 Rwy'n ei ddim yn ymdae Khan, rwy'n gweithio i chi'n gweddig i fynd i gwaith ffamol iawn, felly rydyn ni'n ffwrdd i'n glwb gydag i gweithio i ciwturau'n gweld, rydyn ni'n fwyaf yn gweithio i chi i ei fwyf o'r awrig o ddifrif. That was made by Mr Maxwell, who has made a full I have apologised Mr Gibson for my misidentification, but I have made it clear to him that there were other ways he could have dealt with this rather than having a dialogue with me across the floor of the chamber. I now consider the matter closed. We now move to first item business this afternoon, which is a debate on motion number 10051, in the name of Fergus Ewing on homecoming Scotland 2014. Members who wish to take part in the debate should press a request to speak better now, and I advise members that the Presiding Officers will be generous in the time allowance this afternoon. I call on Fergus Ewing to speak to him of the motion. Minister, you have got 14 minutes or thereabouts. Today's debate is an opportunity first to highlight how homecoming will extend the benefits and opportunities offered by the Commonwealth Games, the Rider Cup, the MTV Europe Music Awards and the Armed Forces National Day event. It is also to promote a year-long co-ordinated programme of events designed to welcome visitors in a celebration of the very best of Scotland's food and drink, of our assets as a country of natural beauty and our rich creativity, cultural and ancestral heritage, and thirdly, to celebrate the significant successes already achieved to date. Scotland competes for each and every visitor. It is a global market and one that continues to grow. The number of overseas visitors to Scotland is forecast to rise faster than the UK average, with the recent independent Barclays study predicting spending to rise by 40 per cent by 2017, contributing £2.5 billion to our economy. Those are welcome predictions in respect of our visitors from overseas, but the industry also recognises that we have to keep refreshing the offering and, of course, we cannot afford to be complacent. We also need, Presiding Officer, to make sure that we recognise the value of not only our biggest market but also our oldest friends, England. The latest figures for 2013 show that residents in England took 10 per cent more short breaks in Scotland than in 2012, and that there was a 4 per cent increase between 2012 and 2013 in residents in England, taking longer holidays in Scotland. Very welcome each and every one is. In 2013, the media giant CNN named Scotland as their top travel choice for 2014, a view endorsed by Lonely Planet and Wanderlust, who identified Scotland as a top world tourist destination to visit in 2014. That is a tribute to the successful work of Visit Scotland and their team. I thank the minister for giving away, Presiding Officer. I may have misread the figures, but my reading of the figures in quarter 4, October to December 2013, is that domestic visits have decreased over 22 per cent on the same quarter the previous year. The most recent figures that have just been released show a very positive figure for tourism, particularly for overseas visitors. There has been, from time to time, reduction in domestic tourism, and that has taken place on both sides of the border, both in Scotland and in England. I think that that point is important to make. Let me return to the topic of the day, which is homecoming. Homecoming 2014 is the glue that binds together the unique opportunities of 2014. It builds on the successes of homecoming 2009, which influenced more than 95,000 visitors to travel to Scotland, and it generated net additional expenditure of £53.7 million. A key feature of 2009 was the strong partnerships developed to unite behind a common theme, and the Scottish Government committed to maintaining this approach by delivering a series of themed years running from 2010 to 2013. The activity spotlighting some of our greatest assets brought focus to the promotion of domestic and international tourism and supported developments of the events industry in Scotland. This has been a great success. Over half a million people attended events and activities celebrating the year of food and drink. We saw a 6 per cent increase in participation levels at events supported throughout the year of active Scotland, and the year of creative Scotland messaging reached almost 70 million people. During the year of natural Scotland, a 12 per cent increase in the number of visitors to rural and coastal locations in Scotland was achieved. 2014 is a unique year for raising the profile of Scotland both nationally and internationally as a world-class tourism destination. At its heart is the homecoming programme whose delivery is being led by VisitScotland along with private, public and third sector partners. Supported by a £5.5 million core budget from the Scottish Government, VisitScotland is targeting a return on investment of £44 million additional tourism revenue for Scotland. 837 events are now included, more than double the number in 2009, with activities taking place across every local authority area in Scotland throughout the year. I am sure that many members in this chamber will wish to extol and promote the events that are occurring in their areas and constituencies. Homecoming-themed Hockmanay and Burn celebrations have already taken place. The legacy of John Muir was recently marked with the John Muir Festival, the opening of the John Muir Way and, of course, the launch of the iconic Kelpies sculptures. Looking ahead, key events such as Bannockburn Live, the Edinburgh festivals, the Forth Bridges Festival, the Ryder Cup opening concert, the Highland Homecoming and MTV Europe music awards have still to come. As well as those, there are community-led events taking place the length and breadth of the country. My ministerial colleagues and I, including Fiona Hyslop, are fully committed to actively supporting the range of events throughout the year. The efforts of the officials involved have been unparalleled, and I would like to pay tribute to their unstinting support and determination to make sure that Scotland succeeds as never before on the world stage. VisitScotland is leading the effort with partners to ensure that Scotland's welcome to the world is promoted throughout the whole year. They have developed brilliant moments in the doorsteps campaigns to promote the 2014 events that are programmed to a UK-wide audience. Media and PR events in VisitScotland's key markets have already secured an estimated reach of £6.5 million from international press advertising, and substantial news and travel coverage is contributing to the global PR reach. Results are already being achieved. Celtic Connections celebrated its most successful year to date, with over 110,000 and gross ticket sales topping £1.15 million, a 10 per cent increase in previous years. Electric Glen, the Winter Lighting Festival in East Renfrewshire's Rooking Glen Park, sold all of its 24,000 tickets this year, more than doubling last year's tendencies. The Glasgow Film Festival was another fantastic success, with record-breaking ticket sales in excess of 41,000, the highest in its history and up by 6 per cent in last year, and 9,000 people attended the spectacular international opening of the Kelpies, indicating the positive benefit likely to be realised for the local area. In addition, VisitScotland and the Enterprise companies are working with their account-managed businesses to harness the potential of homecoming. Some notable successes already include Royal Mail, who have created a homecoming postmark, Thomas Tunox and Walker's Shortbread, who will feature the homecoming logo on product packaging, and Mackie's Crisps, who are running homecoming Scotland on-pack promotions. Homecoming also offers the opportunity to maintain the momentum and the goodwill generated in 2009 among the millions of ancestral Scots. This year sees a significant number of clan-focused events being supported by the Scottish Government. I am delighted to have the following message of support for homecoming from Sir Malcolm McGregor, convener of the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs, who is also in this chamber watching this debate today. He has said this. The clans and their leaders play a significant role in attracting thousands of Scots living in other parts of the UK and abroad back to Scotland every year. Therefore, the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs wholeheartedly support initiatives such as homecoming. A homecoming year is particularly important because it gives the worldwide clan network a sense of focus and purpose. Combined with a significant anniversary, such as the Battle of Baratburn, increases the resonance. Homecoming is about bringing people home, home to Scotland. Many of those who answer the call have strong clan and family roots from the outer hebrides to the borders. They take part in and contribute financially to clan-based conservation projects and communal activities. That, in turn, helps to develop a sense of belonging and affection towards local communities in Scotland. I am sure that we would all welcome that strong message from Sir Malcolm. I have also been working closely with our Highland Clans in supporting formation of a Highland Clan partnership group. That work led to the launch of the Scottish Clan event fund, which is providing legally constituted clans and societies financial support for clan events held across Scotland. I am also delighted that John Mackenzie, the Earl of Cromarty and chair of the Highland Clan group, is here today to offer his support for the homecoming celebrations and to provide this message of support. On behalf of the Highland Clans partnership group, I would like to offer my support to Mr Ewing in the Homecoming Scotland 2014 initiative. With its focus on our ancestry, our heritage and culture, Homecoming Scotland 2014 has helped to promote and assist our clan societies to hold their own gatherings, with an emphasis on attracting and enabling overseas clan members to come to Scotland. It is undoubtedly the case that the enormous work, effort and commitment that is made by the clans in arranging and delivering their gatherings, often on a quinquennial basis, brings people to Scotland for the purposes of friendship and amity. It is difficult to overestimate the contribution that they make to Scotland and to tourism. Homecoming is also providing the opportunity to celebrate Scotland's diversity and is helping to ensure that all of Scotland's communities are encouraged to join in the celebrations. Education Scotland, as part of its cross-curricular approach to education, has also developed a Homecoming 2014 learning resource that is helping teachers using Homecoming events as a context for learning to draw on available resources aligned to the themes of the year. Between now and the end of the year, more than 570 Homecoming events are still to take place. We are halfway through the month-long celebration of whisky, with events focusing on one of Scotland's biggest cultural exports, as well as the very best of Scotland's food and drink. Bannetburn Live will be an inclusive event representing the best that contemporary Scotland has to offer and also marking the 700th anniversary of the battle at Bannetburn. Over the summer, there will be a full range of homecoming activities complementary to the Commonwealth Games, and the Ryder Cup will be a key focus of activity in the autumn, along with the Fourth Bridges Festival, the Highland Homecoming and the MTV Europe Music Awards 2014. Homecoming will also be the springboard for a further series of themed years, celebrating our world-renowned food and drink, our reputation of innovation, architecture and design, our unique history heritage and archaeology and the exceptional potential of our young people. In conclusion, Homecoming is already proving to be a great success. I hope that we can all use this afternoon's debate to welcome the year, that we can explore what the celebrations will mean at a national and local level. Working across all parties in this chamber in a bipartisan fashion, I agree to work together to support Scotland's events industry and harness the current and emerging tourism and economic opportunities as we progress through this very exciting year and beyond. I now call on Jenny Marra to speak to you on movement number 1005 1.1. Ms Marra, you've got 10 minutes or thereabouts. Thank you, Presiding Officer. Can I start by moving the Labour amendment in my name this afternoon? The 2014 year of Homecoming is an opportunity to showcase Scotland to the world, but it is also an opportunity to create lasting change for Scotland's communities and our economy. A Labour's amendment to the Government motion today highlights that opportunity, and I want to explore some ideas of how we can go about achieving that. The Commonwealth Games, which we are all looking forward to, especially since Mofara announced that he was going to come and join us in Glasgow. The Commonwealth Games is one of the thousands of events taking place across Scotland to mark the year of Homecoming this 2014. I would like, at this point, to pay tribute to the sterling work of Glasgow City Council and the Labour Administrations who have worked tirelessly over the year and are now working hand in hand with the Scottish Government to make that event a big success. Together with the Ryder Cup and events in every local authority area, Scotland is going to receive a significant economic boost from the number of people visiting our country in the latter half of this year, not only in the short term but in the long term too. Barclays Bank has estimated that spending from overseas visitors in Scotland will rise 40 per cent by 2017. Similarly, Deloitte has estimated that the tourism industry, which was worth almost £12 billion in 2013, will grow to be worth £23 billion by 2025, a rise of over 40 per cent. In this sense, the Homecoming will help to secure long-term growth in Scotland's tourism, hospitality and service sectors. Coupled with infrastructure investment, the likes of the Victoria and Albert Design Museum, which will be opening in my home city over the next few years, we have the opportunity to boost long-term growth in every part of Scotland, which is extremely important. Those estimates from Barclays and Deloitte are hugely optimistic and the plans and figures and well they should be. Tourism has got to be. I think that the minister and I have discussed this before, one of the industries of growth in our country. However, those plans and figures are also instructive to the Government about the opportunity that we have to make the most of that potential for all our communities. At every turn, we should be asking how we create lasting change in our economy and in our communities, particularly those communities that are most in need from this predicted boost in the tourism industry and events such as the 2014 Homecoming. Take, for example, the provision of modern apprenticeships. In March last year, Skills Development Scotland produced an investment strategy for tourism. In that strategy, it worked with tourism employers, stakeholders and partners to identify skills gaps in the sector. I made a number of recommendations about how those skills gaps could be addressed. Chief among the comments from employers was that there is a need to improve young people's awareness of the careers opportunities in tourism and that there is a need to create clear and well-publicised routes into the tourism industry and that there is a need to promote a skilled workforce, particularly in the management and professional categories. That is a gap that I have experienced at first hand recently on visits to employment projects in Dundee. I was a little surprised but really heartened by the amount of young men in the room who said that they wanted to work in the hospitality industry. There is obviously appetite for that. I think that those predicted growths are very good for those young people and we must find ways of getting them into the industry and getting them skilled up so that they are very good employees in the industry but are also creating businesses of their own and creating work for other people. The same report goes on to cite modern apprenticeships as a key lever in achieving those aims. At the time of the report's publication, Minister Fergus Ewing said, as we prepare the nation to welcome the world to Scotland in 2014, ensuring employers can access the training that they need is more important than ever. I agree, yet I have been contacted recently by one training provider of modern apprenticeships in the areas related to tourism, such as hospitality, retail logistics and customer service, who have been told by Skills Development Scotland that funding in those sectors is set to be cut in the coming year and cut again in the years to follow. That has naturally caused alarm in the company, who have made the very valid question to me that, in this year of homecoming, why are we pooling investment out of the very sectors that are critical to its success against the advice of Skills Development Scotland's own investment strategy? Perhaps the minister in his closing remarks could shed some light on that point, or perhaps we can discuss it after this debate, or perhaps even give me assurances that Skills Development Scotland funding for modern apprenticeships in those areas will not be cut in light of the huge growth potential that he and both I have outlined today. The Government motion mentions attracting overseas visitors to Scotland, which is hugely important, not just because of the tourism that it brings in, but because of the potential to build business links in emerging markets and the social good that comes from having a diverse and culturally rich society. However, one of our biggest tourist markets is on our doorstep in the form of the rest of the United Kingdom. If we look to visit Scotland's tourist figures for the last quarter of 2013, just published the other day, we find something quite surprising. While the number of overseas visitors has increased by 20 per cent, domestic tourism within the United Kingdom to Scotland has dropped by 22 per cent, and spending in that sector went down by 10 per cent too. There are certain intangibles that contribute to a successful tourism sector. Factors are hard to measure, but influence a person's decision to visit a particular country. One of those intangibles is goodwill between countries. It is a well-known fact among tourism experts and a sensible assertion that when countries foster goodwill towards one another, it will help to boost tourism between those countries. I wonder, Presiding Officer, if the Scottish Government's position to break away from the rest of the United Kingdom and the message that that sends out to the people of England, Wales and Northern Ireland? I just want to have what she said, which is quite extraordinary, of all the many extraordinary things that you hear in this place. How does that work? The Lonely Planets guide best travel in 2014, where Scotland has been named the third-best country to visit in 2014 behind only Brazil and Antarctica. How does that work in the member's mind that, for some reason, just because politically we are having a debate that people are not wanting to come to Scotland? Some people are coming and want to continue to come to Scotland, and they are almost welcome. I thank Annabelle Ewing for her intervention. Like her, I always promote Scotland as the best place in the world to visit. I always know that, when the SNP starts reading from pre-prepared briefs, it is to counter the facts that have been published by its agencies, because Visit Scotland has published those figures on 8 May 2014 at 9.30 hours. We will let the member make her point, shall we? It makes very clear that overseas visits to Scotland have increased, overseas spend has increased, domestic visits for full-year and for quarters have decreased. For quarter four, October to December 2013, domestic visitors from the United Kingdom into Scotland have decreased by 22.5 per cent. I am happy to take the intervention. I thank the member very much for taking the intervention. The member perhaps accepts that, in this time of austerity, people are perhaps looking at how they spend their money, and it has nothing to do with goodwill. We send our goodwill and good wishes to all our neighbours, not just within the UK but within Europe and the globe. I would ask Dennis Robertson to study carefully the figures from Visit Scotland and see if he does not come to the same conclusion that I do. I would be very interested to hear the minister's explanation for that quarterly drop in his closing remarks. To sum up, the year of homecoming Scotland is an opportunity for us to celebrate all that is great about our nation. However, it also presents us with a chance to create lasting economic and social change in communities throughout our country. We have to seize that opportunity wherever we can, and I hope that we see long-term economic benefits and a positive social legacy from the events that will take place this year. I now call Alex Johnston, a generous six minutes. Thank you for your generosity, Deputy Presiding Officer. I rise to support the motion in the name of Fergus Ewing, and we will also support the amendment in the name of Jenny Marra. We have already heard at some length during the course of this debate about the importance of the tourism industry in Scotland. Certainly, there are areas such as this here in Edinburgh for whom tourism is an extremely important industry and has been for many, many years. I notice some members representing Edinburgh have taken it upon themselves to give me some encouragement when I mentioned that. However, one of the problems that we face is that it can be difficult to get tourists coming to Scotland to move around the country and to go to other areas. Those who are familiar with the nature of the rural economy will realise that, surprisingly perhaps, tourism is right up there as one of the most significant contributors to the rural economy. However, there is so much more that we could do if we could get people to go out and visit rural areas of Scotland and the more far-flung areas such as the highlands and the islands. We realise that it is important, as the minister said in his opening remarks, that we encourage and foster good relations with our United Kingdom partners. Some work controversially, the subject has also been raised by Jenny Marra. On that subject specifically, I do believe that good-natured friendship is very important in driving that forward. I think that there are some very interesting figures that can be obtained on the number of German tourists who have visited southern Europe in the last two to three years. At the height of the crisis over the Euro, when there was a view in certain southern European countries that Germany was reeling in some of the loans and putting financial pressure on them, many Germans found it difficult to visit these countries because they believed that they were unwelcome. For that reason, I think that it is important that we all have that clearly in mind. Whether you are for or against the arguments that have been put during the course of this debate so far, I think that I am glad to have heard Fergus Ewing himself raise this at the start of the debate as one of his priorities. Scotland is a popular tourist destination. We have heard about the CNN, the lonely planet and wonderlust assessments that Scotland was one of the best places to visit. I could not agree more that Scotland is a wonderful place to live and that it is a hospitable place that attracts visitors from all over the world. Of course, it is important that we concentrate on ensuring that our North American tourist trade and our international tourist trade from other countries continues to thrive because American visitors, above all, have a very high spend rate when they come to Scotland and can be very important to many of our tourist businesses. That is why Homecoming Scotland 2014 is such a significant part of the effort that is going on all over the country to ensure that we can deliver that. Looking at the events that are taking place this year, Scotland has been quite courageous in taking forward some of the opportunities. When you see events like World Cups and Olympic Games almost driving quite large countries with large economies to the verge of bankruptcy, it is a significant year for Scotland that the Commonwealth Games and the Rider Cup are going to be staged here in the same year. For that reason, it is a demonstration of Scotland's ability that it can successfully organise such events and do so in such a practical and effective manner. I think that we should be proud of our achievements. The Commonwealth Games facilities are ready and the Rider Cup itself will, I am sure, be a success, although it will be difficult to find ways to outperform the way the Rider Cup will, I am sure, promote the sales of tartan trusers, as it has in previous years. The MTV Europe Music Awards will pass without making any dent in my diary, I am sure. However, Armed Forces Day is a key event and one that all of us should support, commemorating the extremely effective military history of Scottish regiments and their role within the British Army. When we look at the Homecoming Scotland programme, there are one or two things that I have to take the minister up on. The whisky month in particular gives me a serious cause for concern. I believe that it is impossible to do justice to our whisky industry in a single month, and I think that consideration should be given to extending that, if not officially, then certainly in an unofficial capacity. I am willing to join the minister in doing all that I can to that end. Bannockburn live will be an interesting one. Of course, it is built around an event that happens on an annual basis, and I noticed that there have been significant changes to the financing of that event, perhaps something that is being learned from previous experience. I have publicly expressed my concern that the Fourth Bridges Festival is perhaps going to happen rather too close to the referendum and may, I worry, be lost in the publicity surrounding other things at the time. The Highland Homecoming also will be significant. Over 800 events mentioned in the Government motion will, of course, be taking place around Scotland, something that we should all be proud of. However, we should learn the lessons of the past. The issues surrounding the gathering in 2009 are still with us. That flagship event of 2009 did, of course, run into financial problems. The company running the event lost £516,000 and went into liquidation, with £382,000 owed to six bodies and a further £344,000 owed to 103 private organisations. The Scottish ministers had to help to rescue the 2009 event with £180,000 interest-free loan, which was not disclosed at the time, if I remember correctly. Audit Scotland reviewed the event and had some scathing recommendations around improving communication, better financial reporting and greater accountability. The Public Audit Committee also reviewed the procedures around the event, concluding that poor communication at key points throughout the planning, delivery and aftermath of the gathering 2009 event meant that sometimes decisions were taken without access to all the available information. The Scottish Government should have told the steering group about the £180,000 loan to the private sector company delivering the event. They also recommended that it reconsider its approach of joining any such steering groups in future, lessons that I hope will be learned for the purpose of the event that is coming up. The fact is that the 2014 event is a landmark. Yes, indeed. Crawford. In terms of the Banach, Bun and Live event, it is structured in a completely different way. It has been run in a completely different way. It is an entirely different type of event. Alex Johnson. That may have been partially due to the understanding that was accrued after the 2009 event, where lessons are learned. 2014 is a landmark year of cultural and sporting events in Scotland, which presents us with an opportunity not only to showcase the many positive aspects of Scotland to the world, but also to reach out to the diaspora and our trading partners, both old and new, to maximise the cultural and economic benefit of the event. There really is something for everyone this year. I am very much welcome the fact that these events are not occurring in the restricted geographical area of the central belt, but will also get some benefit to the Highlands and the North East. It is regrettable that the perception of the homecoming has been somewhat tainted by previous issues. However, I am confident that the public opinion will get behind that. With those concerns in mind, I hope that the minister is not only providing all the assistance that is required, but is also keeping a close eye on the event planning, although it is heartening that premium tickets for the Banach, Bun and Live event and pictures for the clans are sold out already. Delivering a successful event and indeed a positive experience for our visitors is vital if we want to see them either return to further explore our magnificent landscape, our enviable history and our culinary excellence, which can be found across Scotland, most often using the world-leading produce that we have in Scotland. 2014 is an opportunity. It is one that I support and it is one that I hope learning the lessons of the past will lead on to a successful event. Before I call Christine Grahame, I would draw to the chamber's attention that we have quite a bit of time in hand this afternoon at the moment, and members may welcome interventions and develop their points within reason, of course. Christine Grahame, to be followed by Hans Alamallach. It's extra time and I don't need to use it. Sorry about my life. Anyway, Deputy Presiding Officer, I thought that this was a debate about homecoming, not about the weary, some tedious scaremongering introduced by Jenny Marr. It wasn't even in your amendment. You know, where it's places is not in this debate. First of all, I don't know who came up with the title Homecoming as a marketing brand. I usually find these marketing titles miss the mark. I like that one because you're coming home. It's evocative, it's warm, it's a good title. It encapsulates the journey from far-flung shores to journeying just from other parts of Scotland or indeed England to the community you've left behind. There's still deep in your heart these communities so it's touching on something that we all have within us. We know that the Scottish population is around 5.2 million but you can multiply that tenfold at least for those with Scottish ancestry and connections. We all know the importance of tourism, domestic and otherwise, to the Scottish economy, illustrated by the statistics in the minister's speech. The member, of course, is correct to talk about the importance of domestic tourism. Will she note that Visit England reported a 21 per cent drop in domestic tourism in England with a continuous decline there? So whatever patterns may be prevailing in domestic tourism, Scotland is doing neither better nor worse than anywhere else. Christine Grahame. I'm obliged to the member for that and I know that Jenny Marra was busy writing that down and amending her summary at the end of she's doing the reply. From my perspective, I found the website on Visit Scotland and indeed the website of Scottish Borders Council regarding homecoming events easy to access and I am a technophobe. If I can understand it, anybody can understand it. However, I think that Midlodian Council has missed a bit of a trick. I tried to use their website to see what was going on there. It wasn't very good except when they mentioned the Midlodian Science Festival in October, part of the events of homecoming. So I say to Midlodian Council, sort out your website, there's still time. Because, as we all know and no doubt some of us and I will refer to events in our own constituency, there's a lot going on out there beyond the conurbations and the difficulty was making sure Homecoming Scotland went beyond the big cities and going on beyond the official in inverted commas homecoming events. Small things happening which could piggyback on the official stuff. My political patch straddles parts of the borders in the south of Midlodian. It goes from Melrose right across to the Pentland hills. I love it to bits, but it's not these two bits are not so different from each other as some might think. They both had a heritage of industry and textiles and in mining, now gone and what they've left behind are historic events and historic museums. Those are particularly accessible to English visitors who enjoy them very much just as Scottish people enjoy travelling that one mile over the border into Berwick. The borders, yes? I thank the member for taking the intervention. The member also acknowledged that it's not just open to people, it's open to people and their pets quite often to enjoy the events that are taking place. It is indeed, and I'm obliged to Mr Q's owner for bringing that matter into it. It seems to be a bit of a star this week. The borders is renowned and rightly so for its ridings, which do form part of the official events in return to the ridings. I know that my diary is already filling up with Gala's brawlad and last, the Whitman of Westland and Beltane at Peebles. Those are extremely important to the communities. Melrose has had the Melrose 7s part of the homecoming but it has its book festival. The Abbey, now the Abbey, is an extraordinary place because it's said to hold the heart of Robert the Bruce and quite differently it's got a sculpture of a pig playing a bagpipe. Why? Nobody knows. It also has that thing in Melrose that we've lost to so many of our replaces. It has little idiosyncratic shops. It's a wonderful place to go. We've got Abbotsford House that's just been refurbished, home of Sir Walter Scott and a spanky new visitor centre. It's a real lesson on how to do a visitor centre. It's interactive, it's interesting, children from the borders with their borders accents reciting Walter Scott's poems. It's excellent. In Midlothian, I mentioned the hunter lad in his last at Penicook and of course across the south of Scotland what happens at these ridings and galas is that all the main players in the colours of their community with the rosettes go around all the ridings and galas in support of each other. It's a great community event, brings communities together across the south. Newton Grange with that giant flywheel on Main Street which used to haul the miners' cages up and down the pits and the walkway which actually grows across the A7 where the miners used to cross from the pits to the bathhouses to scrub off the pit grime. There's lots to things to see and do in Scotland so people travel from outside the cross Scotland back to their home communities for these events to touch a little bit of their past. Each has their own individual homecoming but they bring with them their wallets and their purses and they spend locally, they support the local business. I'm pleased that the ministers advise us to increase in rural visits because that's where we need to make our mark. We've had enough about Edinburgh and Glasgow and places like that. My teeny whinge is that the border railway, the Waverly line, will not open until early 2015. That links all these communities. It itself would have been a wonderful tourist asset. What we have is a link through the passing of the baton for the Commonwealth Games. On 16 June it's going through Penicook, Newton Grange and Gorebridge and on the 18th, Erlston, Melrose and Tweedbank, then on to John Lamont's constituents if I don't care about that. The point that I'm making is that it's uniting people who can't be maybe part of the Commonwealth Games, who may not even get those tickets but they are involved in the whole good spirit. This is all good for local communities and I congratulate the baton bearers and local businesses which is just also good for the soul. I therefore wholly subscribe to the tenor of the motion. Though I do wish, Minister, you had a wee word in it about the south of Scotland, we've not a bit in there about phrase mentioning the borders or the peace in Galloway. We could have done with that. I want to finally go back to Jenny Marra. You see, I'm half English. Half my relatives live in the Midlands. I've got a son marrying a lunderer in September. They're no going to stop and fall out with Scotland if we become independent. They're on our side actually and my mother, English-born bread, as I was, she was the biggest fighter for Scottish independence you ever met, so never forget there's lots of English people on the side of Scotland's independence and it'll be good for England. Many thanks. Answers on the postcard to Mr Graham as to why a pig might be playing the bagpipes in Melrose. Now call on Hanzala Malik to be followed by Bruce Crawford. Thank you very much and good afternoon, Presiding Officer. What is homecoming? Who is it for and is it fit for purpose? When homecoming was launched, I thought this was a great idea. Labour launched homecoming Scotland successfully in 2009. Creating jobs and adding to our economy. Scotland is doing well in some areas to build on this success. We are making a lot of effort in marketing Scotland's image overseas. It feels we are not really bothered at home. When I ask my constituents how they feel about homecoming 2014, the answer was what's that? That in itself speaks volumes. I feel that not enough is being done here at home. It is a bit of a cheek for the motion to talk about more than 800 funded and partner events when less than 15% of homecoming events this year are brand new. This means around 700 of the events would have happened anyway. Being promoted anyway by, for example, Glasgow City Marketing and other such organisations, this has left me unimpressed. It tells me that much more can be done. This is supposed to be a year for Scotland to reinforce its position on the international stage as a dynamic and a creative nation in 2014. Scotland will be on the world stage as never before. Yet Scotland is being unoriginal and is not fulfilling its capabilities on opportunities that brings this year. This is a good level of success for individual events in Scotland. They share already. Celtic Connection, Relicop, the Edinburgh Festival, the Commonwealth Games are only a few of the already successful brands that are included in homecoming 2014. I find little evidence that homecoming 2014 is adding more value to many of these events. This is why I feel it should pay attention to newer events. Homecoming 2014 cannot have the brassnack and take credit for all the Scottish events in 2014. It can only take credit for the events that it has a role in. Mr Malik, I am sure that we will recall that he was in the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee at the time when Visit Scotland outlined her plans for homecoming Scotland. When they told us about the robust methodology that they use to determine whether or not they make a difference, they indicated that there was a seven to one leverage, seven pounds one for Scotland for every one pound that they spend of public money. Does Mr Malik not agree with me that that is a terrific result? I think that evidence at best is a little shady and at worst I think that when organisations claim credit for work that they have not done or have done little to contribute to work that's being done is unfair and unreasonable to take credit from others and this is why I don't agree with the member. However, going back to my points that I was making, that in addition, this is why I feel we should be attending to newer events and homecoming 2014 cannot have the brassnack of claiming credit for other organisations. This is only take credit for what it does. One of the events that homecoming 2014 has had a role is in exhibition of the battle of Bannerburn sales for Bannerburn currently stands at a quarter of their allocation according to events in Scotland. Is this okay? You will be the judge of that. But once again shows more needs to be done in order to fulfil and capitalise on the proposed of homecoming 2014. According to its website is for welcoming international visitors 33% of sales of Bannerburn have been to overseas visitors and 18% of total sales have been to the US, which is reasonable. I do not want to come across as being against homecoming 2014. I just feel that more can and should be done. Credit can only be claimed where credit is actually earned. Finally, I wish to say that I also feel that homecoming 2014 has failed to engage with the minority communities. A big opportunity missed because one, it would have allowed people to engage and gain employment and secondly, which is even more important, it would have brought communities together. I think that homecoming 2014 has been lacking in vision and in fflair. I think that this charge is a fair one because I absolutely do not see any evidence in the minority communities of their work. As the constituency MSP for Stirling, I am delighted to have the opportunity to contribute to today's debate on homecoming 2014. Frankly, I cannot stand any more than miserable this afternoon because this should be about celebrating what we are trying to achieve in Scotland. Talking up those events, trying to drive our economy, get more people involved, get a lot more tourists into our country and get this economy moving, not trying to talk everything down. One thing that I am pleased about is that Stirling is at the very heart of their homecoming for 2014, just as it is at the very heart of Scotland. This year, of course, we will see the 700th anniversary of the battle of Bannerburn. King Robert the Bruce's victory over King Edward II. In recognising this very special year in Scottish history, the Scottish Government has invested, along with others, in a very new and exciting national trust Bannerburn visitor centre, a centre that is already becoming legendary in its own right. With its special state-of-the-art digital technology, incredible 3D effects, it brings to life the characters involved in the battle of Bannerburn—nobals and commoners—from both sides of the battle alike. I have been involved in a couple of the battle plans that you can involve yourself in there. Once you see the scale of what Robert the Bruce was trying to deal with in these days in 1314, you begin to understand the true genius of the guy as a commander of forces, whichever side of the argument you came on. I actually fought on King Edward's side on one, and that made me understand, even more importantly, how difficult it had been for Robert the Bruce in his time. The renovation work on the rotunda and the magnificent equestrian statue of King Robert the Bruce on the field of Bannerburn is truly remarkable. Some of the detail on that equestrian statue, if anyone gets the chance to see it, is absolutely stunning. I was delighted to be there on the day earlier on this year, when Lord Elgin came along to unveil the statue of his ancestor. I think that it has done the city of Stirling proud, and those who are involved are proud. Can I say that you have sold your visitor centre to me, so I will come and see yours if you will come and see mine? I cannot remember the number of times I have been made that promise for Christine Grahame, but we will talk about that later, Christine. The investment in that centre is already paying off, with reports in last week's media that there have already been 12,000 people through its doors since it is opening only a few short weeks ago. We have not actually had the official opening of the place itself. I want to congratulate the National Trust for Scotland. I know that it has not been the easiest time for them in bringing it all together, and there are big challenges for them. However, I think that they have done a fantastic job on the ground of producing what is a fantastic visitor centre. It goes without saying, of course, that there will be significant economic benefits to Stirling from the wider programme of homecoming events in and around the city this year. The 2014 homecoming year was kicked off early and in style by the Stirling's Hogmanay party at Stirling Castle, headlined by Deakin Blue. It was watched by over 1.3 million viewers, live TV viewers, last year alone. Money cannot buy that type of exposure, either for Stirling or indeed for Scotland. The economic benefit calculations that were done both for the Stirling city and the wider Scottish economy were quite significant. There are other outstanding events adding to the superbly diverse offer in Stirling in 2014. I am sorry that I am going about Stirling all the time, Christine Grahame. I have not yet mentioned the borders, but I now have, so I am probably off the leash. Back to Stirling, as Alex Johnson said quite rightly, one particular event that I bitterly regret not being able to attend last weekend because I had a very heavy cold was the spirit of Stirling whisky festival. It is a whisky festival that has grown in strength year in, year out. They have had to move to accommodate their growth and they have always had a sell-out production, so I congratulate the people involved in organising that. It is fair to say, certainly. I appreciate that the member had a heavy cold. Is the member not aware of the great Scottish Toddy, which we have assisted with your cold? You are now teasing me, sir. I am going to have to admit something about how I sort my colds out. Not only do I have a lensit, but I have a large glass of uskiva on top of that lensit to help me get through the worst of it, so it is probably why I am here today. It is fair to say, though, that over the weekend of the 27th and 29th of June we will see Stirling as the centrepiece of national events on an unprecedented scale. Pipefest, the National Armed Forces Day and Planet Darn live event are three phenomenal events on their own right and could easily stand alone, but will combine in Stirling to create a truly remarkable weekend. So we will have the skirl of the drums and the boom of the pipes, I should say, and the boom of the drums. Talking about pipes, we have a piper now wanting to make an intervention. Stuart McMillan. I am grateful to my colleague Bruce Crawford for taking this intervention, but I hope that he will retract that comment about the pipes, where a skirl is a bad note. It is not a good note. I can see it as I have heard you playing. That pipefest will see 1,600 pipers and drummers accompanied by highland dancers, clan representatives marching through the city on the Friday evening. That will ensure, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that that weekend will begin in spectacular fashion. No-one will be in any doubt that there is an extraordinary weekend to begin. Obviously, on that same weekend we will have the National Armed Forces Day event that will take place beneath Stirling's Towering Castle Rock. Stirling has a long and distinguished relationship with armed forces and I am therefore delighted that the city will host Armed Forces Day national event and continue with that proud addition. However, the Banach Barnach live event will take place on 28 and 29 June. That will be a unique opportunity to celebrate Scotland's history and culture. So what is on offer? A stellar line-up of the best Scottish folk and contemporary music. Talented people that will keep the crowds entertained in the music arena of the Banach Barnach live celebrations. Headlined by singer-songwriters Doogie McLean and the Gaelic singing sensation Julie Foulas. Three electrifying performances of the battle of Banach Barnach with hundreds of re-enactors from across Europe who will join forces and collide. All choreographed by Clann Rhanald, who is famous for their work on Hollywood blockbusters, Gladiator, Robin Hood and Thor 2. Three hundred living historians preparing for the battle. You can experience life in 14th century Scotland at the interactive medieval encampments, reliving the sights and sounds of the time from the clang of the hammer to the aromas of the fresh kiln-fired bread. You will be able to hear about the Scotland's culture and history, interpreted and retold in a range of prolific Scottish voices. As well as getting a chance to be involved in Scotland's land of food and drink with one of the best natural larders in the world. At Banach Barnach live, you will have many outlets where you will be able to sample with the saver delicious Scottish produce Alec whiskeys. I hope that you are buying your ticket, real ales and much more as well as meet the passionate producers behind them. I want to personally thank Dr Mike Cantley for the unique events and the national trust for bringing together this event. I now understand that the tickets are well over 4,000 being sold. Things are progressing properly. There is a good plan in place to make sure that the rest are sold. Alec Johnson has already explained how we have seen all the king's tickets sold. Thankfully, I have my king's ticket for the Sunday because on Saturday I will be at the armed forces. Stirling and the surrounding area will also play host to an amazing array of other events. From Stirling's big day out, an international angling festival and obviously the wonderful events going on at the Smith Art and Gallery Museum and lots of other local events going on. On the conclusion, setting that alongside the world-class events being hosted in Scotland in 2014, including the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and the Rider Cup, that truly is a magnificent year of culture for Scotland, with Stirling rightly at its very heart. Let's, for goodness sake, start talking of events in Scotland from now on in. Let's talk up our country and not talk it down. Make sure we get the tourists coming here, enjoying our product and get on and get the job done. Many thanks for that spirited contribution. Now Colin Mike McKenzie to be followed by Siobhan McMahon. Thank you, Presiding Officer. I'd like to congratulate Bruce Crawford on a speech which actually managed to cheer Mr Malik up. I know that because I saw him smiling. One of the issues that was mentioned during the economy, energy and tourism committee scrutiny of homecoming was that there would be a displacement effect resulting from the large and higher profile events in the central belt drawing people away from other parts of the country. These concerns were given some credence because there is evidence from last summer suggesting that the Olympic Games had this effect. I was therefore delighted to hear that Visit Scotland were aware of this potential problem and that the planned and very comprehensive programme of events covering every part of Scotland. I'm particularly pleased that even the far-flung communities of Orkney and Shetland have not been left out. As William MacArthur would tell you, I'm sure if he was here, Orkney St Magnus Festival and Orkney International Science Festival are well-established, hugely stimulating and exciting events which will be giving a welcome boost by homecoming. More intriguing perhaps is the Orkney Nature Festival, billed as the outdoor Orkney Festival presenting Orkney whisky's wild side. Perhaps Mr Johnson might care to travel to Orkney and take that in. I would take the opportunity also, Presiding Officer, of commending Highland Park to members as well as the less well-known Scapa, both whisky's that are best savoured in the convivial settings of Orkney, but like all whisky's they travel extremely well, reaching every corner of the globe in perfect condition. I would urge members therefore to visit Orkney, take in some of these events, take home some Orkney whisky and also take home some wonderful memories. Presiding Officer, there's always some friendly rivalry between our islands and that's why I'm glad to see that Shetland has not been outdone by Orkney in terms of its fair share of homecoming events and as Tavish Scott would no doubt tell you if he was here, the Shetland Nature Festival is in its seventh year, it's another established event highlighting Shetland's marvellous natural heritage Living as an island of myself, I'm astonished at the ray of wildlife that can be seen at close quarters on Shetland and its geopark status highlights and helps us understand the profound influence that geology has had and continues to have on our communities. Striations of limestone running through the Shetland strata produce fertile soils in an otherwise inhospitable and infertile landscape Greatly enhancing farming, the numerous narrow sea logs are those historically provided an accessible and relatively sheltered winter fishery and now provide locations for fish farms. Shetland provides a wonderful showcase for geology. The Shetland fiddle frenzy focuses on Shetland's now well-known traditional music culture taken to the world by people like Allie Bain and Katrina MacDonald and others to numerous dimension and Shetland will week celebrates another great Shetland strength, their world-renowned traditional knitwear, lace and other textile crafts all of which have seen a revival in recent years and have significant growth opportunities Shetland, with its oil fund, provides a lesson for the rest of Scotland as it can be after independence having invested its wealth over the years in excellent infrastructure and world-class community facilities and more recently as the need to diversify its economy has become apparent it's becoming a must-see destination for tourism with investment now being put into this and other growth sectors so I would urge members to go and visit this windy island paradise and to surprise and innovate themselves with its raw vitality, its creativity and its sense of purpose and possibility I only have time to give a flavour of some of the homecoming events happening on Orkney and Shetland they're both communities which respect and value their past, their environments and their historical heritage but they're also communities embracing the future and who actively demonstrate that these aims are not incompatible but in fact in knowledgeable and caring hands can complement each other and empower local economies Presiding Officer, I too would like to congratulate Visit Scotland for their excellent execution of this whole and vast programme of events in recent years they've achieved a 7-to-1 multiplier for every public pound they've spent for homecoming they've set a target of 8-to-1 I'm sure they'll achieve this and I'm pleased also to note that their economic cost benefit methodology is robust so we can be sure of these figures in conclusion though I would say that even with this robust methodology the economic benefit is not fully captured in the figures the effects last for years afterwards in repeat business and broadcasting the merits of Scotland worldwide and winning business for Scotland's businesses at home and abroad I look forward to a successful homecoming year and to many many more such years in future I now call on Siobhan McMahon to be followed by Stuart Stevenson I'm pleased to be able to take part in this afternoon's debate on homecoming Scotland 2014 2014 is a unique year for many reasons and will live long in the memory of us all for one reason or another I'm very much looking forward to the many celebrations taking place over the next few months to recognise this unique year not least my 30th birthday celebrations however I understand that this won't be paramount in all your minds and that the Commonwealth Games and the Rider Cup will be just two of the main events receiving more attention it's a real shame that the Commonwealth Games ticket fiasco of this week has dominated the headlines I've been thoroughly impressed with the way in which the organising committee have engaged with the public throughout the year and lead up to the games and I would hate for what has happened in recent days to overshadow this however questions still remain that have to be answered I like many people joined the queue for tickets on Monday morning as the chamber will know it was one lengthy queue the website informed me that I would be served on a first come first serve basis however after over 24 hours in the queue with very little movement I was informed by other people that they had received tickets despite only being in the queue for three hours I and others in my position would like to know why that was the case there are many questions that remain unanswered and I hope that the responses will be forthcoming however as I said it should not overshadow the event itself and I very much look forward to the games in Glasgow and of course Motherwell later in the summer as others have reflected homecoming Scotland 2014 will host 837 events over the year I understand that 265 events have already taken place including the opening of the Kelpis at the Helix park in Falkirk now whatever your views are on the Kelpis what is true is that it certainly provides a talking point of course that is only one of the many events taking place across central Scotland with the help of Visit Scotland in the coming months this weekend your adventure starts here a festival of museums will run at Calender house and park in Falkirk and on the 7th of June shots will again host our Highland games this event started in 1950 and attracts more than 2000 people and includes events such as tossing the caber if members haven't had a chance to experience this event yet I recommend that they do it's always enjoyable no matter the weather conditions of course those are the enjoyable social events that Homecoming Scotland brings with it but there are also the economic benefits that a year long event like this should bring to all communities across Scotland I wonder how we will measure the success or otherwise of this year long event will it be in the numbers being attracted to each individual event both from home and abroad will it be in the number of successful events being held or will it be in the long-term job opportunities individuals will be afforded as part of the legacy of course there will be many who say it is all of these and more and I agree with that to a certain extent however I do think that we will be missing a great opportunity if you don't use this Homecoming Scotland for the economic benefit it could bring to individuals trying to secure employment in this current economic climate as members may be aware Homecoming Scotland 2009 gave us 1,500 full-time equivalent employment opportunities that was a substantial number but I hope that in the five years that have passed since then we can have an increase in the number and that those employment opportunities are sustainable I'm sure that we all agree that tourism has a large role to play in job opportunities we know that the food and drink industry is seen as a key economic growth area and that this industry is vital to the success of Homecoming Scotland 2014 however it may surprise members to know that according to the Audit Scotland report of March 2014 our modern apprenticeships just over 1,000 apprenticeships were granted in that sector which is less than those granted in the automotive sector or in the administration and related sector which has not been identified as a key sector I also understand from that report that those people who secure a hospitality or tourism apprenticeship are more likely to be doing so from a level 2 point and not at level 3 the reason that has been given for this is that employers consider that to be a more appropriate for the job role I understand that 60% of apprentices in the hospitality sector are doing a level 2 apprenticeship given that historically hospitality has been a sector that has been dominated by the female population I believe that we need to be doing more to encourage employers to see the value and awarding higher level apprenticeships we need to be challenging the gender stereotypes that happen in certain sectors of employment and I believe that the apprenticeship programme is the way to do that given that the Audit Scotland report states that female are accounted for 43% of apprenticeships but only a third of the apprenticeship spending of £25.6 million and given the facts that I have outlined with regards to the hospitality and tourism sector a key growth sector for the Scottish economy as highlighted by the Scottish Government it is imperative that we use homecoming Scotland 2014 as a driving force to challenge us anomaly and give us a legacy that we can all be proud of I respect your concern for the economy for jobs and so on would you join me in welcoming the outstanding figures on employment that were published earlier this week for Scotland is doing better than any other part of the UK I thank the member for that intervention I don't know that I would use the outstanding words I appreciate that it's better than it was however given that I've just spoken about female employment opportunities and given that those weren't as good as the rest of the figures I think more has to be done so I'm sure the member will agree on that also with regards to tourism more generally the battles report as the minister mentioned earlier was issued earlier this month and it showed that Scotland is in line for a tourism boom with the number of overseas visitors rising faster than the rest of the UK we must capitalise on this the study predicted that spending by overseas visitors will rise by 40% by 2017 and that Scotland could earn a total of £2.3 billion a year just by overseas tourism alone that said I am deeply concerned that domestic tourism is down by 22.5% in the last quarter and I really do believe that that should be addressed because we should be attracting people from our borders as Ireland managed to do in their own homecoming success I believe that in order to achieve the figures that have been spoken about in the battles report we must begin to move some of the barriers that are in place with regards to tourism in Scotland I have previously spoken about this issue in the chamber before however it is something that still remains we cannot begin to take tourism seriously if you do not have an industry that is open for business when we need it and when we want it to be many of the attractions that people may wish to visit across Scotland but in particular in Lanarkshire I am not open beyond 5pm at night meaning that many people who work during the day do not get to enjoy some of the events that are being showcased this year I hope that that is something that can be challenged and addressed for the future events As I said at the start of my speech I welcomed the opportunity to participate in this afternoon's debate and I look forward to the many events that are still to come to celebrate Homecoming Scotland 2014 Excellent, many thanks and I now call on Stuart Stevenson to be followed by Stuart McMillan Thank you very much Presiding Officer and let me just start by congratulating VisitScotland on the 64-page brochure that they produced for Homecoming 2014 It's a very impressive and wide-ranging document As we've heard it's got some 837 events in it and as we've also heard not all of these events have been organised by VisitScotland but of course we shouldn't be surprised by that because VisitScotland are a marketing organisation who are marketing other people's activities hotels, restaurants, bed and breakfasts and events and I'm sort of thinking to myself what is going on there is drawing together in one package a wide offering multiplies the effect and as a tourist who's visited more than a quarter of the world's countries in various occasions over the last 50 years I can think of examples I mean if you come to Edinburgh and you want to go to eat you've got to go down Rose Street because there's lots and lots of restaurants so having a density attracts if I go to Amsterdam I go to a court lead said is Warstrat which has got even more than Rose Street there's 40 different kinds of restaurants off the lead supply and I always go there when I'm in Amsterdam so that drawing together as VisitScotland very successfully do is what creates the attraction for our many visitors now like many others I'm sure in the chamber I've relatives all around the world my great great grandfather Archibald Stewart who was born in Bannockburn in 1778 emigrated to Canada in 1853 after he was widowed and took most of his family there and in an action of breathtakingly successful fecundity I now have 500 living relatives in Canada and Australia which stem from that migration of my great great grandfather and his offspring and of course these people come back to Scotland and I encourage them so to do each and every one of us has similar opportunities created by the wanderlust and fecundity of the Scots I encourage you to make use of it but in the modern world of course things have moved on a little bit in 1870 my great great grandfather received a letter from one of his offspring who was still in Bannockburn telling of the death of a family member now we have the electronic world and this week alone using Facebook I have been communicating with living relatives of mine in Australia in South Africa and Denmark as well so the way we connect is different and the immediacy of connection is different and through that I can tell you that Emma who is the sister-in-law of one of my nieces was one of those who drove up with four of her pals all the way from the south of England precisely to be there when the Kelpies were opened so that's a little bit of domestic tourism the Kelpies already being successful now that hardly illustrates the overall general point I can't and I don't attempt to do that but it shows that there is a draw associated with that yes I certainly will I agree with me that Emma hers perhaps bucked the trend and perhaps these domestic visits would have decreased 25% if it had not been for her visit perhaps let's have a little talk about international and domestic tourism international tourism is based generally on relatively long lead times for booking and therefore the variations you get in international tourism will be comparatively modest and more long run domestic tourism the average number of nights for example that a domestic tourist spends is under four it is opportunistic and booked at short notice highly influenced by weather if the weather is not good you'd din a book also influenced by a wide range of issues but I go back to the point that I encourage you to visit England website where you'll find the graph for domestic tourism in England is basically pretty similar to that in Scotland so there's something going on which I can't get to the bottom of and I don't pretend I can there is not unique to Scotland there is probably due to the fact that the weather wasn't very good in November and December but I could of course be entirely wrong and I'm happy to be corrected at a later point I'm very encouraged by something I don't think I've heard mentioned so far given my interest in genealogy I've been studying that subject for over 50 years in my family and have identified 4,365 relatives I now have my family tree we're getting who do you think you are the show is coming to Glasgow in August and that will draw people not just from other parts of the UK as domestic tourism but international tourism to meet experts in genealogy because it's one of the great links that there are last year an unknown cousin of my wife appeared from New Zealand carrying an outline family tree and spent two months going round Scotland researching the graveyards of Scotland so even things like graveyards are tourist attractions for people now I have other connections to Barnett Burn my great-grandfather was born there as well on the Stevenson side and there's no records because he obviously managed to escape the parish registration system but he was born there difficult for me to track down I can tell you that in 1841 there were 308 Stevenson's living in Barnett Burn I don't think they were all my relatives and over 100 stewards which is the other side of my family and one of his offspring was responsible for Bruce and Wallace statues being either side of the entrance to Edinburgh Castle he unveiled them in 1929 and these are tourist attractions to this day but let me move to a local example if I'm permitted and that is the traditional boat festival in Port Soy in my constituency perhaps 20,000 people go to that village of not much more than 1,000 people and I can tell you from previous visits the 21st run this year that people come from Australia they come from South Africa they come from America to Port Soy to that event I'm deeply disappointed in the minister's drafting today it makes no reference to the Port Soy traditional boat festival a hugely important economic event in the north of Scotland and one which exhibits food and drink Glenglacic distillery is just next door so Bruce Crawford would be pleased it's an absolutely wonderful event that you will see on television that will be broadcast around the world and it's but one example that we could all come up with all around the world I'll conclude by perhaps picking up on what Jenny Marra said earlier and quoting from Ludovic Kennedy's autobiography in relation to the relationship between Scotland and England he said independence England would lose a surly lodger and gain a good neighbour and I'm absolutely certain that's the case Presiding Officer Many thanks for vintage performance Mr McMillan to be followed by Marco Biagi for generous six minutes Thank you very much 2014 is the most exciting year in our history as well as the political events that are taking place we've already heard of the many other events that are going to be happening as well the Commonwealth Games, the Ryder Cup the MTV Europe Awards, John Muir Festival and the Armed Forces Day there's also the huge amount of other events that will take place annually which certainly helps our tourism offering whether that's to the external market or the internal market but one thing is for certain, Presiding Officer and that is that the eyes of the world are actually upon Scotland this year and Homecoming Scotland 2014 and the offering that that has adds something even more so to the opportunity that Scotland's got for me Homecoming Scotland 2014 is yet another excellent initiative and it certainly will help our Scottish economy and our confidence in our nation's self-esteem and I certainly want to add my congratulations to everyone concerned in taking it forward I'm a glass half full type of person and I know that there are many others in the chamber who are of the same ilk and I'm sure that like me if any of you had the misfortune to have listened to the radio this morning of games, ticketing situation was being discussed and I'm sure that your glass wouldn't have been half full it would have been totally empty it was absolutely dreadful it was so negative and it was blown out of so much proportion clearly there is an issue but what an issue to have a huge demand for tickets now these are extra tickets and they are so popular that the system couldn't cope now I dare say that if actually tickets were left after and didn't break down and tickets were left that they would have been complained that they were too expensive they were too inaccessible and what a waste of time and energy and money so let's get this ticketing issue into perspective it's about buying tickets it's not a life or death situation when we consider events that are happening elsewhere in Europe or worldwide this is only a ticketing situation and a wise man told me this morning in the lift coming into the Parliament about putting events into perspective and I agree with him that it will be a huge success they are attracting people from across the globe and many of them will be coming back to their ancestral home so in effect the Commonwealth Games is going to be their homecoming now let's support the games now let's not talk them down before they even started now there are a few homecoming events that I am particularly looking forward to some of which are taking place on the river Clyde and certainly one of them as you'll be aware I chair the Parliament's cross-party group on recreational boating and marine tourism and this event was discussed over a year ago within the CPG and we certainly put our support behind it and work started on the illness to make it happen and I certainly want to put it on record today that my thanks and congratulations to everyone and all the organisations who have been involved in taking this event forward and I'm sure that this event will be a huge success for the iconic events of the year it will be, if you pardon the pun, a sea of colour and it will certainly show off the Clyde for one of the offerings one of the many offerings the Clyde actually has so on Saturday the 26th of July get to the banks of the Clyde to witness a once in a lifetime experience it starts at the James Watt Dock in Greenock and it was heads up to Glasgow when you go into the RYA Scotland website you'll see the following about the Fertiller it's the largest Fertiller in the Clyde's history 250 boats one mission many journeys of adventure and exploration and you can be part of it and make history now I'm delighted that this event is a homecoming Scotland 2014 event and it certainly will bring another water based activity to the commonwealth games and a further event that's taking place is the race to the games in 2014 once again it's river Clyde based and it starts at the James Watt Dock in Greenock it's a sailing challenge for people with additional support needs and it's also later in the year that the annual Scotland's boat show is taking place at Kitmarina and it's taking place from the 10th to the 12th of October and certainly I've been told that some of the new events that they're actually going to produce this year and I'm sure that this will be bigger and better than before and I've certainly been to it and I encourage everyone to go along to it but there's also another event that's actually not water based that I'm looking forward to at the home of Claren Macmillan so maybe I should declare an interest it's the brave heart versus Robin Hood event it's aimed at children up to 12 years of age but I'm sure that those of us who are above 12 will certainly enjoy it and get involved in it as well and this takes place on the 6th of July now setting off so that these are just some of the events that are taking place in the Wester Scotland area and some of them are also water based events but there are many more water based activities that are taking place across Scotland and certainly in the west and I think that anyone who goes to Loch Lomond on any given day will actually always enjoy the pleasure that you can get from it training officer we've already heard about the comments from CNN Lonely Planet Rough Guide and Tripadvisor who have made hugely positive comments about Scotland certainly in terms of Lonely Planet I'll quote that they're just only part of it they say that to coincide with Glasgow hosting the 20th Commonwealth Games in the summer of 2014 the city has had a multimillion pound facelift, new sports venues, improved transport links and a regeneration of Glasgow harbour it's also the year of homecoming a government initiative to welcome the Scottish diaspora back to the mother country by celebrating Scotland's heritage food and drink the phrase there's something for everyone so I think that's hugely positive it's a great opportunity so it's certainly I would encourage Hanzala Malik to actually speak to his colleagues in Glasgow City Council because I was contributing earlier on I think he needs to talk to him about what's actually happened in Glasgow to make sure that the Commonwealth Games actually will be a huge success Presiding Officer I'm conscious of time but finally I just want to turn to Jenny Marr's comments on earlier I too was born in England and I genuinely do not recognise the negativity about our friends south of the border in fact I think that the interest from our folk south of the border is exact opposite any time I speak to my family and friends they want to know what's actually going on in Scotland they want to know obviously in terms of the political debate but also in terms of other things that are going on as well and also on Sunday I was out at the Gwyrwch Highland Games and spoke to there's two ladies who I spoke to from Lancashire and these two ladies are now for some time and they're saying that the family is coming up over the summer time and they're looking forward to coming up but they said actually they're looking forward to voting yes in the referendum because for them it will actually make England that bit better and for them it's going to make that people in Lancashire will hopefully make them a bit better off because it's going to force the politicians in that area to do that a bit more for their constituents so I certainly hope Presiding Officer that this year, this year 2014 the eyes of the world are upon us Homecoming will deliver hugely for Scotland and with over 800 plus events across the country from large to small from urban locations to the rural locations including the borders Homecoming has something for everyone it's got something for the whole nation and I am convinced that it actually will help to promote Scotland well beyond our shores along after 2014 Thank you Well done Anyway, thanks Now Colin Marco will be add you to be followed by Margaret McCulloch Thank you Presiding Officer This great year of Homecoming began in October in fact when Lonely Planet came out with those comments that have been mentioned already Lonely Planet called us the third best country in the world to visit Interestingly they also alongside that article had a list of the regions and areas within countries that were best to visit perhaps Lonely Planet have continued their reputation of always being ahead of the times and knowing what the next big thing is going to be but I for one was grateful for that little inclusion alongside other independent countries and indeed Antarctica but this Homecoming has really been a broad exercise in bringing together yes some things that have already been scheduled that were already happening that always happening together with a brand that can be marketed both domestically and internationally Back in 2009 and the run-up to that the criticism that came was that we were focusing too much on the domestic market and not bringing enough people from abroad it seems like you can't win but then sometimes that is the feeling you get in this chamber If the 2009 Homecoming had 411 events I was taken aback when Mike Cantley came to the EET committee and said where it summed up his attitude there that we were at 827 and they were about to stop counting the impression was we could have kept on going but at some point they had to draw the line and say this is Homecoming no wonder that the calls for funding have been massively oversubscribed there's been reach through the Scottish Enterprise Network and above all the Homecoming idea is such a neat way of packaging a country that we got the highest form of flattery we got imitation from Ireland who in 2011 announced that 2013 was going to be their year of the gathering and they took our idea and they ran with it as they so often do in tourism and got a quarter of a million extra international visitors but there were words that were said by a junior minister for tourism at that launch that I think we should all listen to hear he said he pointed to his green tie and he stated we all need to wear the green jersey now everybody in this chamber should be wearing the blue jersey on behalf of Scotland for Homecoming to promote ourselves as a nation and as a destination I accidentally I didn't accidentally find myself in Ireland I had planned to go to Ireland in 2013 and I was there in October and then somebody came up to me with a survey and tried to get people to speak I made sure I did my duty to these people I took the survey and I did it but I also did my duty to Scotland as a competitor nation and I ticked that the gathering had had no impact on my decision to go to Ireland so I am not one of those 250,000 but bringing this back from Dublin to here the spatial dimensions have been talked about whether events are happening in Edinburgh or around Scotland the Homecoming including the Borders the Homecoming Search on Visit Scotland finds 56 events within two miles from here I would point out that there is one thing where Edinburgh is not doing terribly well on of all the clan gatherings that are going on this year there is only two in Edinburgh clan Strachan and Marjorybank or Marchbank, sorry clan Biagi at last I checked wasn't gathering anywhere but I think that may be for another reason Order please I think that the member who is making a contribution for sedentary position would note that my tartan is pink through and through the gathering 2009 is also something that has had some cringing memories here that have echoed back to the footage of the people coming down the royal mile and everybody watching it and thinking yes of course Stuart Stevenson to know that in the 1841 census there were no Biagis in Scotland whatsoever Marko Biagi Indeed because my first ancestor arrived and showed up in the 1891 census the member in question is not the only one who has researched his family history the gathering to go back to that point I brought 47,000 visitors £8.8 million in contribution to Edinburgh 38% of that from overseas and for all that we may look at some of the more enthusiastic pronouncements of some of the Americans who came here I don't think there's a constituency anywhere in the country whether that might be in the borders or in Inverclyde or Stirling that would say no to such an event if it could be repeated Edinburgh also has the great series of events I would perhaps recommend to Bruce Crawford who was ill for his own whisky event that there is World Whisky Day in Edinburgh there's previously Scotland's history festival which I've participated in the Edinburgh Fringe the largest in the world of its kind bar none which I've participated in now three times the Edinburgh Marathon which I have participated in but will not be participating in this year Yes I'm intrigued what was your participation in the fringe what were you doing Through the chair please Marko Biagi I do believe the member should consult Jeane Urquhart who will be able to tell you all but it involved a satirical news programme moving on the last thing I wanted to highlight was the MTV Awards just going slightly outside of Edinburgh although there is an Edinburgh connection because in 2003 of course the same awards were held here in the city and I looked at them and I thought is this going to be a sign of getting old? Am I going to be completely dated by this the winners in 2003 were Justin Timberlake beyond say Christina Aguilera people that not only are still around but I have heard of and even have some songs by so that is a reassuring additional angle to me for homecoming has reassured me that I am not getting old which brings me to Siobhan McMahon who will be celebrating her 30th this year she has already said to the chamber and she tried to say this was a date that none of us would really be marking but Siobhan McMahon a quick Google search found that her birthday is in fact the fourth of July which many people in Scotland will be celebrating mainly Americans but I do find it wonderfully ironic that that is Independence Day Thank you very much and I call Margaret McCullough to be followed by Annabelle Ewing I want to begin my remarks today by paying tribute to all those who will be working to ensure that this homecoming year is a successful one for Scotland The tourism, hospitality and cultural sectors all contribute to the growth of the Scottish economy and this year with the Commonwealth Games the Rider Cup, the MTV Europe Music Awards all come into Scotland those workers will play a crucial role in shaping the experience of our country that foreign visitors have in fact everyone a foreign visitor meets will mould and form that experience of Scotland whether they realise it or not from cab drivers to cashiers police constables to pass their buys but it's the people at the front line in these growth industries who I want to draw the palments attention to it's those people working in visitors attractions and the hospitality sector whose customer service, language management skills are key to the success of Scottish tourism especially if we are to enjoy the benefits of repeat tourism despite the importance to the economy the Joseph Rowntree Foundation has found that in both the hotel and restaurant sector and the retail sector the majority of employees earn less than £7 an hour Together these sectors account for almost half of all those earning less than £7 an hour Mr McCulloch could you stop for a moment Mr Johnson Mr Johnston I'd be grateful if you could return to your seat please Margaret McCulloch the Government worked for almost half of all those earning less than £7 an hour and many of those low paid workers will be women Of course it's important to stress that there's also mobility in these sectors my background is in training and I trained people in retail and hospitality for years I can tell you from experience that an entry level job in these sectors can and often does lead to further training skills enhancement and clear progression of low pay in the service sector and in rural communities, which are dependent on seasonal tourism and agricultural work. The year of homecoming will be good for Scotland, but the Government has a duty to make sure that the benefits are shared across the workforce and spread across the country. The Scottish Government has to lead by example. It is not escaped my notice that a deal between PCS and the business arm of the National Museums of Scotland was only reached a few weeks ago, at last ensuring a living wage for those workers, nor has it escaped the notice of this party or the trade union movement that the SNP has twice blocked Labour's progressive amendments to the procurement reform bill, crucially including our living wage amendments. Visit Scotland has helped to provide members with an overview of the activities taking place in our constituencies and regions this year. Tomorrow in Blantyre the David Living Museum will host a fair trade fair, highlighting Dr Livingston's legacy and his enduring links to Africa. This weekend there will be a celebration of our nature trails and our natural environment at the Wild Woods festival, and on Saturday we have flash art photography exhibitions in museums across North Lanarkshire. Later this year we will see the shots of Highland Games, as it has said before, and the Rugby League Commonwealth Championships. Central Scotland has also welcomed the completion of the Kelpies at the Helix Park in Falkirk. The member would agree with me, and I suspect that she can and will, that all the points that she has been saying are fine. We are now talking about events that are driven by and run by volunteers, and they play a very important part in energising communities and creating some of the events that will create commercial opportunities for others. So volunteers have a big role in that as well. Volunteers do play a part, but they have also got the hospitality and retail sector, which actually work with and welcome the visitors to Scotland as well. It is those people that are actually working in this area that are working in low-paid environments. I will carry on. There is a rich programme of events taking place this year, but Visit Scotland explained in their briefing to members that many of those events are partner events and they are not directly supported by the £3 million homecoming fund. Obviously, we are on the halfway through the year of homecoming, but I wonder if the Scottish Government are yet in the position to outline the value that is added to the Scottish economy through the projects that it has funded directly. There has been a great deal of consensus in today's debate. We are all looking forward to Glasgow 2014 and we all want to make sure that the year of homecoming is good for Scotland and good for Scottish tourism. If I have to challenge that consensus this afternoon, then it is simply because it is worth reminding the Government that growth in our economy is asymmetrical. Whatever our constitutional future, the challenge for Scotland is not just to develop these key sectors but to build a stronger, fairer economy, better skilled, better paid and better equipped to become a world-leading destination. We still have a little bit of time in hand, so the next two speakers can certainly have longer than six minutes each. Annabelle Ewing to be followed by Dennis Robertson. I, too, am pleased to have been called to speak in this debate this afternoon, which has been a bit of a game of two halves because there have been some highly entertaining moments. When you first came in, you were a bit surprised at the moments of levity that we were having, but that is nothing as compared to what you have missed. I recommend reading the official report, but I was a bit surprised at this, a bit of a rev I am jolly theme going on at least in the part of certain Labour members who seem to be in competition with each other to be the most negative about our important tourism industry. In contrast, SNP members are of course full square behind this homecoming initiative, as are all those involved in staging the events. I will happily take an intervention. Jenny Marra I thank the member for giving way. I am actually quite appalled and shocked by the characterisation of my question. I asked a serious question based on figures issued by a Government agency and the relation to the current political debate, which is a necessary function of parliamentary democracy. Does the member really want to characterise opposition and legitimate questioning as talking down to Scotland? It seems quite preposterous. Annabelle Ewing Thank you, Presiding Officer. In a strange day of strange remarks, I find that remark equally strange as the first remark. I think that if the member reflects and looks at the tone of her comments in this debate, when we get the official record, she will see what we are all getting at. Indeed, matters of parliamentary democracy are fundamentally important, as is the democratic debate that we are all engaged in throughout this country of Scotland. That will be respected by all people across the world, including our fantastic friends and neighbours south of the border, one of whom is coming up to help me in the independence campaign for a yes vote in the last week of the polling. I will pass on your concerns to her that perhaps she should be reconsidering her decision to come to help the people of Scotland to secure a yes vote in the independence referendum. Of course, we are and the SNP is full square behind this homecoming initiative, this excellent initiative. Of course, we take a positive approach in talking up our tourism industry and being supportive of it, because that, I believe, is what people who elected us to this Parliament want their elected representatives to do. As a member of the Parliament for Mid Scotland in Fife, the importance of tourism to the economy of the area is clear for all to see. I wish to take this opportunity to add my welcome forward that, indeed, the excellent news, as far as overseas tourism is concerned, increased by 10 per cent last year, with a 20 per cent increased spend from the previous year. I think that the figures are particularly encouraging as we look at the homecoming initiative for this year. Indeed, I would say also that the figures reflect the very hard work put in by agencies such as Visit Scotland and other public bodies, the Scottish Tourism Alliance, which has an important role to play and, of course, the wider tourism industry itself. The outside of my substantive remarks on my activities happening in Mid Scotland in Fife, I think that it would perhaps be expected of me to mention first the Ryder Cup, for as a resident of Strathairn, with my home in Cymru. What I am pleased to report to the chamber is that excitement is indeed mounting locally for what a tremendous opportunity this offers our local tourism and wider hospitality providers across the strath and indeed beyond. I know that they are planning to maximise to the extent that they can the benefits to be derived from this fantastic event. When I spoke in the debate that we had in the chamber last September on the Ryder Cup, I mentioned the need to ensure that local access was facilitated, both in terms of those seeking to enjoy the events at Plenigos and in terms of travel around Strathairn generally. I understand that the transport issues have been kept under regular review and that the provision of local shuttle buses has been agreed, and that, of course, is very welcome. Local dialogue is on-going about that and other issues, and that, too, is to be welcomed. Of course, a key aspect of the fantastic opportunity that is the hosting of the Ryder Cup concerns the legacy that can be secured, and the decision to nominate two local charities in this respect was also welcomed locally. The other key legacy aspect is the education resource to be available to all pupils and teachers in Scotland, and that is to be linked with the excellent club golf initiative. As we have the fantastic Ryder Cup event later this year, the Homecoming 2014 programme seeks to ensure that the benefits of Scotland hosting this fantastic event and others such as the Commonwealth Games, which will also be fantastic, can be extended and experienced and benefit secured throughout Scotland. In the huge array of projects that we see in Midscotland and Fife, I think that the programme runs to some 26 pages of events. There is just perhaps time to mention a few. The first to mention would be the signature event that is the Fourth Bridges festival. This event will celebrate the iconic Fourth Bridges and mark the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Fourth Road bridge, as well as recognising the upcoming 125th anniversary of the Fourth Rail bridge, and looking of course to the future to the new fourth crossing. It is to be held in early September with a 10-day programme of events, including a birthday boat flotilla, so what can be done on the west coast, as my colleague Stuart McMillan mentioned, can also be done on the east coast. There is a torchlight procession planned and a light and fireworks show, and I think that it all sounds very exciting indeed. We too, of course, in Midscotland and Fife are participating in the whisky month, and we have seen the establishment in Highland Persia of the Highland Persia whisky festival, which has brought together the Burnham Arts, the Burke Cinema and Pitlochry festival theatre to join together to put on a series of events around the theme of whisky month, including a new production of the musical whisky cases. We also see the Ochles festival in June, with walks, tours of historic courtyards, making reference to the point that my colleague Stuart Stevenson raised. We see family fundings and the revival of the tartan ball, first held in the 1840s, and intended at that time to inject some life into the local textile industry. We see a diverse range of activities across Midscotland and Fife, and we have to pay tribute to the tremendous hard work that goes on behind the scenes for each and every one of those interesting, dynamic, creative, inclusive and attractive events that will be taking place. One final remark, of course, is that we perhaps could do better in terms of overseas visitor numbers if we had control over, for example, air passenger duty, because if we did have control over that in this Parliament, we would not have it at such a sky-high rate, as was the case under the previous Labour Government and ratcheted up also by the Tory Government supported by the Liberal helpers who have not bothered to turn up to the important tourism debate today. In conclusion, it is clear that that power and all the other normal economic levers of power that we will have with an independent Scotland will help to boost our tourism industry and secure its full potential, as indeed industries across the peace. I would suggest that the referendum process itself, together with a yes vote delivered—which I believe will be the case—will in and of themselves generate a substantial interest and increase in the tourism spend and the tourism dividend for Scotland. Thank you, Presiding Officer. I thank you, and I now call Dennis Robertson, after which we will move to closing speeches. Thank you, Presiding Officer, and I am grateful to the Presiding Officer for bringing to my attention that my button had gone off. This is probably due to an early intervention of mine. The minister in his opening few sentences mentioned the words opportunity and glue. It is really with the opportunities of homecoming that it provides the glue for many of the events that perhaps happen on an annual basis. I would probably gently say to Hans Alamallach, whom I have a great deal of respect for, that just because something happens on an annual basis or it is going on in your area, surely that if we can give it some oomph in this year of 2014, then we should. If homecoming wants to actually take some credit for some of the events and visit Scotland want to be the vehicle for doing that, then we should be applauding that, not criticising it. In my own area—which has not been mentioned this afternoon, despite the fact that I think that the borders have probably been mentioned at least 12 times now— in my area in Aberdeenshire West, I was surprised that Alex Johnson did not take the opportunity to mention aspects of what was going on within the area. The man who lives in Stonehaven in this year of 2014, the Fireballs, was once an amazing success in the Hogmanay parties in Stonehaven. However, there are so many things going on within my constituency of Aberdeenshire West, the home of 12 castles and indeed a royal palace. It is perhaps the royal palace that I go to, because in some respects a royal decide sells itself. Does it need visit Scotland? Does it need a homecoming? Well, yes, it does. Although it can sell itself, it actually does actually benefit from this year of homecoming. Last year, when I was at the Ballotter Highland Games, I was speaking to the clan chief, Farkasyn. During that time, I met people from New Zealand, South Africa, Canada and East Kilbride. I met people from all parts of the UK and Europe. What intrigued me at the time was that there was a clan gathering, a gathering of people, a homecoming within the small community of royal decide in Ballotter. I am sure that in 2014, again, we will see the Farkasyn's clans coming back in greater numbers. Of course, it is not just the Farkasyns that have this association within my constituency. We have the Irvins at Drum Castle, a castle that was gifted from Robert the Bruce to the Irvins at the time. This year, we will have the reopening of the tower at Drum in August of this year. This is, again, a fantastic event that will bring together our communities and celebration of our heritage and our culture. This is what we have got an opportunity to celebrate, heritage and culture. It is about people coming together from all over. That invite will bring people, not just from the UK and Europe and global, but it will just excite people to what is happening. I take this opportunity to hope that the sun shines on Siobhan McMahon's 30th birthday, because there seems to be a black cloud looming over the Labour party at the moment. I sincerely hope that cloud does not burst and rain on her parade on that day. I have three distilleries within my constituency and I have been to all three, but in this year of 2014, I hope to celebrate again revisiting the three. The Royal Loch Niggar at Brimar is perhaps the best known, when my constituency, a favourite of Prince Charles, who likes his royal Loch Niggar whisky. He himself has visited that distillery on more than one occasion. I sincerely hope that the royals will continue to come to royal D side and to remain part of the culture and the heritage of that great place. It was Queen Victoria who gifted Balmoral Castle in 1850, I believe, for Prince Albert at the time, when she had come to her first Highland games in 1848. But going round my constituency, what else is going on, Presiding Officer? We will open our small market town of Huntley in August and late August. We have a fantastic massing of the pipes and drums, again celebrating the clan garden, again one of our wonderful traditional clans of Scotland. The gardens are probably known globally, not just for the name of the garden but for the fighting spirit. We have the opportunity to enjoy that pipe fest. I sincerely hope that the pipe fest in the just prior to the celebrations at Barnockburn goes extremely well, but I would encourage my friend and colleague Bruce Crawford that, if he wants to hear the real pipes and drums of Scotland and the tunes of our nation, he should come to Huntley. That is the place to come to Mr Crawford. I say that the minister has been in my constituency many times and visited many of the traditional areas. It is a wealth of food and drink in my own area. The industry in terms of the fishing and the Royal Bayside is worth about £15 million last year in terms of what it brings to that local community. It provides jobs for about 500 people within the community. Our estates provide employment, sustainability and an open door, Presiding Officer. That is what we should be celebrating in our homecoming, an open door, an open door to all, to everyone who wishes to come to Scotland. Presiding Officer, I am proud of Scotland. I am proud to be an Aberdonian. I am proud that I have had the opportunity to travel and be part of this great nation and work in many different areas. When I heard Stuart McMillan talking about the events in the Clyde, it took me back to my many sailing days in the Clyde. It is just a wonderful place to be. I have spent many a time on the borders again, in Melrose, Jedburgh and my scouting days, camping and going to hostels, again an open door. It is not just about the homecoming, the big events, the Commonwealth Games and the Ryder Cup. This year, we have the Scottish Gulf Open in Royal Aberdeen. That will generate income for Aberdeen and the surrounding areas. We have the refurbishment of Aberdeen Airport. Again, why is it happening, Presiding Officer? It is because people are coming to Scotland. We have had to invest, we have had to expand and that is what the open door for Scotland is about. I would like to ask—it is quite a serious question, if you have ever had trouble accessing any of those places. I am asking this on behalf of Mr Q. Dennis Robertson, if you could begin to draw to a closed place. I have had absolutely no difficulty accessing many of our wonderful heritable sites in Scotland. I know that there are some places, but with the work of Visit Scotland and NTS and everything, everything has been done to try to make venues accessible. In the Commonwealth Games, it is going to be a wonderful example of full accessibility for everyone, regardless of whether they are able or disabled. In conclusion, Scotland is the place to come in 2014. We now turn to the closing speeches and I call on Liz Smith with around eight minutes, please. Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Perhaps not surprisingly, there are several members in the chamber this afternoon who have cited 2014 as the most important year in Scotland's history. That is not just because of the constitutional issue. Indeed, I do not really think that this debate is about whether you are voting no or voting yes. For me, it is a privilege—a real privilege—to be Scottish in this year. The fact that the Commonwealth Games and the Ryder Cup are both coming to Scotland is something that we can all rejoice in, irrespective of how we vote when it comes to party politics. The fact that they can mix with our long-standing fixtures across the calendar is very special. Dennis Robertson has encouraged us all to say something about our local community. Can I add the Perth show to that list? Perth show has done something very special for a very long period of time, and I know that the two are looking forward to this second year of homecoming. It presents an opportunity to highlight the very many diverse events that take place across the nation on an annual basis, which adds to what I think is a considerable privilege in terms of our cultural, sporting, artistic, agricultural, environmental and our hospitality, which is so special in Scotland. However, the fact that we have this additional added value this year is really something that we should celebrate. It is no problem, I do not think, to be positive about this year. I welcome the comments that Dennis Robertson made in the opening remarks about the Royal Family, because I think that that is something again that transcends party political differences. As a result, the potential benefits to the Scottish economy are so significant in the way that many members have described Annabelle Ewing in her contribution that mentioned the excitement building about the Rider Cup. I think that that is something that is due to bring in somewhere in the region of £100 million as visitors flock across from all parts of the globe to Scotland to experience golf on one of the best courses in the world. It is estimated that that competition will be viewed by hundreds of millions of potential visitors worldwide as they watch the television, and therefore it cannot but be one of the best advertising opportunities for Scotland. Let's hope that the Scottish Weather presents Scotland at its best, not like the 38th Rider Cup, which was held at Celtic Manor. Stuart Stevenson Is the member aware that, paradoxically, there are tourists coming from the Middle East precisely because of the lush, damp climate that we have in Scotland? Liz Smith I ask Mr Stevenson if the surname is the same as your own. Homecoming has presented a very welcome umbrella to showcase the vast programme of over 800 events that are taking place at the length and breadth of Scotland. Two members have made important remarks about the welcome profile for the more rural and more local economies, as well as the national profile. We must not forget about those because they are the heart and soul of many of our local communities, as are the volunteers of Mr Stevenson. I think that you have mentioned the volunteers who are part of the imagination and the creativity that they provide. Let's be clear that that is the main criteria by which the year of homecoming will probably be judged by many people, is how many it attracts from outwith the United Kingdom, whether they share the name Stevenson or not. It is an issue that will, I am sure, be of great interest to people who decide whether it has been a success or not. Bruce Crawford mentioned quite rightly the absolutely outstanding new facilities at Barnett Burn, which I think would be on a par with anything across the world. They are absolutely outstanding. I am sure that the Barnett Burn live event, which will incorporate that in every enactment of the battle, will promise to bring in large numbers. I may not be quite the numbers that were originally anticipated, but let's be sure that we can celebrate everything that is so very special about that new centre. One of the areas that I wanted to touch upon in the comments is tourism in general. That is extremely important. If I have just one little criticism—I want to be shouted down for being party political about this, because it is not—I just want to mention one thing, because I know that you have an interest in this. You have kindly replied to me on two occasions on this about the issue of the tourist information centres, because they are something that I think we are in danger of losing in quite a number of places. I know that there are technological reasons for that, and you have quite rightly said that consumer demand is changing in that respect, and I can accept that. I do worry, and I am sure that Annabelle Ewing will share the views that I have when we see areas such as Creef losing their tourist information centre at the very time where the business improvement district policy, which is very much a Scottish Government one, is taking place. Many businesses and people who run hotels and bed and breakfasts in the area are concerned about what the long term is for that. I think that we have lessons that perhaps can be learned from countries such as Switzerland and Austria, which could not be more modern when it comes to their technology, but they have also been able to retain their tourist information offices, and the human touch, which I believe is so much part of the Scottish welcome. We have to be careful that we do not, as I say, lose too many of those tourist information centres. I fully appreciate that there are issues about economies of scale that can result from tourist hubs in our more urban areas, but we have to listen to many who are talking about the business development that they can foresee, particularly outside the central belt, who very much welcome the input that can come from those tourist information centres. I hope that Minister, in your closing remarks, you can say something a little bit about that, because I think that it is something that we have to take for a careful look in the future. To conclude, I go back to my original remarks about the positivity that we need to show in terms of this year. It is a very special year for Scotland. Politics aside, I think that we can all be positive about that message. I think that we all have a role to play in helping our own local communities and, of course, the national profile to develop. I hope that politics does not get in the way of that, because I think that that diminishes Scotland when it does. We should celebrate as a nation what we have to offer, so we are very happy to support the Government motion and also the Labour amendment. Many thanks. I now call on Jenny Marra. Ten minutes, please. Thank you, Presiding Officer. I think that this has been a largely good debate, and I think that there is a lot of goodwill and optimism around 2014, the year of homecoming, the homecoming events, the Ryder Cup, the Commonwealth Games. We all want to see Scotland flourish on the international stage, and we all know how wonderful our country is as a place to visit, to live and to work in. I believe that this homecoming and the events this year can be about so much more than simply putting on a show. Our investment can draw dividends in our communities, and that is why our amendment is down this afternoon. I thank the Conservatives for indicating that they are happy to support the amendment. The investment can help our economy to recover with a long-term boost to a sector that has a potential to boom exponentially. In order to achieve that, we have to be smart about the policies that we pursue. My only disappointment in this afternoon's debate is that we have not been a bit more focused on strategic investment about how we grow our tourism economy and the policies that we pursue to do that. I understand that it is a debate to celebrate the homecoming events in Scotland, but I think that we really need another responsibility to take every opportunity in this chamber to look at those events as potential growth for the future and share ideas about how we increase employment and grow our economy and grow business as a result of those. We need to be smart about the policies that we pursue. We have to make sure that all events that are taking place, especially major events such as the common wealth games, are delivered successfully. That is in everyone's interests. I am grateful for the member's seeking intervention. The member was talking about being smart and taking responsibility and boosting tourism and using everything that we have at our disposal. Does he share my disappointment that in the recent Labour offer for the referendum in terms of increased powers for this Parliament, the devolution of air passenger duty was not one of the things that Labour felt this Parliament should have power over? It was not in the devolution commission document, because it is one of the things that is better shared risk and responsibility with the rest of the United Kingdom. I would take the opportunity to say to Annabelle Ewing and the rest of the chamber at this point that I might be small, but I am one of the biggest patriots in this chamber. I have always felt that our place as a nation within a larger union, political and social, is a very mature and constructive place to be. I am happy to celebrate and to shout for Scotland at every opportunity within that very sensible political and economic structure. That is the position on which I approach the debate. I would like to turn, if the member will allow me, to some of the systemic issues that I think can grow our industry. I am happy to take another intervention from her if she wishes. Annabelle Ewing. I am most grateful, because I hear what the member says, but none of it really related to my question, which was, if the member is so in favour of boosting the Scottish tourism industry, why is she not in favour of this Parliament controlling air passenger duty? Obviously, we would seek to take away the skyrocketing rates that are stimming our tourism industry. I simply believe that it is a policy that is better shared with the rest of the United Kingdom, and that there is parity in that policy across those islands. I hope that that is clear enough for her. I will take one last intervention on that point. Stuart Maxwell. I thank the member for taking the intervention, and I heard what she said about the fact that APD, in her view, should not be devolved to this Parliament because it should be done as a single unified policy across the UK. Why is it the case then that APD is devolved to Northern Ireland? Annabelle Ewing asked me what was in the devolution commission proposals. I clarified that for her. We can discuss air passenger duty and proposals and all those things another time, and perhaps after the result on 18 September. I would like to return, if I may, to the strategic issues around the tourism industry and homecoming. We know that the rate of youth employment in Scotland is persistently around 22 per cent, and that is a problem that is shared with England and with other economies in the EU. I think that all of us in this chamber would agree that it is far too high. Tackling youth unemployment should be at the heart of every economic policy and event that this Government pursues. The Commonwealth Games are no different. We have heard today of the surge in visitors to Scotland for these games, and the potential that brings to boost our services, hospitality and logistics sector in Scotland yet. I am concerned that, when it comes to securing that advantage for our young people through employment and apprenticeships that we have not done enough, the skills investment plan details key levers such as modern apprenticeships that can be used to link young people into the tourist sector and help to fill the skills gap that some employers perceive there to be. Yet I am hearing from providers that Skills Development Scotland is reducing funding in those areas in a move that seems to directly undermine their own ambition and what would appear to be a good opportunity to get young people into jobs. I would reiterate my call in my opening speech for the minister to address the specific point in his closing remarks this afternoon. If I may turn to some points that have been raised in the debate, I think that my colleagues Siobhan MacMahon and Margaret McCulloch echoed my priorities for the topic of talking about the higher levels of modern apprenticeships and addressing female employment and how, in the hospitality sector, female employment is the predominant employment and the challenges facing some of those workers—low wages. The living wage would be something that a lot of those workers would welcome and the issue of zero-hours contracts. I hope that that is also something that is live in this debate, because I think that our hospitality sector in Scotland must aspire to excellence across the board. We have some wonderful examples in Scotland of most outstanding hotels and service, but I would like to see the Scottish tourist industry aspire to those standards right across the board in budget and mid-sector accommodation also. In a recent meeting with Highlands and Islands Enterprise, I put to the chief executive that in the Highlands there are many, many very good five-star and high-budget accommodation hospitality offers in the Highlands, but not so many budget and mid-budget options. That may be one of the reasons that some of those internal UK tourism figures are not quite as good as we would like. Yes, I am happy to. Am I okay for time, Presiding Officer? Stuart Stevenson? I just wonder if the member is doing down some of the entry-level attractions there are. I think of going to the west coast and always stopping at the Green Welly cafe at Tindrum, for example, which is a bus party cafe and yet aspires to the highest of standards with excellent staff and supporting people. To any matter? Absolutely, and I have been a frequent visitor to the Green Welly shop and cafe on my hill-walking expeditions up north. I am not doing down anyone or anything. I am merely suggesting that if we are to boost the economy in the way that Deloitte and Barclays have predicted of 40 per cent, we must aspire to the highest standards to give all budgets across the sector good accommodation, the highest service and we will attract more and more tourism. I think that that is a perfectly plain point. I hope that the member will understand that I am not doing down anyone. I also think that we must look at transport links within our country. It was a campaign that I pursued recently on fares into Dundee because we have the V&A attraction that will open over the next few years, but rail fares into the city were very high and Alex Salmond came in and managed to sort out a bit of that, not all of that, but I think that we really need to look at integrating our fare structure and look carefully at the price of travelling within Scotland, because internal tourism is also within Scotland. I am sure that any member of the chamber who has been lucky enough like I to visit other countries like Italy will know that it is far cheaper to get around the country on bus and train than it is in Scotland, and if we are serious about domestic tourism, we need to address that as well. I would like to make a couple of final points on these events. I think that the homecoming event and the gathering and all of those things are very valid. I have to say that, in my own experience, some of the excellent sporting events that we put on participatory sporting events for people in Scotland are some of the most simple but effective ways of boosting our economy. I was up at the Loch Nessie tap a couple of weekends ago, and the simplicity of that event but its drive to bring people spending into the community, in Inverness, in the restaurants, in the hotels is plain for all to see. Encouraging that kind of sporting ethos right across our country is good for the health of our nation as well as the tourism sector. I would be grateful if you could now draw to a conclusion. I finally say that this has been a constructive debate. I think that we need to think more about some of the strategic issues in employment and excellence in our hospitality industry, but I think that it has been a very good debate and I would move the amendment in my name. Thank you. Many thanks, and I now call in Fergus Ewing. To wind up the debate, minister, you have until five o'clock. Clendy, this has been a debate not entirely without revelations. We were very pleased to be able to congratulate all of us, Siobhan McMahon, on her impending 30th birthday. We also learned that Christine Grahame and Bruce Crawford have agreed in this chamber an impromptu sort of double dates, which I do hope they both enjoy. It certainly won't be boring. We learned that Stuart Stevenson has no less than 500 relatives spread across Canada and the USA, and that there are 3,465 Stevenson's across the world, which leads me to wonder whether I should ask VisitScotland to concentrate a specific marketing effort on the world gathering of Stevenson's. Sadly, that is matched by an alarming insufficiency of biages. Perhaps a few more biages might be a counterweight to perhaps the surfeit of Stevenson's, one might think. We are also pleased to learn—I was pleased to learn—that Jenny Marra has visited Loch Ness at the E-Tap. I hope that she was able to have a sighting of the Loch Ness monster, Nessie. I will make only one reference to the referendum in this closing speech this afternoon. That is that I know entirely about the voting intentions of Nessie in the referendum because Nessie is, of course, a floating voter. With that controversial moment aside, I think that, to be fair, I would like to address some of the serious comments made, because whereas I think that most of my remarks will be designed to address the homecoming and celebrate, promote the homecoming, as I think that most members have done. Nonetheless, a number of important issues have been raised, and I want to try to just briefly address all of them. Of course, if I fail to do so in a comprehensive manner, then, obviously, I am happy to write to members, as is my universal practice in those cases. Mr Mallick asked what efforts we have made to ensure that we reach out in this homecoming year to minority communities in Scotland. Fiona Hysliffe has once again come to listen to the closing sections of the debate, and I know that she has made sterling efforts in working with the black and ethnic minority communities to develop a whole series of events. We have had the Edinburgh Mela as part of Homecoming Scotland, Glasgow Mela, Culture and Cocktails, a pop-up event that celebrates African black communities in Aberdeen, Refugee Week Scotland, taking place next month, a week-long festival of arts, culture, sport and heritage that celebrates the contributions that refugees make to Scotland. I am proud that my colleague Fiona Hysliffe and others have been arranging these events. I think that we all are, because how can we welcome others if we don't welcome those within Scotland who are taking refuge from other countries? I will certainly take an intervention. I genuinely appreciate this opportunity. All I wanted to say was that I did remark in my speech and that was that there are so many activities that take place anyway out with coming home 2014. You need to bear with me because the point that I'm trying to make and I've obviously failed to make, and that was that when we engage with the visible minority communities, I don't wish us to just engage with them at the Mela or at the local functions where they get together and they have a dance and have a chorus and go home. I actually want them to engage with our cousins overseas in America and New Zealand and Canada and various other places. That's not happening. That's missing, and that's what I'm making my point. My point is that getting together with people who are from minority communities, with minority communities is one goal, but mixing with the host indigenous community and our cousins from overseas is another field altogether. The other point I was making was that there are aspirations from the community in terms of employment and opportunities, which is missing. Is this not happening? Minister. I was seeking to address the remarks that Mr Malik made in his opening speech, which I did think were of a slightly negative flavour, because there have been a lot of efforts done. Now, of course, we all recognise, Presiding Officer, that we want to do more. Which one of us as an MSP doesn't think that we should do more for Scotland? Of course we do, but I think that there has been a lot done and additional events, which I don't have the time to read out actually because there's too many of them, but just let me say that just recently, Fiona Hyslop launched the multicultural homecoming programme at Glasgow University. I think that we have sought to do good things and, of course, we want to do more. With regard to the second point that Mr Malik makes about events and the claiming credit for efforts of others, part of homecoming is to put a brand in Scotland to make Scotland exciting and appealing to other countries in the world, to make it a go-to place. That, Presiding Officer, is precisely why CNN voted that Scotland was the top country in the world to visit, because when I heard that, in the beginning of last year, I thought, why? What was the reasoning? That's what particularly interested me, apart from the accolade itself, which was marvellous, so I got hold of the pressurities. What they said was this. They said that, in making this decision that Scotland is the best country in the world to visit, we take into account the excellent marketing of Visit Scotland, in particular the branding of the themed years and branding events with that imprimatur adds to the attraction. Just let me finish, and I'll certainly once I've dealt with the previous point. I wanted to say that the credit for running existing events, of course, goes to those who run the existing events. Personally, I agree with Ronald Reagan when he said this. He said that it's amazing what you can achieve if you don't really mind who gets the credit. I was simply going to ask that, given the decision by CNN to promote Scotland in that way, could it be the case that there are Stevenson's and the staff there? I would think that it was unlikely that there is an absence of Stevenson's. I wanted to talk about the point that Jenny Marra raised about the slight reduction in the number of domestic visitors to Scotland from south to the border. The position is complex and I don't have time to go into all of the aspects here, but first of all, as Ms Marra will recall, I said in my opening statements that the latest figures for 213 showed that residents in England took 10 per cent more short breaks in Scotland than in 2012 and that there was a 4 per cent increase between 2012 and 2013 in residents in England taking longer holidays in Scotland. Those comparisons are over a whole year and I think it is reasonable to say that if you pick one particular quarter, you are perhaps likely to get a less complete picture than if you measure things over a longer period. However, Mr Stevenson's point was also correct, namely that whereas there has been a reduction in domestic tourists in Scotland, there has been a counterpart reduction that would appear south of the border, broadly speaking, taking everything into account. To ascribe a sort of political motivation to that is unfortunate because there does not seem to me to be any evidential basis to it. I was struck by the contrasting tone, I think, if it is fair to say, of Elizabeth Smith's closing remarks, which I think really caught the mood of the debate to be fair to her. All of us want to see homecoming succeed, as it surely will, and we do not see it as in any way a political event, a matter of politics. All of us have different views and can respect the views of those with whom we disagree. All of us can work towards making homecoming 214 a great success. Therefore, I entirely endorse Elizabeth Smith's remarks. Regarding the visitor information centres, the tourist information centres, of course I have engaged with her closely on this, and on other members. Those visitor information centres provide an enormously useful role from the public. The way in which they offer that service is changing. I have opened, for example, offices in Peebles and St Andrews and other places where they have combined with local authorities or combined with commercial players in order to improve their offering, but those are very important matters. I just stress that to her. I am interested in getting every decision right. They are not easy ones to make because she will know that I did not want to neglect that point since she fairly raised it. The skills issue is extremely important. Of course, we must use the funding that we have to best effect. That is why I am delighted that Skills Development Scotland is now enabling the East Lothian Tourism and Hospitality Academy initiative, which was highlighted in the Parliament at a reception that has been enormously successful to be rolled out throughout Scotland. Of course, organisations such as springboard, competitions such as junior chef training at a different level in respect of the Strathclyde University and globally prestigious hotel university course also offered at La Salle of Switzerland also make enormous contribution to the common wheel. In the debate, we have heard much about the contribution that the clans make. I mentioned earlier on that I was delighted that Sir Malcolm MacGregor and John Mackenzie are here. Let me say that sometimes the Government should say that we need to do things better. One such occasion was some time ago when I realised that the relationship that we enjoyed with the clans was not as good as it should be. I realised that in the hospitality of Castle Loud with John Mackenzie and what I did was to set about improving it. With respect, we have achieved a measure of success. We have set up a clan fund with financial support of up to £5,000. Ten events are receiving support from that fund, and perhaps more important than those particular relatively small financial contributions are the fact that we have a clan forum that was established to ensure close working between the Scottish Government visits Scotland and Scotland's clans and families. I wanted to make particular reference to the fact that I believe that the contribution that clans make to the common wheel in Scotland, to tourism, to bringing back people from all over the world, not just in one year but in every year, and to do so on a regular basis, is something that I am proud to be associated with and proud because at the essence of the celebration of the clan history of Scotland is the fact that we are celebrating friendship and connection with people from other countries. In conclusion, as Marko Biagi rightly said, let 2014 be the year when all of us pull on the blue jersey for Scotland. As Dennis Robertson said, let 2014 be the year where Scotland has an open door to welcome everybody from the world, and let 2014 the year of homecoming be the year where at Scotland's Calais everyone is welcome. Thank you minister. That concludes the debate on homecoming Scotland 2004. There are two questions to be put as a result of today's business. The first question is at amendment number 10051.1, in the name of Jenny Marra, which seeks to amend motion number 10051, in the name of Fergus Ewing, on homecoming Scotland 2014, be agreed to. Are we all agreed? The amendment is there for agreed to. The next question is at motion number 10051, in the name of Fergus Ewing, as amended, on homecoming Scotland 2014, be agreed to. Are we all agreed? The motion as amended is there for agreed to. That concludes decision time. I now close this meeting.