Chamber
Plenary, 29 Nov 2007
29 Nov 2007 · S3 · Plenary
Item of business
St Andrew's Day
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 independence, we would be able to make St Andrew's day legislation. He should think on that.
St Andrew's day is a day for everyone to celebrate, so I am disappointed that the Opposition parties are so bitter that they have used what should be an opportunity to show confidence in our past and future to sow the seeds of discontent and see failure instead of success. From speaking to various people, particularly in Glasgow, I know that if the Opposition parties cannot adapt to and embrace the SNP Government's new positive outlook, they will be consigned to history as failures. This Government will be applauded as a success that delivers for the people of Scotland, unlike the Opposition parties, which have scant ambition for Scotland's future.
I will move on to the St Andrew's Day Bank Holiday (Scotland) Bill. I pay tribute to and congratulate Dennis Canavan on his conviction and dedication in getting his bill enacted. He met with very fierce opposition from the Lib-Lab coalition, which returned the bill to the Enterprise and Culture Committee in the hope that it would change its views and not recommend the bill to Parliament. I am glad to say that the committee re-scrutinised the bill but did not change its recommendation. That reinforces the strength of Parliament's committee system.
When considering the bill, the committee asked the previous Executive to enhance the celebration of St Andrew's day domestically and internationally: I am glad to say that that is exactly what the Government is doing. As the minister has already said, we view St Andrew's day as the launch of Scotland's exciting winter festival. On that point, I congratulate "River City"—a fantastic television programme—on introducing St Andrew's day into Tuesday's episode. I must also say that I hope that Archie gets his comeuppance.
Tomorrow's activities will include Glasgow's shindig in the square, Edinburgh's jig in the gardens, a Doric cabaret evening in Aberdeen, music, dancing and food in Dundee, a ceilidh in Stirling, and living history displays on Culloden battlefield near Inverness. There are international events including balls, dinners, lectures and concerts from Abu Dhabi to Washington. That is what it is all about: it is not about parochialism, as some Opposition members have said, but about internationalism and ensuring that the Scottish people remain the internationalists they always were.
Young people are getting involved. Information was sent to all schools.
St Andrew's day is a day for everyone to celebrate, so I am disappointed that the Opposition parties are so bitter that they have used what should be an opportunity to show confidence in our past and future to sow the seeds of discontent and see failure instead of success. From speaking to various people, particularly in Glasgow, I know that if the Opposition parties cannot adapt to and embrace the SNP Government's new positive outlook, they will be consigned to history as failures. This Government will be applauded as a success that delivers for the people of Scotland, unlike the Opposition parties, which have scant ambition for Scotland's future.
I will move on to the St Andrew's Day Bank Holiday (Scotland) Bill. I pay tribute to and congratulate Dennis Canavan on his conviction and dedication in getting his bill enacted. He met with very fierce opposition from the Lib-Lab coalition, which returned the bill to the Enterprise and Culture Committee in the hope that it would change its views and not recommend the bill to Parliament. I am glad to say that the committee re-scrutinised the bill but did not change its recommendation. That reinforces the strength of Parliament's committee system.
When considering the bill, the committee asked the previous Executive to enhance the celebration of St Andrew's day domestically and internationally: I am glad to say that that is exactly what the Government is doing. As the minister has already said, we view St Andrew's day as the launch of Scotland's exciting winter festival. On that point, I congratulate "River City"—a fantastic television programme—on introducing St Andrew's day into Tuesday's episode. I must also say that I hope that Archie gets his comeuppance.
Tomorrow's activities will include Glasgow's shindig in the square, Edinburgh's jig in the gardens, a Doric cabaret evening in Aberdeen, music, dancing and food in Dundee, a ceilidh in Stirling, and living history displays on Culloden battlefield near Inverness. There are international events including balls, dinners, lectures and concerts from Abu Dhabi to Washington. That is what it is all about: it is not about parochialism, as some Opposition members have said, but about internationalism and ensuring that the Scottish people remain the internationalists they always were.
Young people are getting involved. Information was sent to all schools.
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...