Hansard

I was tempted to restrict my speech to the observation that festivals are generally good things, especially those that are held close to my home or those to which transport has been provided. The only aspect of the minister's role that I envy is that he has a chauffeur on hand to whisk him home from the many festivals and events that he must attend. We lesser mortals must abstain, or stagger into the night after one too many, wishing that we had abstained.

Having concluded those brief observations, I am tempted to sit down. However, recognising the Government's difficulty in coming up with subjects to debate that can attract any support and as a born consensualist, I will try to enter into the spirit of things. I think that it was Liz Taylor's seventh or eighth husband who, when asked how he was looking forward to his forthcoming nuptials, remarked:

"I think I know what is expected of me. The problem is how to make it interesting."

This afternoon, I think I know what is expected but I, too, fear that it will be hard to make things interesting—many members might ask what is new in that.

The motion rightly focuses on our capital city, Edinburgh, which hosts 12 annual festivals, from the book festival to the jazz and blues festival, the film festival and our outstanding Edinburgh international festival. Together, those 12 events contribute more than £75 million a year to the Scottish economy. I may have been a bit flippant in my opening remarks, but I do not underestimate the important difference that festivals make not only to our cultural life but to our finances.

The Edinburgh international film festival—now in its 63rd year—is the world's oldest film festival. It has a remit to showcase established talent and promote newcomers to the industry. It is the one event that persuades my old friend Sir Sean Connery to return to these shores. We should all be glad that he is back among us, albeit fleetingly—I understand that he is giving the First Minister an audience later this afternoon.

This year, the film festival will screen 135 features from more than 30 countries. The organisers of that world-class event, which began its 2009 season yesterday, made the right decision to move from August to June, especially when we consider that attendance numbers have increased and now stand at well over 50,000. I am glad that, even in these difficult economic times and despite the challenges that the fringe faced last year and those that the festival might face this year because of the trams project, the Edinburgh festivals are still a world attraction and a considerable financial success.

However, it is not only the capital that showcases the best of our culture. I have long enjoyed festivals throughout the nation, from Shetland's Up-Helly-Aa, to Hawick's common riding; from the booming Pittenweem arts festival in my native Fife to those in places such as Stornoway, Portree, Oban and Fort William, to which I try to make an annual pilgrimage to the Gaelic Mod.

I like the quirky events. The numbers attending StAnza, the festival of poetry in St Andrews to which the minister referred, have doubled since the event was launched a decade ago. I enjoy the folk festivals at places such as Auchtermuchty and Keith, where we can still listen to competing bothy balladeers.

The Muchty festival, I am delighted to say, will celebrate its 30th anniversary next year. Another event celebrating its 30-somethingth anniversary is the Aberdeen international youth festival—I remember being there at its inception, which ages me. My colleague Nanette Milne has been a staunch supporter and trustee of that festival over the years.

My annual calendar is punctuated by festivals and events, which, as I get older, become more and more unmissable. The nation's festival year begins in the depths of January with Up-Helly-Aa, which welcomes the return of the sun, and it comes to a close with my own dear St Andrews festival event a few weeks before the Christmas and hogmanay revels. In between, there are of course, as we have heard—and we will hear a lot more about them—a host of other festivals. I am sure that colleagues, with an eye to press releases in their local newspapers, will ensure that no local festival across the land is left unmentioned.

Of course, all those events can be maintained and built on only if the funding is secured. The funding is especially important in this year of homecoming. My local poetry festival could not exist without support from, among others, Fife Council and the Scottish Arts Council. I hope that the minister helps to ensure that the SAC's successor, creative Scotland, continues to play a role in allocating adequate funding to such innovative small festivals.

In that regard, I ask the minister to look again at the financial arrangements for the St Andrew's day week, which faces uncertainty over funding in this year of homecoming. Surely the town that is named after our patron saint—and whose university is the alma mater of our sainted First Minister—cannot be left strapped for funds for its local festival as the year of homecoming reaches its climax on St Andrew's day. Festivals are not only essential to showcase the best of our national and local culture, whether that is music, drama or the arts, or simply a reflection of community life and trade; they are also great places to meet old friends—as Karen Gillon said—to have a craic and to marvel at the diversity of talent that our small nation continues to produce. Yes—I have occasionally recognised a song that is performed at T in the Park. In the spirit of consensus, we on the Tory benches are happy to support the motion.