 The next item of business is a debate on motion 7862, in the name of Fiona Hyslop, on recognising support for Paisley's 2021 UK city of culture and the 2023 European capital of culture bids. I call on Fiona Hyslop to speak to and move the motion. Cabinet Secretary, 12 minutes are there abouts please. I move the motion in my name. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was a season of light, it was a season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us. Now, these are famous lines open a tale of two cities and highlight one of the novel's most prominent motifs and structural figures, that of doubles. Throughout Dickens asserts his belief in the possibility of resurrection and transformation both on a personal and societal level. Fitting then, as we are here to debate two places, Paisley and Dundee, who have such ambitious, transformative and inspiring plans. And before a member interjects to highlight that Paisley isn't a city, Scotland's largest town may not be, but it has the ambitions of one. The timing for this debate is Op. 2. Paisley's final bid to become the 2021 UK city of culture will be submitted on Friday. Dundee's 2023 European capital of culture bid is due in on 27 October. Both would be outstanding successes for Scotland, the UK and Europe. I am sure that the judging panels will appreciate the quality and substance of both bids. A key strength of culture is that it invites us to reflect on who we are and give us an understanding of what we can be and become, as individuals, as a community, as a town, as a city and as a country. That is what excites me about Paisley and Dundee's bids. They are committed, bold and ambitious. Paisley and Dundee recognise the fundamental importance of culture to place and the profound impact that it has on our very quality of life. They understand that, as we do, culture is pivotal in our wellbeing, and their bids say so much about the type of town, city and country that they are and want to be. Paisley and Dundee's bids have much in common with one another, with a focus on people, communities and connections. Let me begin with Paisley. Paisley's bid journey has been inspiring. Beginning two years ago, with hundreds of people gathered in the picturesque Paisley Abbey for the official launch, the Paisley bid has been developed through extensive community engagement and the people of Paisley have helped to put together a strong bid for Paisley and for Scotland. More than 30,000 people or buddies have been engaged in the process of developing the bid, which has broad-based community support. That is part of a broader heritage and culture-led regeneration strategy to transform Paisley into a vibrant, cultural and creative destination. A year-long programme of events is outlined with themes that are authentic to Paisley and have been co-produced with Paisley's communities. Those themes have been inspired by the rich textile heritage of Paisley, the iconic Paisley pattern and the character of the people. The programme is also designed to have wide appeal to a range of audiences and will be inclusive and accessible to all. The bid has reached far and wide from every Renfrewshire school pupil to limited-edition Paisley branded bottles of Johnny Walker to the Paisley pattern set to feature in luxury knitwear Pringle of Scotland's upcoming autumn-winter collection, so Paisley has it all. Perhaps for me the most imaginative and lasting impression I witnessed involved iconic Paisley landmarks and famous faces being reimagined in a stunning animation lego film by local teenager Morgan Spence and the 17-year-old perfectly capturing Paisley bodies in action, including actors David Tennant, Jared Butler and singer Paolo Nintini, leading me to reflect why do all the cool folk come from Paisley. That encapsulates the energy, the enthusiasm and the fresh approach of Paisley's bid. Winning the competition will bring with it significant economic, social and cultural benefits too. Renfrewshire Council has cited the estimated economic boost over a 10-year period is in the region of 4,700 jobs and 172 million gross value added, and I want to pay tribute to the vision and support of the previous and current leadership of Renfrewshire Council. I also want to thank Derek Mackay MSP and Cabinet Secretary for Finance for his firm Financial Backing of the Bid. I pay tribute to the 2021 Paisley bid team, some of whom are in the public gallery today. I also wish to recognise that it is the involvement of the communities of Paisley, the embracing of culture by the entire town, all the buddies that is what makes Paisley's bid so special, and I also want to recognise the enthusiastic champions of the Paisley bid by local MSPs of all parties. We are here not just to focus solely on Paisley, this is a tale of two places. In addressing Dundee, I recall standing here in this chamber almost four years ago offering my full support for Dundee's 2017 UK bid, and while I narrowly missed out to Hull, they have been on an incredibly inspiring journey since. In that time, tens of thousands of voices across the city of discovery, from artists to festival directors, musicians to librarians, bakers to builders, have helped to take the city of discovery to the next level. Dundee led a successful bid to become the UK's first UNESCO creative city of design, and the city of discovery is on a pioneering journey in an illustrious network of cities of design, from Berlin to Sanetian to Bilbao, all outstanding contributors to areas of creativity and design. However, Dundee is not standing still. Dundee is building upon their UNESCO status, learning from other European cities and approaches with its rich cultural heritage and exciting future. Dundee can be a beacon of creativity to the world, a city that continuously seeks to create further opportunities to share and to celebrate. The V&A Museum of Design Dundee, opening next year with the Scottish Government as the major financial backer, is the flagship development of the city's waterfront regeneration. Securing the V&A has increased the national and international profile of the waterfront development and the city itself. V&A indeed will attract hundreds of thousands of visitors from across Scotland and across the globe, redefining Dundee's offer as a place to visit, to live, to study and to work. Little wonder that Dundonians are striving to become the next European capital of culture city, following on from Glasgow's success for the UK in 1990. To get Dundee to this place, local voices have been heard in schools and community centres, in art galleries and museums, universities and libraries, on buses and on the streets. The strat line is to be brilliant. As the bid develops, I am sure that that brilliance will shine through. People are excited, engaged and enthused. A recent edition of the Dundee Courier carried the faces and the voices of more than 600 local people whose their thoughts about Dundee and Europe. An extraordinary endorsement of Dundee's support for being a European city, not just a city in Europe. I cannot give much away before the Dundee bid is submitted, but Dundee's European capital of culture year will be like no other, packed with cultural celebrations that will ignite the heart and show the richness of the region to the rest of Europe. There will be local, national and international artists involved in a huge range of exciting events and festivals with practitioners from Stirling to Stornoway to Seville. Gaming, digital and design are all at the heart of the bid and there will be key factors, I think, in helping to secure the win. Dundee is themeing their bid around the concept of connections and their bid as an exciting opportunity to strengthen Scotland's cultural ties with Europe and celebrate our diverse cultural heritage. This is the bid for the city, but also for the region. Angus, Perth and Fife are all contributing creatively to the bid, and it is a bid for Scotland. Local MSP Shona Robison and Jo Fitzpatrick will be closing this debate for the Government, our passionate advocates for Dundee and the bid. Their tangible benefits to this designation too, Dundee's site, it will bring 1,600 jobs, 500,000 extra visitors and the taste of these areas, GDP, would grow by 4.5 per cent, so the programme events for the year would leave a lasting legacy. Dundee's bid will create new partnerships and ventures to explore new ways to reach out and inspire new audiences at home and around the world, promoting our cultural and creative talent and showcasing our inspiring building design and places to our European partners. While Scotland is steeped in meaning and history, it is continually as a country on the move, celebrating its past while seeking new and innovative ways to engage with the world, and we are a country where we are proud of our diverse heritage and traditions, but continually are seeking to create opportunities to share and to celebrate. If we reflect more of this perspective nationally, working in partnership with Glasgow, our national agencies and other partners, the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, delivered a hugely successful and vibrant year for Scotland, and we demonstrated the richness of our cultural life and the depth of our talent, celebrating the very best of Scotland's creativity and cultural heritage. The world was watching, and the Commonwealth Games Federation highlighted that it was the best games ever, and the accompanying cultural programme was a significant factor in that success. We are looking forward to the upcoming European Championships next year, highlighting that Scotland is a great, welcoming and culturally rich destinations to visitors from around the world. Events and cultural events connected can really make a big difference to attracting people to visit Scotland, and they much to bid both from Paisley and indeed a secured would actually, I think, in terms of Scotland's events be a huge addition to what we can do in telling that cultural story and using culture to bring people to the country. They have a huge impact on Scotland's visitor economy in terms of income generated, but more importantly they enable more people to access, enjoy, participate and benefit from the wide range of benefits that those engagements deliver to individuals, communities and nationally. There are other benefits as well, the confidence to be creative, to be imaginative, to shape, direct the future both on these shores and beyond. I am excited about the potential that those bids offer for Paisley, Dundee, Scotland, the rest of the UK and Europe. Culture has a vital role in promoting outward-looking, welcoming and progressive values, perhaps more important now than they have even been in recent years. International engagement makes a crucial contribution to sustainable economic growth, bringing different perspective ideas and new partnerships. I wonder where people are free to express their creativity. A nation that is confident in participating on the world stage where we build cultural bridges with our European and international partners and those connections, the relationships that we build from them and the value of our Scottish brand and heritage helps to open doors across the world. Paisley and Dundee's bids are exciting prospects. They fit well with the Government's ambitions. We recognise the significant contribution that they make to Scotland's rich cultural life and the local and national boost that those successes will bring. In a tale of two cities, Dickens created and developed a theme of regeneration. Dundee and Paisley are two places with innovative, inspiring and engaging plans to re-energise, reinvent and re-imagine. I am pleased to be able to confirm the Government's support for Paisley 21's bid to be the UK city of culture and Dundee's 2023 European capital of culture bid, and I commend the motion to Parliament. I remind members that if they want to speak in a debate, they have to press their request to speak button. I now call Liam Kerr to open for the Conservatives eight minutes for their abouts. I am delighted to be speaking in this debate today and I am grateful to Fiona Hyslop for giving the Parliament the opportunity to signal our support for both the Paisley 2021 UK city of culture bid and the Dundee 2023 European capital of culture bid. The Scottish Conservatives recognise the significant contributions that the communities of Paisley and Dundee have made and continue to make to Scotland's culture and the enormous local, national and international benefits that those hopefully successful bids will bring. That is why we will be pleased to vote in favour of the motion today. Turning first to the UK city of culture, the inaugural holder was Derry, London Derry in 2013. In 2017, Kingston upon hull took the title. If successful, Paisley will become the third UK city of culture and the first Scottish holder of the title. Those of illegal persuasion will know all about Paisley. It was the hallowed ground where in 1928 a Mrs Donohue, allegedly, that is a legal joke, found a dead snail in a bottle of ginger beer, became ill, sued Mr Stevenson, the manufacturer and created the modern concept of negligence and the general principles of duty of care. As a result, there was a pilgrimage to Paisley in 1990 and there was a memorial plaque and bench at the cafe site. Beyond that, other than a way trips to Love Street in the 80s and 90s, there is an irony. Fiona Hyslop mentioned doubling of cities when St Myryn won the Scottish Cup in 1987. It was against one of the Dundee teams. Other than those away trips, other than visits to the annual boat jumble sale at St Myryn Park and a pong show in my adolescence for Paisley pattern shirts, it was not somewhere I had spent much time. However, the town has a rich cultural history, coming to prominence with the establishment of its 12th century abbey, which has long been considered an important religious hub. It also boasts a number of Victorian-style buildings, including the town hall, an arts centre and a museum, as well as the famous Russell Institute. By the 19th century, Paisley had also established itself as the centre of the weaving industry, giving its name to the Paisley shawl and the Paisley pattern. That is why I am delighted to see Paisley in the running, because there are game-changing results off the back of this award. The impact on this town legitimately bidding as a city, as the cabinet secretary says, could be considerable. Paisley's bid focuses on improving the town by attracting more visitors, increasing media interest and bringing members of the community together. The town predicts that a successful bid will create the equivalent of 4,700 jobs over the next decade and boost the economy by £172 million. It would also result in a programme of major events and world-class culture, which, by Paisley's own analysis, would bring 1.7 million attendances. Businesses, institutions and celebrities have all supported Paisley's bid, and the town itself has even sent a patch of Paisley pattern into space in July 2016. It is that which is surely the biggest cause of celebration, because Paisley already has a unique culture and an abundance of heritage at its disposal. The Scottish Government is right to focus on tourism as an economic driver. It is reported by Visit Scotland just today, on World Tourism Day, as the third-largest export industry in the world. It is awards like this, which also promote internal tourism to help make the town a key destination of choice, generating income, creating jobs and stimulating social change. Few cities have done more in the past to achieve that than Dundee. The motion calls for recognition of Dundee's rich cultural heritage, an exciting future and rightly so. As early as the 12th century, Dundee has established itself as an important east coast trading port, then came its profound success again in the textile industry and the subsequent phasing out of the linen export trade, which led to a surge and dominance in jute production throughout the latter half of the 19th century. The rise of the textile industry has brought an expansion of supporting industries, notably whaling, maritime shipbuilding, as well as the likes of James Keillers and Sons, pioneers of the production of commercial marmalade and the founding of publishing firm DC Thompson. However, that city of jute, jam and journalism has been through some tough times, seeing significant unemployment and losing around a quarter of its population over the last 30 years. I well remember travelling through from St Andrews in the early 90s and seeing the city then. How different it is now, because this city not only has an exciting future, but it has created the atmosphere of a city with a future. Since being elected, I have spent a great deal of time in Dundee, noting the culture everywhere. Others will no doubt talk about the V&A, the discovery, the waterfront development, all part of a one billion regeneration programme. However, there is so much more going on. Culture manifests in the widest sense in Dundee, like the Dundee Botanic Gardens, stretching over nine hectares near the banks of the River Tay, within walking distance of the V&A and attracting 80,000 visitors a year. With its impressive gardens and new cafe facilities, it is not hard to see why. I have spent time at the Dundee Museum of Transport, which opened in 2014 to showcase the cultural transport heritage of Tayside and beyond, and has since acquired the historic Merrifield tram depot, which it seeks to restore. I was transfixed and psychologically challenged last year when I attended a production by Dundee Rep's youth theatre called Experiment 1 Abandoned, written and performed by the young people, which took place at the Mills Observatory. If that is not European leading culture and creativity, I do not know what is. The motion talks of the local, national and international boost that would follow, and it would. The opportunity proposes a £40 million roster of up to 80 events, including six major arts festivals and international events, a quote, once in a generation showcase for Scotland's creative and cultural talent. Dundee predicts that the title could create 1,600 full-time job opportunities and bring an additional £128 million to the local economy, vital when it is considered that Dundee's unemployment rate is far in excess of the national average. As the cabinet secretary also said, it also predicts a 4.5 per cent increase in regional GDP and a 50 per cent short-term increase in tourism, along with a 17 per cent long-term increase. Deputy Presiding Officer, Dundee does not contend for this accolade. It is merely claiming what it rightfully ought to have. To my mind, Dundee already is a European capital of culture. The bids by Paisley and Dundee, if successful, will promote the best that Scotland has to offer by showcasing our cultural and our creative talents and further promoting them as vibrant destinations of choice, enticing visitors from all over the UK and the world to see for themselves some of the best that Scotland has to offer. The Scottish Conservatives wholeheartedly support that and wish both Paisley and Dundee the very best with their respective bids and look forward to supporting the motion this afternoon. Thank you very much, Mr Kerr. I call Neil Bibby to open for Labour. Seven minutes please, Mr Bibby. Thank you, Presiding Officer. It is a pleasure to open this debate on behalf of the Labour Party and speaking support of both Paisley's bid for UK city of culture in 2021 and Dundee's bid for European capital culture in 2023. Both are important titles and the very process of bidding, while the Scottish Government's motion sets out to promote Scotland's cultural and creative talent and showcase its inspiring building design in places to UK and European partners. As someone who was born in Paisley, lives in Paisley today and who represents the town, it will not surprise you to hear that my contribution today will focus mainly on Paisley's 2021 bid. Paisley is a proud town with a proud past. A small market town that was transformed by the industrial revolution, Paisley became a world-leading producer of textiles. As we have heard the weavers, the theadmills, the world-renowned Paisley pattern, that industry shaped our history, our economy, our culture and our heritage as part of the town's social tapestry. If you visit Paisley, you will see that Paisley's built heritage represents one of the most impressive townscapes in Scotland. The town centre has over 100 listed buildings, only second to Edinburgh. The 850-year-old abbey that stands in the centre of the town today links modern Paisley with pre-industrial Paisley. It is not just a historic building, it is a living, active building with tours, concerts and services all year round, the jewel of the crown in our townscape. We are proud in Paisley, not just of our buildings but of our people too. Paisley is given the world great actors, poets, artists, musicians and sports people. People like David Tennant, Gerard Butler, Robert Tannihill, John Byrne, Archie Gemmell, Jerry Rafferty to name but a few. Pauline Wattini will be backing the bid at a special one-off concert at Paisley Abbey in October as part of the Spree festival. I encourage members to come along and enjoy the Spree festival. We should recognise the organisations in Paisley that have supported and nurtured young Paisley talent over many years. Organisations such as Loud and Proud and The Pace Youth Theatre Company, the UK's largest independent theatre company. The cabinet secretary mentioned that if anyone has not seen the stop-motion video by another young talent, Morgan Spence, in support of the bid, I would also highly recommend many faces that have already been mentioned and others such as the broadcaster Andrew Neill have featured in a legal celebration of Paisley 2021. The bid is not just about celebrating Paisley, it is about making a difference. Winning City of Culture title would provide a major economic boost to Paisley and Renfisher. It is estimated that 1.7 million visitors will visit in 2021 that over 4,500 jobs could be created over a 10-year period. As City of Culture, we could host more highlights from Britain's cultural calendar, arts and music festivals, performances, concerts, awards and shows. A successful bid would help every child in Renfisher to access new activities as we break down barriers to inclusion and make arts and culture more accessible. I believe that the bid has the potential to transform Paisley. We have already seen it as an opportunity to build a new sense of pride in Paisley, not just civic pride but a real appreciation of where the town has come from and where it is going. I congratulate all those who have made Paisley's 2021 City of Culture bid a reality. I pay tribute to the local partnership that has been driving the bid forward, the bid team, the council and the wider community working together. It is important to recognise that we will not be debating the bid at all if it will not for the leadership of Mark McMillan, the former leader of Renfisher council, as well as a number of other elected members who have been supportive, the bid director, Jean Cameron and every team member working on the bid. I pay tribute to all the people and organisations within the community that are right behind the bid. Many of them joined us at a reception that I co-hosted in the Parliament last year and I can tell you the enthusiasm from them was infectious and is infectious. There is a real sense that the momentum is with Paisley and that it is growing. Just to be shortlisted for UK City of Culture in itself is a huge achievement but Paisley is in it to win it. That means that we have to impress a judging panel that is not just considering the merits of Paisley's case but considering the case for four other candidate cities across the UK. Paisley's bid is Scotland's bid, of course it is but to win however it has to be much more than that it has to be recognised as the UK-wide as the best bid in Britain, winning out over Coventry, Stoke on Trent, Sondland and Swansea. I think that it is the best bid across the UK. All supporters of the bid, including the Scottish Government, need to get behind Paisley 2021 to make Paisley's case across the UK over the coming months. With that in mind, I was extremely encouraged to see the members of the all for one choir from the current host city hall come to Paisley to perform and build links with the town and show their support. I thought that one of the most interesting contributions that was inspired by the bid was from Warrington man Dan Warren. After his hometown failed to reach the shortlist, he designed a London-style tube map of Renfrewshire to try to get Paisley noticed. Presiding Officer, cross-party support for the bid has been remarkable. I am delighted that there is a consensus in the Parliament today and I welcome the Government funding announced by the cabinet secretary just the other day. I also want to thank Persona Kezia-Dugdale for the support that she has shown for Paisley even when another candidate city in Scotland was still in the competition. She recognised Paisley 2021 as important to the renewal of the town and gave us her backing, the first political leader to do so. We have seen cross-party support here and also from Scotland's MPs who have met with the bid team in London locally. There is cross-party support in Renfrewshire as well, as the cabinet secretary made reference to. It was under the previous Labour administration that the city of culture bid was convinced, it was conceived and now it is up to the new SNP administration to take the bid forward and they have Labour's full support in doing so. It is important that Renfrewshire council continue to provide leadership, practical support and the resources needed to keep up the momentum and to take Paisley's case far and wide. Presiding Officer, the reasons for backing Paisley's bid are similar to the reasons why I believe we should back Dundee's bid for European capital culture 2, using culture and heritage to transform a place and provide more opportunities for those who live there. In some ways, that transformation has already begun in Dundee. The city is not just known for jam, jute and journalism anymore. It is known as the United Kingdom's first UNESCO city of design and recognised globally for its contribution to medical research, comics and video games. The V&A will open next year and the one now will return next year. I am afraid that I understand why Paisley has got the biggest hit. You have run out of time for Dundee, I am afraid, but I will not hold it against you. I wish Dundee and Paisley every success in their bids over the coming months. I am sure you do. We now move to the open debate. It is speeches of six minutes. I call Ross Greer to be followed by Alec Cole-Hamilton. We are incredibly fortunate in Scotland to have a rich cultural heritage, one that is known, respected and enjoyed across the world. To see that recognised through two successful city of culture bids for Paisley in 2021 and Dundee in 2023 would be a fitting recognition of both a rich cultural heritage and the vibrant contemporary scenes in both cities. In fact, the whole world has been contributing towards those bids. Just last week, we had the singing children of Africa choir in Paisley town hall joining local school children, a local gospel choir and dance trips to put on an amazing performance. In the last member's debate on Paisley's bid, a number of us highlighted the radical history of the city's industrial working class, centred, of course, around weaving and the world-famous Paisley pattern. The history of workers' struggles and their effects on wider society is embedded in the culture of Paisley, as it is across Scotland and the world. This radicalism has shaped Paisley's culture for centuries. It was an epicenter of the radical war in 1820, and a memorial march was held there following the Peter Lou massacre, and the march led to heavy-handed suppression by the authorities, including cavalry charges. Those actions led on to radical activity across Scotland, particularly around the west coast, in support of more representatives of government. The radical war ended with charges of treason, executions and exile to penal colonies, but its effects were felt, not least through the reform act that eventually passed in 1832, which began to expand the right to vote beyond just the most powerful sections of society. It was Paisley's working class who played a driving role in that. Paisley has the distinction of being the only Scottish city named in Marx's tome Das Kapital. I do miss having the presence of Richard Leonard here for this debate. He was very enthusiastic the last time I mentioned it. In it, he refers to, and I quote, the brave Scots of Paisley and the labour that they pour into their production of textiles. He highlights Carlisle Sun and Company as one of the oldest and most respected companies producing cotton and linen in the west of Scotland, in operation as far back as 1752. Though, as you would expect, Marx took a dim view of the Carlisle family and a more positive view of the workers in their mills. Paisley's radical history extended well into the 20th century. Britain's last communist MP, Willie Gallacher, was born there. Though Gallacher was eventually elected to the West Fife constituency, a lot of his political activism was focused around the west coast during the Red Clyde side era. Gallacher was, for example, heavily involved in the campaign for a 40-hour working week after the end of the First World War. He was one of the strike leaders negotiating with the authorities in Glasgow City Chambers when the battle of George Square began, leading to the British Government's deployment of troops across the city. While Gallacher died back in Paisley in 1965, it was almost 100 years after Marx wrote about the brave Scots of Paisley, and Gallacher had most certainly carried that tradition throughout his life. Unfortunately, the likes of Carlisle Sun and Company did not produce textiles in Paisley any more. The industrial nature of the city is long gone and saw the jobs and relative prosperity that came with it. Textile production essentially ceased in the 90s. The rich cultural heritage of Paisley's past is still visible, though. Whether it is in the town hall, paid for by one old mill owner, or in the museum that was paid for by another, or in the multitude of streets named after the industry—diars, wine, cotton street, thread street. However, the kind of the weaving industry, along with shipbuilding industry and the broader process of deindustrialisation, has left Paisley with huge challenges, high levels of deprivation. Ferguson Park is one of the most deprived areas of the country, and Paisley Job Centre has the highest number of sanctions in the west of Scotland. However, we know that Paisley is a brilliant city, a fantastic community. It is already a city of culture. This bed is about so much more than that. It is about ensuring that Paisley's rich cultural heritage can be strengthened to raise the city's profile and to address the problems that it faces. Whether Paisley wins the city of culture 2021 or not, the very process of the bed is doing so much good. Remshire Council and the Scottish Government have already set out to invest in supporting local arts and cultural initiatives. By winning the award, much more can be done to raise the profile of this historic town to encourage tourism and investment that it so very much needs and to give the community themselves better access to better cultural experiences. Although I am a west of Scotland MSP, it would be impolite of me not to mention Dundee's bed for European city of culture as well. Dundee shares a remarkably similar history to Paisley with textiles and shipbuilding being staples of the historical industrial economy. Dundee's economy was a bit more varied though. As has been mentioned already, it said that it was built on the three jays of jute journalism and jam. It is certainly deserving of the European capital of culture title having focused on a culture-led regeneration strategy since the nineties. Dundee's also embraced cutting-edge technology and become a centre for the creation of video games in the process of making Scotland an international hub for that ever-growing industry. The classic lemmings and the record-breaking controversial Grand Theft Auto were created by Dundee-based DMA design, now known as Rockstar North, and now our neighbours here in Edinburgh. Dundee is somewhere, I can say with absolute honesty that I have enjoyed every visit that I have ever made there, and I really do wish them well in their bid. Both cities have contributed so much over the centuries to the culture that we enjoy today. Although they absolutely deserve the titles that they are bidding for, I am grateful for the benefits that are being reaped simply by engaging in this process. I look forward to as returning here to Parliament following the announcements that Paisley and Dundee have both been recognised as deserving cities of culture in the years to come. Before that, I invite all members who are available to join us in Paisley on Friday morning at half-past 10 to send off the bid. Thank you very much, Mr Greer. I call Alec Cole-Hamilton, to be followed by George Adam, Mr Cole-Hamilton. Going up in a small farming village outside of St Andrew's in the 80s and 90s, Dundee was a metropolis to me. 14 miles to the north, it always held a certain kind of magnetism. It was where we went for Christmas shopping or pantomimes at the Rep for ice skating. My comics were authored in its bustling streets and its swimming pool had the finest flumes on the eastern seaboard. It basked in seemingly endless sunshine on the side of a river that we crossed more times than I can remember. Each time we passed that tree hung with Jeff lemon bottles on the side of the bridge, my sister and I would list about lines of McGonagall about the table lowest in the whale that once got stuck there. We talk about the ancient rail tragedy that is still endured in the city's consciousness and local song, and we relive our memories of the day in 1986 when the RSS discovery, one of the most significant vessels of scientific exploration ever built, returned home to the captivated rapture of this eight-year-old boy. In later years, I would return with equal regularity, but for very different reasons I learned to drive there. The sticky carpets of the Mardi Gras represented the nearest nightclub to the bars of St Andrews where I learned to drink. At that time, I also learned to appreciate the very dondonian sound of Michael Marra, uncle to Jenny Marra, of this parish. I would work there at Fairbridge and Dundee in Cumback Street, delivering independent living skills and exploring cultural identity through youth work with the hardest-to-reach young people in Dundee's inner city. I reflect in particular on the Fairbridge totem pole. It was carved by young people affected by substance use and installed in Dudhook Park as a lasting monument to the triumph of culture and art over the very worst of Dundee's social challenges. I do not get there as much as I would like these days and I regret that. It is a city that embodies Scotland's transition from heavy industry to world-leading software development, from crushing deprivation to cultural enlightenment, evident in the work of the community art centre and in the excitement around the opening of the V and A. It has always been a city of culture to me. It has certainly shaped the course of my future, as it has shaped the course of Scotland's future, and it, as such, rightly deserves the recognition of that on the international stage. Turning my attention to culture in the west, and good culture is always found in the west, I should declare an interest. I have tickets to see Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds at the Hydro tonight. I want to lend my voice to the unanimous support offered in this chamber to Paisley and its bid to become UK city of culture. To my shame, I know far less about Paisley than I do about Dundee, but since I was first inducted into this Parliament, I have enjoyed the passion of George Adam in his soliloquies about the many assets and strengths of the community he represents. He has done a grand job in persuading me of the town's history and many attributes in its ability to overcome and renew. It is a town that has reared some of my closest friends and it hosts the university that educated my party's leader. It is a resilient and proud community that has left its mark on global fashion. It has certainly come a long way since 1697 and the last mass execution of which is in Western Europe. Paisley has seen a history of culture and industry walk hand in hand through the burgeoning textile and weaving trade of the 19th century and in patterns of Kashmiri origin patronised by Queen Victoria, which subsequently catapulted the town's name and produce into global demand and repute. That recognition and sense of identity stood in defiant to the Luftwaffe's bombers in the Blitz and economic malaise down the decades. However, it is important to recognise that the cost of those still took there at all. As we have heard from Ross Greer, Fergusley Park was indeed named as one of the most deprived areas of Scotland last year. Those ingredients unquestionably qualify it as the UK city of culture. Not just for the raw and natural creativity, it is exhibited through the ages but for the resilience that it displays and the benefits that such a status could afford. We know the value that such recognition can bring to a community, with the promise of over 4,000 jobs and a £172 million boost to the economy that the status would promise. It is quite alien for me as a constituency member to wax lyrical about the virtues of communities outside of West Edinburgh, but to do so today has been an effortless task. I am struck at the warmth that exists right across the chamber on all the benches for both. Days like today are very welcome in the conduct of the affairs of this Parliament. They challenge us as members to think about the virtues and challenges facing communities beyond our own and to embrace a national pride that so often becomes a porn and a wider discourse around the constitutional future of our nation. I am very proud today to rise in support of the Scottish Government motion and offer the full-throuted support of the benches to both cities and their beds. I haven't called yet, Mr Adam. I know you're dead keen. I call George Adam to follow by Maurice Corry, please. I am extremely pleased to take part in this debate. A whole afternoon of positive paislingus will do me nicely. I also welcome Jeane Cameron and some of her members of Team Paisley, who are in the chamber, here today. The cabinet secretary is, of course, correct when she says that it is a tale of two cities. Although my friend and colleague, Joe Fitzpatrick, says that I must mention Dundee in the air quest for European city of culture in 2023, when looking at Scotland's town's partnerships, she has a facility on her webpage that allows her to get all the statistical data for Scotland's towns. On checking that website yesterday, I found that Paisley is very much like Dundee when you check the statistics and the demography of both are very similar. Historically, they are both towns that had to deal with post-industrial decline, but instead of complaining about it, both have decided to do something completely different. I know that Dundee has been on this journey of discovery longer than we have, but both are trying to show the world who they really are. When I was elected in 2011, I said that I would take a Team Paisley approach to absolutely everything that I did as Paisley's MSP. Now that we have Team Paisley becoming Team Scotland as a whole of our historic town, we are taking that approach. What is important about that is what we can achieve. That is the exciting part. That bid can be the catalyst that can make a difference in people's lives and hopefully show the world what 21st century Paisley has to offer. Paisley bodies are now looking to what we can do, looking at the many challenges in seeing how we can look at solutions. There is an ear in the town that the impossible can happen. There are no problems, there are only solutions. Paisley has challenges like many other towns in Scotland, but it also has a big heart. It is a heart that beats louder by the day. Bodies are very emotional about our town, but who wouldn't be at such a great place? Archie Gemill from Glenburn, scorer of that goal in the 1978 World Cup. My dad's apprentice was at Balfour Kilpatrick. It has such great venues as Coates Memorial Church, which recently announced a multimillion-pound reimagination of the building for the 21st century. Along with other plans from Paisley community trust for a £40 million cinema theatre space in the very heart of the town, Paisley is, of course, the last resting place of Marjory Bruce in Paisley Abbey. Marjory Bruce is the mother of the Stewart dynasty in Scotland and daughter of one of our country's greatest heroes, Robert the Bruce. I could not form our SNP councillor, sadly, no longer with us. Jim Mitchell would never forgive me if I too did not mention Paisley's connection with the 1820 insurrection. Paisley is a place where the cottage waivers of the 19th century became very radical in their political ideals. Of course, the Paisley waivers were to the forefront of the insurrection of 1820, although to say that, Presiding Officer, is inaccurate, as the people of Paisley decided that this insurrection was happening in 1819. A mass rally was organised in Paisley in Saturday, 11 September. Radicals came from all over the west of Scotland. A crowd of 18,000 gathered at a meeting place outside the town as a band from Nielsen played Scottish Wahey. There were many speakers that day, and as the crowd dispersed, some decided that they were going to march down the high street. By 10 pm, the riot act was read, and the Calvary were charging down the streets of Paisley, pursuing peaceful protesters. Presiding Officer, this was Paisley. The crowds were not deterred, and pitch battles occurred for several days. It wasn't until a week later, in September 18, that an uneasy, quiet return to the town. One year later, they would all be part of the Scottish insurrection of 1820 in March under the banner Scotland Free or a Desert. Paisley is not just a town of political radicals. We have given the world so much culturally, as well. Fergusley Park, where my own family comes from, if you type Fergusley into an internet search engine, it will give you stats on deprivation. But deprivation is never defined, Fergusley. That is part of the town that is given as singer, songwriter, Jerry Rafferty and playwright, artist John Burn. Mr Burn recently told the Herald, Paisley is a remarkable place. I hope to be involved and I support the bid. I support it wholeheartedly. I thank Fergusley Park every day of my life for providing me all the information that I ever needed about life. It was the best place I have ever been. Words that we should all take to heart when discussing this debate as well. Paisley is also a town that helped to reclaim the stone of destiny on Christmas day of 1950 and the guise of Ian Hamilton, another Paisley buddy. At a time when the SNP vote fairly registered, Mr Hamilton and his friends decided to take actions into their own hands and reclaim their national identity. It appears that anything of any value that has happened in Scotland has a Paisley connection. There was Robert Tannehill, a poet of one of the founding members of Paisley's Burns Club, which is the oldest constituted Burns Club in the world. A weaver poet whose life was less than happy, the love of his life married his best friend, his father died at a young age and he had to support the family. A small collection of his poems and songs sold out in 1807, but by 1810, after rejection for his work and publication, he burned all his manuscripts and drowned himself in Paisley canal. Unfortunately for Robert Tannehill, he was not to be aware that his work was celebrated in his hometown in the 21st century, but it is about telling the world the fantastic story of our town, its history, its achievements but, most importantly, the story of its people, Paisley Buddies. For me, it is my town, my home and my place in the world. It is the place that my family have been since 1759. It is the home of my beloved football team, St Murnau FC, but some people have said to me that, if this bit is successful, the city of culture will put Paisley back on the map. I say that wrong. How can you put something on the map when your home is already the centre of the universe? In 1990, during Glasgow's European city of culture, one of the highlights was a concert by Francis and Albert Sinatra at Ibrox. A 70-fower-year-old began the show with The You Make Me Feel So Young. As the rain poured, he continued with Come Rain and Shine and they said that Americans don't get irony. I want those kind of memories for both of our cities, so to paraphrase Mr Sinatra, Paisley is and always shall be my kind of town. Maurice Corry, followed by Graeme Dey, please. Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Gosh, Maurice Corry followed that, as he said in the footsteps of George Adam, well done. I would like to start by stating how extremely pleased I was to see that Dundee will be going ahead with the planned events for the UK city of culture in 2023 bid, despite narrowly missing out on this a few years ago. That decision just emulates the great spirit of the city of Dundee, and those events will bring fantastic benefits to the town and to the city both economically and socially. My connection with Dundee goes back quite a long way and is twofold in serving with the Black Watch, which is the city's own Highland regimen, based at Oliver Barracks, and currently with the Highland Reserve Forces and Cadets Association in Perth Road in Dundee. I was there for a later to see that they have announced that their city is going to run for the city, European city of culture, in 2023. The aims of Dundee's bid are something that we should all be proud of, to connect people, to inspire young people, and to reach their possibilities, to encourage everyone to live better and to celebrate the city's green space. Of course, a successful bid will bring huge benefits to the city, and those who live there as well as the wider country. I would wish and like to wish the city of Dundee every success in this going forward. I would now like to turn and offer my congratulations to Paisley, which is dear to my heart, for their nomination for the title of UK city of culture 2021. I was truly delighted that Paisley has been recognised in such a way, and I think that it is a testament to the beauty of our cities, the activities and events that are going on in them and our nation's rich cultural heritage that so many cities have been shortlisted in recent years, and it goes to show the truly wonderful country in which we live. Of course, Paisley is in my West Scotland region, and therefore I would love this bid to be successful. I am very glad that the Scottish Government gave financial backing to the bid, and for that I thank you, cabinet secretary, because, in doing so, it is recognising the contribution that Paisley makes to Scotland's culture and as a whole, of course, demonstrates that it is supporting this bid and seeks to deliver it. Sadly, there has never been a Scottish winner of the UK city of culture, and it would make me immensely proud as a represent of the region if Paisley were to be the first. It is important to note that Paisley winning this title will bring immeasurable benefits to the town. It is set to create 5,000 jobs over the decade and bolster the local economy by £172 million, which we know will provide a lasting legacy for the Renfrewshire area. That is not to mention all the events that are planned for the area should the bid be successful. It is predicted that those events will be attended by up to 1.7 million people. This hugely increased footfall should enable plans to go into motion for a brand new town centre that shows off Paisley's culture and heritage and puts tourism right at its heart. All of that in turn will only increase people's knowledge of Paisley's international story and wonderful heritage, giving new life to the image both here in Scotland and further afield. I was very fortunate to be employed as a general apprentice with J.P. Coats Ltd, that fine textile company, when I first left school and I am fully aware of the international legacy of Paisley. I worked in the Ferguson mills, Ferguson diworks and Anker mills, and experienced the real buzz of spinning threads in Paisley. We know, with new technology now in our grasp, that this buzz could easily return at it has now reached Lancashire already. Coats was the first UK company to have an employee pension scheme and its own employee hospital. The hospital was situated on the Gleniford Braves specialising in curing TB patients. The idea being that the fresh air up there would cure TB despite the weather. The legacy of J.P. Coats is all around Paisley with such buildings as George Adams mentioned, the Coats Memorial Church, among others, which is going through a fantastic renovation. It will be a great moment for the history of Paisley and its people to win its bid. What is more, this award will also benefit those most vulnerable in our society as well as those whose voices often go unheard. Older people who are now more isolated, those on lower incomes and young people all set to benefit from it. The wide-ranging events will bring people from the community together where they can enjoy music, arts, performance, dance and, of course, friendship, and where there will be inclusion for all. I would like especially to thank George Adams and Neil Bibby and the Renfrewshire Council team for their great efforts with his bid. Above all, George Adams' abundant enthusiasm for Paisley is completely legend. Deputy Presiding Officer, in conclusion, Paisley is a fantastic place to live and work, and its warm people and rich, interesting cultural heritage deserve to be honoured in this way. I truly hope that Paisley does indeed become the UK city of culture in 2021. I wish them all the best for the future, and I look forward to attending many of the planned events when the time comes. Indeed, I am very proud to be an honorary Paisley buddy. Thank you very much, Mr Corey. I call Graeme Dey to be followed by Mary Fee. Mr Dey, please. Let me at least attempt to make a stronger case for the city of discovery, as George Adams did for Paisley, but let me do so first by offering a degree of context around my support for Dundee's bid to become the European capital of culture 2023. I first visited Dundee in December 1979. That sticks in my memory because I had to overcome a national bus strike to see my favourite band, The Jam, perform at the Caird Hall. My impression is that a 17-year-old was of a grey, rather grim place. Fast forward to 1985 when I moved to Dundee to live and work in the city. The six years that followed was a mixed experience. I had come from affluent bustling Aberdeen to a place so lacking the vibrancy and positivity of the Granite City. I could never have imagined that here we would be in 2017 without bidding to become a European capital of culture, but well it might. The transformation since my first visit and the time when I lived in the city has, in so many regards, been utterly astonishing. My constituency of Angus South now borders a vibrant, confident city, a city on the up, looking to the future. Let's, as this debate demands, look at its culture offering and start with Dundee rep, and I best begin with a proud dad decoration. My actress daughter was a graduate trainee there. The rep is unique in Scotland in having a permanent acting ensemble, and it's also home to the Scottish Dance Theatre. The ensemble remains a crucible of talent creating the new artists of tomorrow through its graduate scheme, which now offers drama school graduates the opportunity to join Dundee rep for up to one year. The rep importantly believes that the highest quality theatre should be available to all. I know that that includes taking some of its productions out beyond its own four walls and into the community across the city and other locations, with EC and Carnoustine in my constituency among the places that the rep has reached. Earlier this year, the rep won three prizes at the Critics Award for Theatre in Scotland for its production of death of a salesman, including the best production, best ensemble and best male performance. As members will know, there's a huge amount of regeneration taking place in Dundee, centred on the waterfront, with the V&A as its centrepiece. This is an example of an area realising the need to think long term. The Dundee Central waterfront master plan was actually published back in 2001, looking forward right through to 2031. The V&A will provide Scotland with an international design museum due to open next year, and it's really taking shape in a variety of ways. The exhibition galleries will host international touring exhibitions from the V&A, making Dundee the only location in the UK outside of London to make such globally significant offerings. Visitor forecasts indicate that up to 350,000 people could be attracted to the V&A every year. That's brilliant news, not just for Dundee but Angus and the wider region. It was great to see that long before its opening, the V&A was engaging with schools. The first project was the schools design challenge, which was opened to all S1 pupils in Dundee and Angus, with Arboroth Academy and Webster's high school from my constituency, two of the ten chosen to attend the design jam. A few yards away from the V&A and we have Swesser Gardens, thousands of people have already congregated there to work acts such as Little Mix and Ollie Miles. Hardly a patch I would suggest on bands like The Jam that have graced the nearby Cairdhall, but none the less extremely popular. I don't worry, cabinet secretary, I don't know you're a fellow jam fan, I'm not looking for you to concur with that opinion. Dundee's reputation for popular music was, of course, further enhanced in August when Mark Ronson was amongst the headline acts at the new Carnival 56 festival. Sitting alongside this Dundee is excellent educational institutions, each boasting great cultural links. I think I heard on the radio the other day that there are 60 different nationalities on the staff of the University of Dundee, which encompasses the excellent Duncan and Jordanston College of Art and Design. It's been ranked in the top 1 per cent for art and design in the world. Turner prize winners, Suzanne Phillips and nominees, David Mash, Louise Wilson and Luke Fowler have all studied at Duncan and Jordanston. Of course, culture takes many forms, not just the traditional. We need to remember things like Dundee's thriving computer game sector at the heart of which is Aberty University, which is this year celebrating 20 years since it became the first university in the world to offer degrees in computer games. In March, the prestigious Princeton Review ranked Aberty as best in Europe and in the world top 20 for its undergraduate and postgraduate courses, respectively. The university has become a melting pot of international games talent with students accessing links to the likes of Sony, Disney and Ubisoft while learning from a host of seasoned academic staff. The day to play and this festival act as excellent focal points for celebrating the industry in Dundee. I should mention also Dundee and Angus College, so ably led by its principal Grant Ritchie, who has identified the welcoming of students and staff from across the EU, as well as the regular exchanges that take place between the college and other European institutions, is helping to develop a modern, inclusive view of the world within that establishment. However, why is Angus MSP prepared to wax lorical about the nearby city? All of us are benefiting and will continue to benefit from the transformation of Dundee. It is my hope and belief that, with the proper marketing, securing the city of culture title and the general increase in tourists that is expected from Dundee, the V&A and Waterfront project, my constituency will reap further spin-offs. Whether it be culture events such as Bonfest or those put on by hospital field house in Arbroath, excellent historical attractions such as Glams Castle in Arbroath Abbey or the Glorious beaches, Glens and golf courses, Angus South has so much to offer visitors and we need to make sure that we capitalise on this opportunity. The cross-local authority work being done as part of the T Cities deal exemplifies what is achievable across the region through working together. Let me conclude by echoing the words of the leader of Dundee City Council, Councillor John Alexander. Dundee is putting itself on the map with its ambitious and bold cultural strategy. However, our work is not just about putting the city on the map but in making sure that all maps lead to Dundee. This city is and has been going through a cultural renaissance over the last few years and our journey towards 2023 is a hugely exciting opportunity. Be bold, be ambitious, be Dundee. Mary Fee to be followed by Joan McAlpine. I begin by congratulating Paisley on making the short list for UK city of culture. To have progressed this far is in itself testament to the strength of the bid and I know that Paisley has got what it takes to win the title. I commend the bid team for all their hard work to date and wish them every success in the months to come. I also want to commend the Dundee bid for European capital of culture and particularly to recognise their appeal for the public to come forward with ideas and to be part of developing the city's proposal. However, as a West of Scotland MSP and a Renfrewshire resident, I hope that the chamber will understand that I want to focus my remarks this afternoon on Paisley. Paisley has some genuinely interesting stories to tell, stories that I believe add to the bid, stories of its people, its women, its quirks and its quite unique history. There is a care in the junction of Renfrew road and Dundon old road, not far from where I live. It marks the spot where in 1316, Marjorie Bruce fell from her horse in a tragic accident. Marjorie, as I am sure people across the chamber will know, was the eldest daughter of Robert the Bruce, and she was, as the story goes, heavily pregnant when she fell. People from round about tried to save her, but they couldn't. Marjorie Bruce died aged just 19 and was buried at Paisley Abbey. Her son, however, was saved, and he would go on to become King Robert II, the first king of the steward dynasty. Behind that caring that people pass every single day on one of the busiest roads in Paisley, there is a story, a tragic story, but an important story nonetheless. In the textured history of Paisley and the rich history of Scotland, it is a story that surely adds something to Paisley's claim to the city of culture title. Recent events, however, have brought a very different story from Paisley's past back into the news. It is the gruesome story of the Bargaron witches, hanged and burned at the gallow green in the west end of Paisley in 1697. That was only five years after the start of the infamous Salem witch trials in Massachusetts, and it could even be said that Paisley was Scotland's Salem. One of the so-called Bargaron witches was Agnes Nesmouth. Before she died, she cursed everyone present at the trial and all of their descendants. In the years that followed, it seemed that every tragedy and every misfortune to befall the people of Paisley was attributed to Agnes Nesmouth and the witches' curse. The ashes of those who died were interred at the nearby Maxwellton cross, where there is a memorial to this day. Part of that memorial is a famous horseshoe, a horseshoe that is said to keep the town safe, safe from misfortune and from the witches' curse. I am sorry to have to inform the chamber that the horseshoe has been dislodged, and there is absolutely nothing protecting Paisley from the curse. As the Paisley Daily Express said earlier this month, we are all doomed. Two community stalwarts and real Paisley legends, Piero Pericini and Tony Lawler and the Paisley Development Trust, are now racing to restore the memorial and reinstall the famous horseshoe. I know that the whole chamber will wish them well in this endeavour, keeping the town safe and safeguarding Paisley's heritage at the same time. Finally, if the city of culture competition is about using heritage to shape the renewal of a community, then the story of Paisley's weavers and Paisley's textiles has to be heard. Paisley was a market town before the rise of the textile industry and it was transformed by the industrial revolution. As the bid team said themselves, Paisley made textiles and textiles made Paisley. Of course, the Paisley pattern is world-renowned, an industry-provided employment and not just for men. Women came from the highlands and rural communities seeking job opportunities in Paisley. During this period, we also saw the rise of what we today might recognise as trade unionism, as men and women got organised and demanded better rights for those working in the mills. The Doosland stain, once used as a soap box for the weavers union, now stands in Brody Park and is used as a meeting point for the annual small shot period. Another local monument, with another story behind it, every bit is much a part of the town as the mills themselves, not just a monument but a cultural asset. The Paisley Bid is all about using cultural and heritage assets to drive forward regeneration and to transform the town. As I have tried to demonstrate this afternoon, there is no shortage of those assets in Paisley. That is just one of the reasons why the Paisley Bid is so strong. I hope and expect that the bid will have the support from right across the chamber and I hope that it is successful. I hope that the stories of Paisley, the layers of history and the people who made the place are told for a long time to come. We are today debating the fine cultural achievements of Paisley and Dundee, too, but I want to start the debate by referencing another great city, Glasgow, the European city of culture in 1990, which has in many ways led the way in showing Scotland how culture can transform a city and change its identity, not just in terms of national and international branding, but in self-perception and self-confidence. It is worth reflecting that when Glasgow began its transformative journey back in the 1980s, the proposal that culture could help replace jobs lost through deindustrialisation was a controversial one. Indeed, it was considered, in some quarters, eccentric and even dangerous. Back in 1990, when Glasgow was the city of culture, there were fearsome debates about whether the year-long festival was a waste of time and a waste of money. But Glasgow pressed ahead because it had firm economic underpinnings for its bid. It enlisted the help of John Myerscroft, an academic, who led the way in measuring the economic impact of cultural spend. In 1988, the report, The Economic Importance of the Arts in Glasgow, influenced generations of cultural economists and policy makers right around the world. Thirty years, one concert hall and thousands of festivals later, Myerscroft has been vindicated in 2011. A follow-up report found that the market for culture overall in Glasgow had increased by 45 per cent between 1989 and 2008. It was 20 per cent higher than at the peak of 1990. That did not include clubbing, cinema and libraries. 1990 led directly to the two bids that we are debating today. You do not become the city of culture through a big bang approach, although most festivals enjoy the fireworks at some point. However, it is the investment that you make in creativity over time that counts. Both Paisley and Dundee already have excellent track records in that respect. Paisley's rich heritage in textiles, radical literature and music makes it more than a worthy contender for the title of the UK city of culture. Others have mentioned the de-industrialisation of Paisley, but the link between that long-gone industry and culture is very tangible. Without the mill workers praised by Carol Marx, we would not have the poet weavers like Tana Hill. We would not have the slab boys who worked in the carpet factories at the play by John Byrne, which we all know and love. We have had the great prince without the Paisley pattern. Paisley has given so much to the world and absolutely deserves to be a frontrunner for this bid. Dundee has the new V&A museum of design, which is complementing long-established centres of creative excellence, such as DCA and the Rep Theatre. The art school, as others have mentioned, and we have a great example of that very close to home in the Parliament right now with Callum Colvin's excellent Jacobite exhibition down in the foyer of the Parliament, which I would encourage all members to have a look at. Independent analysis has suggested that the European title, if Dundee wins it, will generate 128 million for the Dundee economy and create 1,600 new jobs, whereas in Paisley it is estimated that winning the bid will boost the economy by 172 million and create 4,700 new jobs directly and indirectly. I am not quite sure why the figures for Paisley are so much more optimistic than for the larger city of Dundee. Perhaps George Adam got his hands on them first, but whatever the... Yes. Cabinet Secretary. One is looking at a legacy from a 10-year perspective, and one is probably on a shorter term. Both of them show the importance, as the member is making, of economic generation and jobs, but they are using different timeframes. Joan McAlpine. I thank the minister for that clarification. There is no massaging going on, but what I was going on to say is that whatever the figure is, we as well established that creativity creates jobs. In 2012, Creative Scotland and Scottish Enterprise commissioned a report into the economic contribution of the arts and the creative industries to Scotland as a whole, and it found that the direct and indirect impact of the arts and creative industries amounted to 130,000 jobs, 6.3 billion in gross value added and 12.4 billion in turnover. Myerscoff's arguments all those years ago that culture creates jobs are now uncontroversial and taken as red, but we also know that the contribution of creativity can do so much more than simply boost GVA. We are increasingly understanding that participation in cultural activity can improve health and wellbeing. For example, it is very important for older people in tackling social isolation. It can improve confidence in young people and improve educational attainment, not just in subjects linked to the arts, but right across the curriculum. It is well known that there is a close link between attainment in music and attainment in mathematics. Cultural practitioners are no longer confined to marginalised roles. In some places in Scotland, such as Dundee, Edinburgh and even the tiny village of Money Ive in Dumfrieshire, which I represent, we see artists working alongside planners and economists to repopulate empty streets and regenerate town and village centres. I realise that my time is short. I will conclude by wishing Paisley and Dundee all the very best. Along with all the other merits, the bid reminds us of the importance that culture has in building bridges to the rest of the world and making us more outward-looking, more generous and more tolerant. For that reason, I am happy to support the motion today. First of all, I thank Fiona Hyslop for bringing the debate forward. It gives us an opportunity to show our support for the two remarkable areas of Scotland and our appreciation for all that they contribute to our cultural fabric. Like my fellow Scottish Conservatives, I give my full backing to the Paisley 2021 bid and I wish the team behind it and the people of Paisley every success. Today, though, I would like to focus on Dundee's bid to become European Capital of Culture 2023. Dundee is an area that I know, and I have the great good fortune to be able to represent this wonderful city as a regional MSP for the north-east. That is a good starting point, because the north-east is important, and we recognise the challenges that the region has faced over the last few years. Dundee has no exception in that. The city has had to contend with both the wider regional downturn and several high-profile job losses recently. All that is against the backdrop of the decline of traditional industries across much of the country of the past decades. Changing times have seen those industries and jobs of the past disappear and Dundee, like many other parts, has found itself in need of a new direction. That is why the Dundee bid is so important. Dundee is not just aiming for the title of European Capital of Culture. Dundee is aiming for a new future, and it is a city that has the ambition and drive to achieve that. For evidence of that, we need only to look to the fact that Dundee was named by UNESCO as the first city of design in the UK to see the recognition of that future given by the global audience. Within the city itself, the new V&A museum of design heralds the regeneration of the waterfront, but it is also a symbol of the regeneration and transformation of the city as a whole. We see Dundee's ambition and the plans as laid out, and should its bid be successful, a renaissance of culture with a £40 million programme of up to 80 events, including six major arts festivals, staged across the city. The ambition is backed up by the talent to deliver it, including Sir Jonathan Mills, former director of the Edinburgh International Festival. No-one should be in any doubt about Dundee's determination to deliver. The potential economic benefits of success are many. As has been mentioned, up to 1,600 full-time jobs could be created, and as much as £128 million could be injected into the local economy. Tourism is estimated to shoot up by as much as 50 per cent in the short term and by almost a fifth over the long term. The wider north-east could benefit also. Regional GDP is in line to receive a very welcome and much-needed boost of up to 4.5 per cent. All of this is important, all of this I welcome and all of this is achievable, but it is not the full story. Beyond the numbers, Dundee would stand to gain something else, a new role to play in Scotland's story. The motion that we are debating today notes the importance of Dundee's existing contribution to Scottish culture and I wholeheartedly agree. Dundee has given us so much from DC Thomson's beloved comics and newspapers, not to confuse the titles within those descriptions, to the world's first radio broadcast in 1832 by a James Bowman Lindsay, but not someone I know as a relative, to being the important centre, as we have heard, for the video games industry and with world-class education and life sciences capacity capability. Dundee has many famous sons and daughters such as women's rights advocate and missionary Mary Slesser and can even count William Wallace himself amongst their ranks, Wallace having been educated in Dundee in the 1290s and apparently killed his first man there as well. Dundee has a rich history, but being named European Capital of Culture would open the door to an equally rich future. Only two other British cities have ever been named European Capital of Culture, Glasgow and Liverpool. That underscores just how significant a win for Dundee would be. In fact, as has been mentioned, we need to only look to Glasgow to see the impact winning that title can have. From a city founded on heavy industry to a renowned centre of culture, learning and the arts, tourists, conferences and events flood into Glasgow. Glasgow has made that transformational leap and continues to reap the rewards. Now it is Dundee's turn. In closing, I have a request for each of you to come to Dundee, come and see its galleries and museums, come and eat in its cafes and restaurants, come and visit its concerts and gigs. Most of all, come and see why Dundee deserves to win. I am very happy to support the motion. I thought that you were offering to pay for a moment. I call Tom Arthur, last speaker in the open debate. Thank you, Presiding Officer. As someone who was born in Paisley, who was brought up in nearby Barhead and is one of Renfisher's three constituency MSPs, I am delighted to have the opportunity to join colleagues from across the chamber today in supporting the Government's motion, wishing the best for Paisley 2021 and Dundee 2023. My colleague George Adam is fond of saying that he did earlier that Paisley is my kind of town. I do not think that anyone would disagree with him, but I can also say that it is my kind of town, too. Alex Cole-Hamilton spoke very eloquently of his relationship with Dundee growing up, and I can relate to that growing up in Barhead. Paisley was the town of dazzling lights compared to Barhead. Paisley was where we went Christmas shopping. Glasgow was a dark and distant place where we would only go on very rare occasions. Just like the communities in my constituency of Renfisher South, Paisley is a great place to live, work and invest in. It is a town that is rich and heritage from the legacy of its mills when Paisley literally had the world in a string to its magnificent architecture that can be enjoyed all year round, night and day, come rain or come shine. Although Paisley has a proud past, it also has a dynamic and exciting future. Just like its MSP, while it may look old on the outside, in reality Paisley is young at heart. With an expanding array of great bars, restaurants and a developing music scene, it is clear that for Paisley the best is yet to come. Paisley also has a fantastic community spirit, not only demonstrated in the way that the town has come together to back the bid, but also broadly exemplified by the football fan ownership story of the St Myrran independent supporters association, which I know George, who is not chairman of the board, has been heavily involved in. Although Dundee has had the honour of being the first Scottish city to be shortlisted for UK city of culture, I have high hopes that Paisley will be successful for Scotland the second time around. I also believe that Dundee, after the disappointment of losing out previously in UK city of culture, can now become a European capital of culture. Although I am not a Dundee native myself, it is a great city that I have had a long-standing relationship with. Ten years ago, when I had friends who went to Dundee University, I had many, many great nights out, what I can remember of them in Dundee. I know how internationally renowned it is becoming as a centre of creative and digital excellence. I was struck four years ago when I was in Japan that the famous world renowned Shibuya crossing in Tokyo to see a huge billboard, I think it was Grand Theft Auto 5, Rockstar North Games and, to think all the way from Dundee to the heart of Tokyo, an incredible story. Just as 1990 was a very good year for Glasgow as European capital of culture, so 2021 and 2023 can be great years for both Paisley and Dundee. Last spoken Parliament on Paisley 2021 in December of last year, I said that becoming UK city of culture would be a boon not just to Paisley but to the whole of Renfisher and, indeed, the west of Scotland. I wish to reiterate that today. The potential to create an equivalent of 4,700 jobs will bring new employment opportunities to many, including my constituents in Renfisher South. The predicted boost to the local economy of £172 million could be shared by organisations in Renfisher South, such as the community-run bank cafe in Newstone, the superb Papa Max Gourmet kitchen in Johnston or the award-winning Opel Amyr hotel, not to mention the range of restaurants and bars at the Phoenix and Linwood, and, with as many as 1.7 million attendees, those wishing to explore beyond Paisley could enjoy great attractions such as the Dams to Darnley country park, the Borders Barhead, the Weaver's Cottage and Coe Barking or the Gateway to Scotland's largest regional park, Clyde Muir Shill in Loch Winnock. The success of Paisley in being shot-listed is indicative of the growing confidence of not only of that great town but of many of Scotland's post-industrial communities. No longer, in the west of Scotland, do we say, it's not for us and put our dreams away. While we now walk a little taller, we take nothing for granted. With all aware of the hard work that has been put in to get Paisley to this stage, it's certainly not being nice and easy. Now, though, we are in the final lap and I am delighted that the Scottish Government is going to be backing Paisley day in, day out all the way. Although high-stakes prestigious awards such as City of Culture can feel like a zero-storm game, all or nothing at all, it's clear that Paisley and Renfisher have already benefited from civic reinvigoration brought about by the bid process. As marvellous as this process has been to watch, for Paisley to win would be too marvellous for words. As we approach the announcement of UK City of Culture 2021 in December, let us start spreading the news across Scotland and beyond that it's Paisley that should win and let's work together to make it happen. Thank you. Who is counting the senator quotes? I call on Lewis MacDonald to wind up for Labour at seven minutes. I say to Maurice Golden you will have eight minutes. Mr MacDonald. Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. Often in this place we have to agree to differ. That, after all, is the essence of parliamentary debate. Taking issues is an essential part of any modern democracy and it is something that we Scots have excelled at over many generations. But sometimes we have to agree to agree because there is no issue between us and that is clearly the case in supporting the bids that we have been discussing today. Bids for recognition, a centre of culture of life are by definition competitive and the race between Paisley and Perth to challenge for the title of UK City of Culture in 2021 was no different. We have heard today all the qualities that make Paisley's bid so strong as it goes forward to the final stage with unanimous support in this Parliament and enthusiastic backing across Scotland. The City of Dundee has likewise attracted very broad support in its bid to be a European capital of culture in 2023 and goes forward with a fair and indeed a strong wind behind it. The award goes back over 30 years to when Melina Mercury in Greece and Jacques Lang in France came up with the idea of recognising individual cities as cultural capitals not just of individual countries but of Europe as a whole. Over that time, capitals of culture, like the UK cities of culture, have stimulated artistic creativity and economic growth in a series of cities, both great and small. As Bill Bowman mentioned, Glasgow and Liverpool are the only previous British holders of a European title and their year as a European city of culture or capital of culture was memorable and significant in the regeneration and reinvention of both those great cities, as indeed Joan McAlpine and others reminded us this afternoon. So Dundee now has the chance to join that august company and it is clearly well placed to do so. The celebration of contemporary arts and repertory theatre, the VNA Museum of Design, the redevelopment of the waterfront all contribute already to the cultural life of the city and of the country and there is clearly more to come. At the same time as my colleague Jenny Marra reminded us in supporting a previous such bid four years ago, Dundee also has too many communities where cultural life and access to health and jobs and hope for the future are still in two shorts of ply, so it is well placed to be creative, but it is also well placed to turn cultural opportunity into economic and social benefit and so to make the most of this title if it is awarded in 2023, building on the transformation over the last 30 years, which was highlighted by Graham Day. This is a European Union competition, but the competition for 2023 is to represent Britain in Europe, an interesting and momentous challenge. The successful candidate will be chosen by a panel of 12 judges of whom tenor from other European countries, but the cities or regions competing with Dundee for this title are all from elsewhere in the United Kingdom. This is because EU member states take it and turns to be recognised or to put forward candidates to be recognised as capitals of culture. In 2023, that honour will fall in the United Kingdom and also in Hungary. Like Paisley, in the UK city of culture competition, Dundee has to win its bid in face of competition from other cities and centres around these islands. The difference in this case being that the judges come from across the EU. The judging panel will shortlist bids in the next few weeks and make a final decision next year. Getting through the first stage will depend on the quality of the submissions that the cities put forward, and eventual success will depend on who is best able to work up their submission into a really convincing proposal. The sheer range and variety of cultural strengths of Dundee that we have heard about already, and I think that we will hear more from the minister about in a moment, will help it in that task, as will critically, as Mary Fee said, the involvement of so many Dundonians in developing the bid. As a member for North East Scotland, I often reflect, as Graham Day did, on the relationship between the two cities that I am fortunate enough to represent. Although they are joined in a single parliamentary region, both Aberdeen and Dundee are regional centres in their own right. Part of what makes a city region is the strength of cultural identity, of how much there is in common and seem to be in common between town and country, between a city and its region, so that people in Incheon and Rouroury take pride in the name and reputation of Aberdeen, while Dundee attracts the same loyalty from people in Curiemure and further beyond. That regional solidarity, as the cabinet secretary said, is a critical strength of Dundee's bid for 2023. Aberdeen and Dundee, of course, compete mightily in all manners of field from academic research to sporting prowess. Both cities aspired to the title of UK City of Culture in 2017, and just as Dundee has used that experience as a springboard to bid for European capital of culture 2023, Aberdeen has taken the first steps forward towards a bid for UK City of Culture in 2025. My friend and former colleague Frank Doran, who came from Dundee to represent Aberdeen at Westminster 30 years ago, has always described competition between our two great northeast cities as a source of creative tension, and those on-going bids for cultural recognition prove that he is right about that. Creative tension, after all, is what this process is all about. It is in demonstrating to other people across Scotland, across Britain and across Europe that Paisley and Dundee have so many strengths and attributes that they can carry forward on to an international stage. That is what adds to the excellence that they have to offer and makes those bids so strong in representing us all. Paisley and Dundee are standard bearers for all of Scotland in those competitions, and I know that they have full support. As we have heard today from around the chamber, the full support is of all concern. Not only that, but we also look forward to many more opportunities for Scotland's great cities and towns to fly the flag as UK cities of culture and European capitals of culture in the years ahead. I thank Fiona Hyslop for bringing this debate forward. Both myself and my Scottish Conservative colleagues are grateful for the opportunity to show both our party's support for Paisley and indeed for Dundee. It is important that MSPs show that support, because those bids are more about than just securing titles. They are a sign to the world that Scotland is ambitious and is determined to succeed in the 21st century. Some members are fortunate to have a connection with either Paisley or Dundee. I am fortunate that I have a strong connection to both. I was educated in Dundee, as was my colleague Bill Bowman, who noted William Wallace. In fact, I went to the very same school as Wallace did, albeit a mere 700 years after he did. The similarity ends there, though. However, Braveheart is one of my favourite films. Today, we have heard support from across the chamber for both Paisley and Dundee. A tale of two cities, as Fiona Hyslop outlined in her opening remarks, describing them as committed bold and ambitious bids. My colleagues and others across the chamber have made eloquent cases for Dundee to be named European city of culture. Alex Cole-Hamilton spoke about Dundee as a metropolis where he went shopping and to experience nightlife in the form of the sticky carpets of the Mardi Gras nightclub. I may have bumped into him, but less said about that, the better, in a very thoughtful and interesting speech. Graham's Day, his first visit to Dundee, was the year before I was born. He is certainly showing his age there, but he spoke about the positive transformation of the city and are just all to be bold, ambitious and Dundee. Suffice to say that the world would be poorer without Dundee's cultural contributions, and there is a lot more yet to come. Dundee deserves to win, and I am more than happy to offer any support I can. Turning to Paisley, it is a great honour as an MSP for the west of Scotland region to be able to represent the town. I have previously spoken about the Paisley 2021 bid in this chamber. I said that Paisley needed it, Paisley deserved it and Scotland stood to benefit from it. I am more convinced of that now than ever. Take a stroll through Paisley streets and you will find architecture that would be at home in any European capital. From being the home of the world-renowned Paisley pattern textile design, which I am sporting today, if you can see at my tie, to the location of the formulation of the duty of care, which was mentioned by my colleague Liam Kerr. The legal joke did not go down so well in the chamber, but the point that Paisley has much to be proud of was resonating. Neil Bibby spoke about his pride at being born and indeed living in Paisley, as well as the economic benefits of the bid. Ross Greer spoke about the radical movement and communism, as well as the rich cultural heritage. I was not sure if the two were linked. George Adam, who could hardly contain himself in his seat, looked forward to an afternoon of positive Paisliness. I think that you have got that, Mr Adam. He acknowledges the challenges, but also the cultural heritage of the town, claiming that Paisley was the centre of the universe. Maurice Corry highlighted his links to Dundee and Paisley from serving in the army in Dundee, as well as his experience in the textile industry in Paisley. Tom Arthur spoke about the benefits to the wider Renfrewshire area and urged us all to start spreading the news. It was Paisley's own Paolo Natini who spoke of seeing the romance of the town, the real beauty of it, and I couldn't agree more. Dundee can also be proud of its musical heritage and was the launch pad for groups such as the average white band and snow patrol, as well as the home for Ricky Ross, as well as folk singers such as the bard of Dundee, Michael Marra, and I'm sure Jenny Marra would have mentioned if she were able to be in the chamber today. Clare Adamson It was just given his earlier comments to Mr D. Does he actually remember the average white band? Mr Golden? It was a question when I was doing my short course standard grade music. It was one of the answers. That's the reason why I was taught about them but I didn't live the experience. I'm happy to listen to the average white band with the member if that was an invitation. That would be nice. I'm sure that Jenny Marra would have mentioned her uncle to be here today. Also worth a listen is Simon Kempston's ode to Dundee, which is called The City Beautiful, which gives a bit of a historiography of the city and the previous issues with that. It's well worth a look at. While Paisley has Gerard Butler, Dundee has Brian Taylor, and Brian and I share at least three things in common. We both attended Dundee High School, we are Dundee United fans and we spent much of our formative years on the 12th floor of the Gowrie hill milte in the meanest hill area of Dundee. I can expand at a later date. Paisley has a lot going for it but, similar to Dundee, it faces challenges. Sadly, Paisley suffers from appalling rates of poverty, including almost a third of the town's children living in severe deprivation. Winning the title might not seem as a solution to those problems, but it can help to drive economic benefits. Joe McAlpine made the point that culture creates jobs and I think that that's something that I would agree with. Dundee has so much to offer, as does Paisley, and the success of these bids should benefit everyone, especially the most vulnerable. I'm delighted to see that organisers of both committees recognise that and they are committed to ensuring that no one is left out. I believe that this long-term community-minded approach serves to raise support for both bids. The latter being a welcome reminder that there are more that unites us than there is to divide us. On that note, I welcome the £10 million of funding from the Scottish Government that they have committed to the Paisley bid, and I know that any information on further funding would be appreciated locally. The next decade has the potential to begin with two of Scotland's most vibrant centres, leading the UK and Europe in culture and arts. I am pleased to offer my support for the motion. Thank you very much, Mr Golden. I call Joe FitzPatrick to close with the Government, Cabinet Secretary, to 5 o'clock, please. Thank you, Presiding Officer. I want to start by thanking business managers across the chamber for agreeing not only that we should schedule today's business, but that we should ensure that we do it in a way that we can have a motion that we all agree to, supporting both bids. I think that it is very important, and I think that both bid teams will be grateful for the contributions across the chamber. It has been a really good debate, and it has shown, as Alex Cole-Hamilton said earlier, the Parliament at its best when we come together and in the way that we have today. It is very clear that there is a shared appreciation and indeed passion for both Paisley and Dundee's bids and the ambitions that they represent. It is great to hear the consensus around the chamber for the range of cultural, economic and social benefits that those bids will bring. Benefits not just for Paisley, Dundee and surrounding areas but for individuals, communities and organisations across Scotland, the UK and Europe. I really thank the chamber for the quality and depth of today's debate. The passion and enthusiasm is something that anyone who did not manage to sit through all of today is worth going back and having a look. I am not just talking about George Adam's passion for Dundee, although that was... Yes, it was indeed. I did not have to pay George to agree to mention Dundee in his speech. We had a discussion, and I promised that I would mention Paisley in my speech. The important thing is that both of those bids are not competing. The two bids are very complementary. I know that the two bid teams are looking to learn from each other. Dundee has some experience from its previous bid, as Maurice Corry had mentioned for to be a UK city of culture 2017. Unfortunately, it narrowly picked the post, but there are lots of lessons that Dundee has learned from that bid, and I know that Dundee has been sharing that with Paisley. Liam Kerr talked a bit about the connection between culture and history and the importance of those two tourism, but I will try to be as gentle as I can when talking about football. There is some history that is best forgotten. Neil Bibby talked about his sense of pride in the work that has been done in bringing the bid together. The tributes that he paid to the bid team are very well-made, and the bid team in Dundee 2 has put a huge amount of work into that. Paisley is further down the line, so the efforts that have gone in there have been immense. I know that the bid teams in both Paisley and Dundee will be grateful to hear that recognised here in the Scottish Parliament. Ross Greer managed to weave Karl Marx and radical politics into highlighting the rich tapestry of Paisley's culture, and he too mentioned the importance of not just winning the bid but the process of the bid. That is certainly something that our experience in Dundee did not learn a lot about the process of applying to be the UK city of culture 2017, but we gained a lot and it took us on that journey. I am sure that that is the case for Paisley too, although, as has been said, Paisley is in it to win it, and it was said by Neil Bibby. Alex Cole-Hamilton talked about his youth in crossing the Tain. Journeys across you may have noticed that the lemons are back. They were certainly an important part of any journey that I made across heading from Dundee to Fife. The lemons are back, but the lemons represent, to some extent, the circle of how history and culture move forward. Remind us just how far Dundee has come on its cultural revival. It really is remarkable what has happened in that. I think that what was one of the interesting things, also from Alex Cole-Hamilton's speech and Maurice Golden to some extent, was that they were both hitting the same clubs in Dundee, not the clubs that I attended to, and I have to say that I did not attend any of the Sticky Carpet clubs with Alex or Morris. Obviously, as expected, George Adam waxed lyrically about Paisley, but one of the things that he did say, as well as waxing lyrically, was how similar Paisley and Dundee are and how much alike they are. It has been said by a few folk that Paisley are not an official city, but they are about the size of most cities. While Dundee has always been recognised as a city, both Paisley and Dundee are two of Scotland's biggest villages. One of the benefits that both Paisley and Dundee have is that they are like a village, everybody can everybody, and those connections are really important in taking those bids forward. Paisley's bid is stronger because the way that people can work across community and political lines, Neil Bibby made the point about the bid that was originally taken forward by a Labour council supported by an SNP opposition, and now it has been carried forward by an SNP council supported by a Labour opposition, and that is really important. That is something that we have seen in Dundee as well. On every occasion, when we have talked about Dundee's culture, we have had support from right across the political spectrum, going way back to the day, I think it was Graham Day that talked about the waterfront plan, way back in 2001, when I was a local council and opposition in Dundee, and we, as a council, drew up that fantastic waterfront plan to see how we could take Dundee forward. It is because we were able to stick the party politics aside that we have managed to go through, starting with a Labour administration, moving to a Labour Conservative alliance, moving to an SNP administration, we have managed to put the politics aside through all those years, way right back to 2001, to make sure that we are all doing the best for Dundee. I thank the minister for taking the intervention that allows me to have a word in this debate. Does the minister agree with me that Dundee, the city and Paisley, the town and all the neighbouring communities will benefit from both the bid and ultimately, hopefully, victory? For that matter, Scotland will benefit if either bid, and indeed, hopefully, both bids are ultimately successful. Jew Fais-Bathruff. The cabinet secretary makes a very strong point. It is a point that Graham Day made, and, obviously, as an MSP from a neighbouring constituency, and Paul Martha is also made as an MSP from a neighbouring constituency to Paisley. The reach of culture is far more than the direct input of cash, the input of the resource in the cities where the culture is happening. I fully expect that both Dundee and Paisley's bids, hopefully, will both be successful, will benefit much wider than just the cities themselves and much wider than the city region across the greater areas, across the whole of Scotland and, hopefully, will continue to keep those connections across the UK and across Europe. Maurice Corry, in addition to the points that I have already mentioned, also mentioned his history in terms of the black watch. Clearly, the black watch is very much part of Dundee's cultural past and in the cultural future. One of the points that Graham Day made when he gave away his age, but I was not going to say it, but Maurice Golden already has. Graham talked about the transformation that has happened to Dundee over those years, since that waterfront plan was first envisaged in 2001. Anybody who has not been to Dundee in the past two or three years should really come and see the difference that is there. One of the biggest differences that you might not see is the confidence in our city. The Dundee 2017 bid was really very much part of the rejuvenation of the confidence of our city. No longer did we just have to accept a lot. Dundee gained the confidence and believed that we had the right to, as is effectively our unofficial slogan, to be bold, to be ambitious, to be Dundee. Mary Fee reminded us of the importance of stories from Robert Stewart, to witches, to weavers and to this new chapter in Paisley's story. It is really, really important. Joan McAlpine talked about something that I thought was very important right at the very start of her speech. Anyone who ever asks why we should spend money on culture, surely we should spend money on that or the next thing, just needs to look back to what the Glasgow European capital of culture did for that city way back in 1990. An absolute transformation for that city and a real boost to its confidence. We can think of all the things that happened thereafter. I think that she was right in saying that it would have been very difficult to envisage all those things had whoever it was within the council at that time not had the courage to say, this is something that we need to do, this has to be our priority for our city. Bill Bowman outlined the Dundee bid programme, but he also crucially talked about the economic potential of all that programme, the bid process and hopefully the final winning point. I want to echo his closing words of coming to Dundee. Tom Arthur, I have mentioned very quickly. Time is coming to an end, so I will go back to the end of my speech. I want to finish by thanking all members for their contributions. I am really pleased that the motion will pass unanimously at decision time. That is an endorsement for the bids of Dundee and Paisley that I am sure those bid teams will be grateful for. That concludes our debate on cities of culture. Our next item of business is consideration of two business motions, motion 7, 9, 1, 2, setting out a business programme and motion 7, 9, 1, 3, on an extension to a stage 1 timetable. I would ask anyone who objects to say so now, and I call on Mr FitzPatrick in this case, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, to move the motions. No one has asked to speak against the motions. The question is that motions 7, 9, 1, 2 and 7, 9, 1, 3 be agreed. Are we all agreed? We are agreed. The next item of business is consideration of Parliamentary Bureau, motion 7, 9, 1, 4, on acting conveners. Again, I would ask Joe FitzPatrick on behalf of the bureau to move the motion. Thank you very much. This question will be put at decision time. There are two questions today. The first question is that motion 7, 8, 6, 2, in the name of Fiona Hyslop on recognised and support Paisley's 2021 UK city of culture and Andy's 2023 European capital of culture bids be agreed. Are we all agreed? We are agreed. And the final question is that motion 7, 9, 1, 4, in the name of Joe FitzPatrick on acting conveners be agreed. Are we all agreed? We are agreed and that concludes decision time. We'll move now to members' business and I would ask members just to be quiet as we leave the chamber and we'll take a few moments to change seats.