Hansard

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...