recent promotional developments, such as tartan week in the United States, in which a number of members have participated.
Tartan as a trademark of Scotland is recognised everywhere. I am keen that we work to strengthen that brand and exercise some control here in Scotland as the guardians of the authentic article. That can only be of benefit to Scottish businesses. By promoting tartan and Scotland's tartan industry, we are standing up for Scottish businesses and working to promote and grow our textiles sector. For example, we aim to grow our textiles industry by using tartan in innovative ways, such as in the design industry as a key component of a modern, successful textiles sector.
If we accept the obvious potential benefits of tartan, we can start to think of ways to maximise the economic, marketing and promotional opportunities of tartan and the tartan industry in a modern, dynamic, competitive and outward-looking Scotland. The two are not mutually—
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Mr George Reid):
NPA
The next item of business is a debate on the promotion of tartan and Scotland's tartan industry.
The Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning (Allan Wilson):
Lab
I welcome the opportunity that today's debate gives us to look at one of Scotland's most iconic and readily recognisable images—tartan. The subject evokes a ...
Mr John Swinney (North Tayside) (SNP):
SNP
How does the minister intend to build consensus around the objective that he just outlined—which I support fully—to ensure that some practical action comes o...
Allan Wilson:
Lab
I will explain the initial steps by which we will seek to secure the consensus that John Swinney and I, and probably the whole chamber, wish to see. I tend t...
Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD):
LD
I might have misheard the minister, but I believe that he said that the situation with tartan is wholly unregulated. However, the Scottish Tartans Authority ...
Allan Wilson:
Lab
The member is correct. It has been suggested that there is little time for this debate, but it seems to have stimulated the kind of discussion that I hoped i...
Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP):
SNP
I give the warmest possible welcome to the minister's words and, indeed, welcome this opportunity to reinforce tartan's iconic importance.Scotland, of course...
Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (Ind):
Ind
With reference to the learned professor's claim that 98 per cent of the world's population has some idea of what Scotland means, do we have any notion of how...
Jim Mather:
SNP
Professor Michael Porter's reputation suggests that a somewhat more systematic approach would have been taken. Certainly, his work has passed muster—I believ...
Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD):
LD
Alex Salmond. Laughter.
Jim Mather:
SNP
If we are going to talk about the living dead, it might be Prime Minister's question time that features, Mr Stone. The book is all about the efficacy of trib...
Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con):
Con
I congratulate Allan Wilson, the Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning, on securing the debate.I listened carefully to what the minister said....
Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD):
LD
I congratulate Jamie McGrigor on introducing the Scottish Register of Tartans Bill. I also congratulate members on their speeches, including Jim Mather. I ag...
Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con):
Con
I wonder whether the member would like to take this opportunity to apologise on behalf of the Whig Government of the time for the act of proscription 1747.
Mr Stone:
LD
That is tempting.Tartan was proscribed north of the Highland line. If a person wore a greatcoat or jacket of tartan, they were subject either to six months' ...
Jeremy Purvis:
LD
It was George IV.
Mr Stone:
LD
That is absolutely correct. I stand corrected—I meant George IV.Sir Walter Scott persuaded George IV to come north to Edinburgh in 1822. It is well known tha...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
We come to the open debate. If we do not have too many digressions, every member who wants to speak will be able to do so.
Mr Kenneth Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab):
Lab
I am pleased to speak in the debate. I inform members of my interest in Scotland's tartan industry: my wife's family has been involved in kilt making for six...
John Swinburne (Central Scotland) (SSCUP):
SSCUP
Does the member agree that, unless protection is built into the Scottish Register of Tartans Bill such that the only tartan that matters is that produced in ...
Mr Macintosh:
Lab
I admire John Swinburne's hopes, but unfortunately I do not think that what he suggests will be possible. We have to take an inclusive approach to tartan. I ...
Jeremy Purvis:
LD
I appreciate the member's arguments, but can he appreciate that part of the success of the modern tartan industry has been the lack of bureaucracy? We have a...
Mr Macintosh:
Lab
I appreciate Mr Purvis's concerns, just as I appreciated Mr Swinburne's concerns. However, I do not think that the register will take a judgmental approach a...
Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP):
SNP
As my colleague Jim Mather has stated, the Scottish National Party welcomes the Executive's proposals. We look forward to seeing what the Executive will outl...
Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (Ind):
Ind
I congratulate the minister on changing his mind. I certainly remember the time when he and people of his age group denigrated tartan—I will come back to tha...
Christine May (Central Fife) (Lab):
Lab
The Scottish Register of Tartans Bill came before the Enterprise and Culture Committee, and I rise as a member of that committee to discuss how we reacted to...
Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD):
LD
With Lochcarron of Scotland, Andrew Elliot Ltd and Robert Noble in my constituency, I am extremely lucky to be the constituency representative of the finest ...
Margo MacDonald:
Ind
Will the member give way?
Jeremy Purvis:
LD
If I have time later on, I will give way.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Murray Tosh):
Con
You will not have time; you have one minute left.