 The final item of business this evening is a member's business debate on motion 2397, in the name of Emma Harper, on potential for Dumfries city status. The debate will be concluded without any questions being put. I urge members who wish to participate to press the request-to-speak buttons or place an hour in the chat function. I call on Emma Harper to open the debate for around seven minutes. This is the final member's debate of this year, and I hope that we can end this term on a positive consensual note doing something that I greatly enjoy. That's shining a big muckl light on the south-west of Scotland on my Hamed Toon Dumfries. I thank members who have signed my motion allowing the debate to go ahead today. 2022 presents an exciting opportunity as part of Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee for toons across the UK to receive city status. Her Majesty appoints new cities. When I picked this opportunity up with Mark Jordan and the Dumfries People's Project in June this year, I brought together an initial meeting of stakeholders. That included local elected members, council officials, community councils, organisations, community leaders, the Lord, Lieutenant and deputies of Dumfries and many others. From this meeting came the realisation that there existed many preconceptions about what makes a town qualify to be a city. Before I extol the virtues of Dumfries in your wider region, I first want to do some myth-busting. Questions have been asked. The first myth is that you don't need to have a cathedral. The answer is no. Willie Coffey is laughing because he asked me the same question 10 minutes ago. It's not a requirement to be a city, although we do have an amazing red sandstone church on the Crichton campus. It's an awfully broad place to visit. The second myth is that Dumfries isn't big enough. The answer is that there is no population requirement for city status award. Dumfries is a population of 48,229 people, which is more than the 16 cities that already have city status, including Stirling and Perth. Other issues have been raised. You can't be a city because there are too many seagulls and too many empty shops. Sadly, all cities are tackling the same issues of empty shops, vacant, abandoned and also derelict buildings. Those matters are being and can be addressed if we aspire to do that. I thank the member for giving way. I just put on record that I spent part of my summer holidays in Dumfries. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and it felt like a city to me, so good luck in your endeavours. Emma Harper. I thank Bob Dorris for that intervention. As he has spent his party summer in Dumfries, I would encourage all members to do that because it is a braw bonnie place. We have had the issues raised of our empty shops, vacant, abandoned and derelict buildings, but having an aspiration to attract inward investment and inward migration to improve the town has been seen already in Perth, Stirling and Inverness. When they became cities, that will help tackle many of the issues that I have already highlighted. Even just making the city bid application has led to conversations about what needs to be done to address the issues that I have highlighted and even some positive publicity does help. I want to turn to why Dumfries, the tune that I am proud to live in, which has cultural, social, innovative and environmental attributes is worthy of city status. Dumfries is the aim of Robert Burns, the birthplace of Peter Pan. It is the place that led Robert the Bruce to become King of Scotland. Dumfries is also the aim of the Savings Bank founder Henry Duncan. The father of modern physics, James Clark Maxwell, civil engineer Thomas Telford, the invention of the first bicycle by Kirkpatrick Macmillan, the father of the American navy, John Paul Jones, the Galloway car, which was made for women, by women at Tungland and Lockerbriggs, artist Jesse Marion King and Edward Hornell, music musician Ray Wilson of Genesis fame, actor Sam Hewan, a lot of the lassies I'll know him, and John Lorry and the cult classic film The Wicker Man. We can never forget local Dumfries lad Calvin Harris. Dumfries has a long history and some great stories and great characters. We even have, in our own ancient breeder kai, the world-famous Belty Galloway. Of course I will take an intervention. Oliver Mundell, I thank Emma Harper for taking an intervention. She's listed lots of wonderful people from Dumfriesshire. None of those people needed city status to succeed. What is it about being a city that she feels is so important and so lacking at the moment? Emma Harper. I thank Mr Mundell for that intervention, but I am coming to that. It's about aspiration. We boast a vibrant culture, a cultural scene with a big burn supper, the good neighbours, the oldest work in theatre in Scotland, the theatre royal, many arts, music and book festivals. Dumfries in Galloway has a UNESCO biosphere, the world-recognised dark skies park in the Galloway forest and hopefully will be the aim of Scotland's next national park. All of D&G is an amazing outdoor green space adventure park. It's home to world-class facilities like the seven stains, mountain bike trails, the ortuples. Do I have time for signers? I can give you some of that time back. Dr Allan, have you got your card in? I'm compelled to ask the member for giving way. After that last intervention, has she encountered any other opposition within Dumfries to the idea of city status, or is it just coming from over there? It is just coming from over there. There are a few folk who have been sceptical. I've invited all the sceptics, Dr Allan. My door is open to have conversations with anybody about what they think the issues might be opposing this. We have such opportunities with our otterpools, seven stains, our bonnie miles and rivers, our locks, the sawy coast. It's an outdoor rural adventure if Bob Doris comes back to Dumfries in Galloway. Dumfries is the first rural city in Scotland. It will have an amazing opportunity to pursue sustainable economic green recovery from the pandemic. Our world-need and food and drink sector, including local breweries, gin, whisky and rum distilleries, are also first-class visitor destinations and would hugely benefit from Dumfries becoming a city. Dumfries also has a worldwide innovation and medical history with the first ever ether anesthetic delivered in Europe in 1846 by Dr Scott McLaughlin at Dumfries Infirmary. As a tune, we satisfy the cultural, social and environmental innovation criteria that are required for recognition to be Scotland's eighth city. The Scottish Government's agenda for cities revised in 2016 states that we want a Scotland where our cities and our regions power Scotland's economy for the benefit of all. It was published before the realities of the Brexit harms, before they were known and before the Covid pandemic. I am keen to hear from the minister what is next for this vision for cities and is it being revised to show how Scotland's cities can help power economic recovery for our regions bearing in mind that we will have one new city in Scotland in March 2022. All of those are reasons why Mark Jordan of the Dumfries People's Project and the complete support from the DNG Council led by the province Tracey Little and submitted the bid to aid with economic recovery post-pandemic. The bid is also supported by local charities, businesses, our local schools, our young people, community groups and organisations like Dumfries and Galloway housing partnership. Dumfries, which will be the first geographical city in Scotland, went head north and the only city in the south of Scotland region if it was awarded city status it could increase tourism, attract business and bolster investment into the entire region. It will truly be the Queen of the South. I am conscious of the time presiding officer. One of the benefits of city status is good transport links with other cities and easy access to the varied beauty of our rural Scotland. While many aspects of transport infrastructure across South Scotland such as bus and train links, the A75 and the A77, we know they need to be improved. City status brings greater emphasis on those issues and will bring more attention to the need for roads investment. That will only be achieved through wider attention on our whole region. In conclusion, when Perth, Stirling and Inverness received city status, they went from strength to strength, with greater job creation, increased inward migration, increased visitor numbers and improved transport infrastructure to connect them with other cities. I want to see this benefit for Dumfries and our wider region and I ask the Scottish Government to do all that it can to help this aim so that Dumfries can be the newest Scottish city and the Queen of the South. I look forward to hearing from colleagues' contributions. Thank you. Thank you, Ms Harper. I now call on Oliver Mundell, who will be followed by Colin Smyth. Four minutes, please, Mr Mundell. I thank you, Presiding Officer. It probably does not need to be stated, but I am a committed monarchist and God willing, wish to see Her Majesty reign over the United Kingdom for many years to come. After what is set to be another dark winter, the platinum jubilee celebrations offer a ray of light at the end of the tunnel and will hopefully be an opportunity for all our communities to once again come together and rejoice in all that is good about our country. I say this as I do not want anything which follows to be seen as disrespectful to the royal family who have been such great supporters of causes across Dumfriesshire, nor would I wish anything I say today to reflect negatively on the significant efforts of Mark Jordan, who, through the people's project, has done so much for the town of Dumfries. However, the truth is that none of the above, in my view, is a good enough reason to squander the main selling point of Dumfries, as a market town and the hub of our rural community. We cannot and should not simply invent cities just to take boxes. I would also question why, in a large rural region such as Dumfries, Dumfries was the automatic candidate. We have already heard that the size of the population is not a factor, so why not the royal city of Sankar, or Langham the Muckl Toon, could have been the Muckl City? I think that you should take a deep breath while I am doing this intervention. We are not talking about a massive concrete metropolis, we are talking about an aspiration for the biggest toon in the south, which can then spill out into the wider region. Do you not just have a bit of an aspiration for the south of Scotland to have one city? I say that I would have more aspiration for Dumfries than the SNP who failed it, as I will come on to later in my speech. We could have had Langham as the Muckl Toon could become the Muckl City, but in a man who still bides in Dumfries, the true meaning of life is nae in Macon Muckl Mayor, or we could have had the city of Newton-Wanffrey or, indeed, even Gretna Greene. That sounds like a flippant point, Presiding Officer, but I strongly object to the suggestion that you need to be a city to be successful, or that you need to live in a city to succeed. Instead of peddling in this panto season, Dick Whittington asked myths that only the city streets are lined with gold and not with rats and rubbish, as we see in Scotland's largest city. We should instead, in the swear I agree with Emma Harper, be confident in proudly making the case for why Dumfries is unique. Its sense of community, good neighbours, a gateway to much of our rural region, the good work-life balance, the history and culture, our connection to burns, to Barry and Bruce, but to name a few. When the idea was first floated, many in the town believed that it was in early April Fools. Others came to the conclusion that the only reason politicians would be supporting it was because politicians in cities would get paid more. Are there simply concluded—Certainly? Christine Grahame I note, Mr Mundell, that, from the motion, the law of the tenant of Dumfries supports this bill. Do you disagree with him? Through the chair, please, Ms Grahame, Oliver Mundell. Thank you, Presiding Officer. I wouldn't seek to compromise her role, but she's in a position where the council, which is made up of different political parties, has come to a position. I would find it odd if she wasn't duty-bound, but that doesn't mean that everyone supports it. Far from it, many people believe that the only reason that it's being taken forward is to distract from all the other things that have not been taken forward. I would say to Christine Grahame, as a directly elected representative, that I'm not in the business of backing unpopular ideas. That's also why I oppose border posts and plastic currency to replace the pound, but I don't want to sound too much like Scrooge or more than I have done already and dismiss all of Emma Harper's best ideas before Christmas. In all seriousness, if we want to restore and increase pride in Dumfries and keep future generations of Dunhamers at home, we need to focus on what will make a difference. For example, during the A75, ditching the £25 million bond on the white sands and de-pogestionising at least part of the high street. In closing, I will respect the outcome of the competition process, but I would politely ask those assisting Her Majesty in identifying a winner to look for a candidate where there is widespread unanimous support, not one where opinion is divided at best. Thank you, Mr Mundell. I now call on Colin Smyth, who will be followed by Paul MacLennan in four minutes. Thank you very much, Presiding Officer, and thank you to Emma Harper for her table in her motion. It's nice to hear someone from the clay hole back in us, Dunhamers, and I apologise to the official report who, not for the first time, be wondering what I'm talking about. Presiding Officer, Dumfries is my home, it's where I was born, it's where I've always lived, and it's where I bring up my family. Frankly, I wouldn't have it any other way. It's a town with a proud, rich history, and as we've already heard, including the three Bs, Burns are a national barteries. Last family home in Dumfries, where he wrote many of his finest works, including all Lang Syne, he frequented a few of the same house as I do, such as A Globe In, as well as Scotland's oldest work in theatre, the Dumfries Theatre Royal. It's where, in St Michael's Cuck's Cemetery, he was ultimately laid to rest. We have Bruce, who's slain of the red common in Dumfries Greyfriars. Cuck led to him claiming the crown as king of Scots. And Barry, the author who studied at Dumfries Academy, where my own kids will go in a few years, and who was inspired to write Peter Pan in the magical Neverland garden of Moatbury in Dumfries. Now home to the national centre for children's literature and storytelling. It's an example of how our town's proud past is cultivating a positive future, and there are many other examples. Niger town, the jewel in the crown, the 85-acre Crichton estate, originally Europe's biggest psychiatric hospital, is now home to the south's largest conference and events venue, a major business park, and a vibrant college and university campus with over 6,000 students. So, Presiding Officer, it's a little wonder the Royal Barter of Dumfries is known as the Queen of the South, which is also, of course, the name of our local football team, which also has a proud past, and is a season ticket holder. I hope that, quite soon, we'll have an even more positive future. Emma Harper. I am thanking Colin Smyth for taking an intervention because of the times constraints that I know I went over. You have mentioned the football team, the Queen of the South, and the Crichton estate, which is fantastic, so I really appreciate that. Does Colin Smyth agree that places like the People's Project, a live radio and lots of community support are out there for this, and the whole engagement process is about the community leading the whole city bid from day one? I thank Emma Harper for that intervention. It is about the community, ultimately. It's about what I call my home tune. As Queens fans of our same design, you're home teams, your own team, and what memories I've got supporting Queen of the South, such as the 2008 Scottish Cup final. No, it didn't matter that we didn't actually win the game. Thousands of the Blue and White Army still proudly paraded through the town behind the open top team bus days after the game. Of course, getting to that final led to Queens' only venture in Europe against Denmark's FC Northland. I remember walking through the main street of Copenhagen in the days before that match, and I actually felt like you were walking through Dumfries. You stopped to chat to those people, so many familiar faces, good neighbour after good neighbour. Presiding Officer, as Emma Harper said, it's that community spirit, that friendliness, that really makes the town of Dumfries. Yes, it would make the city of Dumfries. The work of those community groups that are being mentioned from the Midstiple quarter to the People's Project really does encapsulate that pride that we have in our town. I don't know if city status bid will be successful. I know some people, as we've heard by asking, is it worth it? It doesn't come with any extra funding, for example, when we are absolutely a very proud town. However, I do know that the research suggests that it can provide an economic boost to those who achieve city status, putting them on the map. And Dumfries has as good a case as anywhere to be a city. I'll take an intervention. Thank you. Jenny Minto. Thank you. Like Bob Doris, I too have hollied into Dumfries and like it. But would Colin Smith agree with me that Oban within Argyll and Bute is also a good contender for the newest city in Scotland? Carefully, Mr Smith. It was indeed, I have to say, Oban was the very first whisky distillery that I visited many years ago. However, we do have the most recent one, or one of the most recent ones, at Anandale distillery, very close to Dumfries. So maybe we could do a swap visit in the holiday at some point in the future. That's not careful, Mr Smith. It's very uncareful. Moving on quickly, I want to thank those, therefore, behind the bid, Matt Jardin, the council, the community groups. But whatever the outcome, I hope that the process, the discussion that we're having here about how we make Dumfries even better, keeps going after the bid irrespective of whether we win it or not. There's a sign above my office here in Parliament which says Dunhamer, and my first ever speech in this chamber five years ago, I told members that Dunhamer was the name for Queen of the South, but it was also the name for those of us from Dumfries. I explained its origins lay in the 19th century when many people from the town worked away from home, particularly on the railways in Glasgow, and they talked about coming back Dunhamer to Dumfries. It's a term that's never been more apt, however, than it is today, because many of our towns and our regions, young people sadly still leave the area for the high-skilled, high-wage employment opportunities that are not always available Dunhamer. That's the reason I stood for Parliament five years ago. We had lost big manufacturing bases like ICI, Nestle, Unaroy. I want to fight for better opportunities for our young people and what can often be a forgotten part of Scotland. That's why I campaigned, for example, for a decade as a councillor, representing the Dumfries Town Centre Award of Nith for a South of Scotland Enterprise Agency, which is now up and running. That's why I was part of those early days of the Borderlands Initiative that's now developed into the borderlands growth deal, but so much more still needs to be done. So whether we win or lose the city status bid, that can't be the end of the debate on the future of Dumfries. Those who live there, who have a genuine stake in our towns future, want to see action and more opportunities for young people, improvements to our towns set, and ensuring that we deliver that action therefore must be the legacy of this bid. Presiding Officer, I said at the start that Dumfries is where I was born, and it's where I've always lived. Now whether we're a proud town or we've become a city, I suspect that will always be the case for me, and I'll be more than happy with that. Thank you. Thank you, Mr Smith. I now call on Paul MacLennan, who will be followed by Finlay Carson, in four minutes, Mr MacLennan. Deputy Presiding Officer, thank you very much. I welcome this opportunity to speak in this debate and congratulate my colleague Emma Harper on bringing it forward. I have to say, in my short time in this chamber, I've shaken my head of contributions from the Tory branches, but today really beats previous contributions. It really does. As a constituency MSP for East Llywain, which is part of the South of Scotland region, I'm pleased to support my colleague's calls for Dumfries to receive the city status. I think that, as has been mentioned before, I was delighted that the local council unanimously supported this bid. In the chamber, it has been supported by Labour and SNP MSPs, but oddly enough, we've heard the reasons why, from no conservative MSP has supported that. Most people think that they know what a city is. It's a larger, densely populated, distinct urban area. Lovely old cathedral is a must, as we've heard before, and that's been touched on. As I said, as has been mentioned before, the cathedral requirement is long defunct that ended in the 19th century, and the size of a city doesn't really matter. The bounds of a city status, throw up a plethora of quirks. There are 51 cities in England, 69 across the UK, including seven in Scotland, six in Wales, and five in Northern Ireland. Why not, Dumfries? Why not? City status, as we've heard, is granted by the monarch. Although obtaining the status does not grant the city any special rights, its intent is a marker of prestige and can be a symbol of pride for decisions. I thank the member for giving way. I just find it very depressing to hear from someone who represents a rural county that city status is all that matters, that somehow being a city is better than being a rural area. Can he explain to me what you get by being a city that you don't get for living in a rural area? Paul MacLennan. I thank the member for his contribution. I'll come on to that, and I have to say, if I'm the local member for East Lothian, if somebody came up and suggested city status for Dunbar or Harrington or to Nenorth, I would bite their hand off. I would absolutely bite their hand off, and I'll come on to the reasons why in that regard. As seen in Perth, still and in Venice, city status can also bring many economic benefits. I'll touch on the research that's been carried on that, increased desert numbers, and a place on the international map. Dumfriesda is an exciting opportunity to geographically be the first in last city in Scotland. It is also an exciting opportunity to be the first in currently the city in the south of the Scotland region, and I think that that is vitally important. As Emma Harper said, Dumfriesda is the home of Robert Burns, Peter Pan and Robert de Bruce. Dumfriesda, indeed, the whole of the south of Scotland region has widened expanding areas of forestry, peatland and outdoor green space, which is hugely important on our fight against both the climate and biodiversity emergencies. Dumfriesda and the region is also Scotland's adventure playground, and again, this is where it's really important about trying to attract visitors. It's got world-class hikes, cycle routes, lakes, water areas to care and swim, world on mountain biking facilities, as has been mentioned before, is seven stains. The area is also a well-recognised food and drink sector, including local breweries and gin, whisky, and rum distilleries. I can hear some comments from there. I'll come on to that. Becoming a city can be great for business, tourism and civic pride. According to... I'll come on to that in the intervention. Yeah, of course. I thank my colleague for taking an intervention. I hear the chunterings across the chamber from a sedentary position. But even if Dumfries applies, isn't that part of what we want? You have to have a forward-looking aspirational wish for the town. That is something that people should embrace. I would observe that the chunterings have come from other quarters in the chamber throughout this debate, but Paul MacLennan... Yes, thank you, dip, dip, dip. For that, I'll avoid the chuntering and I'm trying to move on. And a study led by... And this is the most important thing. Becoming a city for business, tourism and civic pride can bring great benefits, and this research has been carried out by the University of Reading, who have no interest in this at all. And a study led by geography professor Dr Steve Mason found that some winners, some past winners of city status, outperformed the regional neighbours in business growth. That included Inverness and Stirling in Scotland, both in Scotland. Now, this is what Oliver Mundell opposes. It really... A beggars belief... A beggars belief research shows that city status brings economic benefits. It beggars belief that you're opposing it for political reasons and no more. The study also found that international firms seeking new bases in the UK are likely to favour... No, I'm sorry. Not on that point. I'm sorry. To favour cities over towns. Inward investment, seeking the best return for their money will be drawn to areas offering large development sites, well-educated workforces and economy-mesened scale. Becoming a city, dump-freece and indeed the wider region, we also have great potential to retain the young workforce because it will bring economic benefits and pride in with jobs with positive destination career outcomes. But it isn't the only benefit. Becoming a city can also be a source of great pride for the tens of thousands of people living in dump-freece. Just look at Britain's small city, St David's, 1,600 people it has. The benefits of city-stayers are clear for all to see. Presiding officer, in conclusion I again congratulate Emma Harper on bringing this debate forward. I welcome the opportunity of dump-freece to be the first in last city in Scotland and I wish dump-freece every success and taking this forward. So it's dump-freece today, maybe dump bar tomorrow. Thank you. Thank you, Mr MacLennan. I now call Finlay Carson who joins us remotely to be followed by Christine Grahame. Four minutes, Mr Carson. Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. With part of the town of dump-freece falling within my constituents of Galloway and Western Friess, I welcome the opportunity to celebrate and raise the profile of the largest town and seat of the local authority. But disappointed that Paul MacLennan with his feigned outrage suggests that this is anything to do with party politics, but I'm not surprised. But by not supporting a bid does not mean we don't have the highest of aspirations for dump-freece. The term Queen of the South was first used in an address by a local poet David Dunbar who stood in the 1857 general election and this fitting description has become synonymous with the much-loved town. And generations of my family have worked and lived in the town as hoteliers. But for those who have never actually visited dump-freece, can I strongly urge to do so as it's much to offer, not least being the people from the town known often referred to as Dunhamers, being amongst the warmest and friendliest people you could ever meet. Right from the outset, twice, I may not be a supporter of the campaign. I wish to make clear that I have the utmost admiration and gratitude for the campaign behind the bid for the town to be granted city status as part of the eagerly awaited platinum jubilee celebrations. The people's project, led by Mark Jordan, and Mark has said himself, we can make dump-freece and galley with tourist destinations like the Lake District and by doing so attract more business to the region. And he's absolutely right, but people don't go to the Lake District because of the draw of the city of Carlyle. But, instead, the small towns of Keswick and Ambleside with a unique and wonderful rural nature, and that's what the Royal Borough and Market Town of Dumfries selling point should be. Quite how the town was founded remains something of a mystery, but the history books actually suggest that Dumfries was once deemed of much importance by invading Romans. Indeed, many traces of Roman presence in Dumfries and Galley were still being uncovered from coins, weapons, military, earthworms and even roads, and I'm not sure if the A75 was included in that list. The Queen may look favourably on Dumfries as it has strong royal credentials with William the Lion granting a charter to give Dumfries the rank of a royal borough in 1186, recognising its importance at the Market Town and Port. And a royal castle which sadly no longer stands was built in the 13th century and William Wallace chased the fleeing English forces southward through the Nith valley back over the border. And just for good measure, Robert the Bruce Sluheids rivaled the red common at Greyfriars Church in the town in 1306. Thankfully, things are quiet and down of it. And the most famous Scott of all Robert Burns moved to Ellisland near Dumfries and later made the town his home in 1719. So it's 1791. So it's fair to say that Dumfries has a rich historical past. And it would be an understatement just saying that we should do and we do quite rightly celebrate that fact. We've already heard of the list of famous sons and daughters which would be the envy of many cities. But they all came from a rural marketing and we are already on the international map because of that. Emma Harper's emotion suggests that city status could bring benefits socially, financially and culturally and claims that Perth, Stirling and Inverness as a result of city status went from strength to strength. I think that she's got it maybe the wrong way around. And she fails to say exactly what city status could do to deliver more than a successful rural market town could. I believe that Dumfries is a sleeping giant for which too many years have been failed along with the rest of the south of Scotland by successive Scottish Governments. But now is our time. We have the Borderlands growth deal, levelling up funds and most importantly the south of Scotland enterprise who can really be a catalyst to driving improvements and then around the town. And it's important right across our region to the other major town in Gateway, Stranrair. Maybe Emma Harper like our SNP colleagues are forgetting the far west in Stranrair too and it's credentials to be Scotland's next city. But it's only through the type of interventions and policies like the Borderlands that we can achieve greater job creation, increased inward migration, higher visitor numbers and hopefully through the union connectivity review and STPR2 see increased investment and improved transport infrastructure. Dumfries is already a strong marketing force offering outstanding scenery, warm hospitality and amenities that make it the dual of the market towns in Scotland. And that's the title we should seek rather than city status which despite what Ms Harper suggests currently doesn't have the support of many people in Dumfries never mind the rest of the region. But what we do have in Dumfries by the bucket load is a belief that the town can do better and with or without city status we should grab the opportunities that we have right now to make Dumfries once again the happiest and the best place to live, work and play. Thank you Mr Carson and now call final speaker in the open debate Christine Grahame four minutes please. Thank you Deputy Presiding Officer how depressing the conservative contributions have been. Anyway I congratulate my colleague Emma Harper on securing this debate and support her call for Dumfries in its application for city status a campaign she has long been involved in. I congratulate Colin Smith a colleague on the other side of the chamber also in that camp and it seems that it's only the conservatives that oppose it goodness knows why. Now oh I would like I'll let you in can I just need a little bit of pro well why not so you can depress me again. Oliver Mundell That's very kind and very much in the Christmas spirit. I just wonder if Christine Grahame is a veteran of Scottish politics if she thought this was politically popular why would she think the two constituency members representing the region wouldn't be desperate to get behind it the truth is people in Dumfries don't support it. Christine Grahame They're both conservatives and so it is political from you and I have campaigned many issues let me let me make a little progress Mr Mundell because I think you're digging a large hole for yourself. Through the tape please Ms Grahame Now city status is an enigma for example London doesn't have city status but it's comprised of two cities the city of London a city of Westminster so it's a quirky thing the status conferred as others have said by the monarch after advice from the government but it is the monarch's decision and again as has been said by others it usually takes place on a royal ceremonial occasion such as the Queen's platinum jubilee next year the criteria is very loose I won't rehearse it's been raised by others so it doesn't include population in cathedrals but royal connections as you can imagine are handy and Dumfries has knees going back as far as 1186 and William the Lion of Scotland then he granted it royal bar status then in 1395 Robert III by charter granted Dumfries the rights of a town so this might be another monarch granting rights While I refer to Robert let us remember as others have done that Robert Burns spent his last years there from 1796 to his death five years later where his body is now in turn at the born's mouse ileum but I want to turn to Burns creative connections particularly when he was at Ellie's Run Farm which he worked which has now got a complex in the Burns Museum and I've been at Burns nights there myself I'm spoken famously he wrote All Lang Syne there and I don't know a more internationally known song than All Lang Syne yet I don't know if many people would realise it was written in Dumfries and not in Allaway again Afon Kiss again part of the creativity that came from his years there so although Burns when he wrote so much there 130 songs and poems during that short time we was there before he died he may not fit the traditional definition of Rob but he was definitely and remains Scottish royalty in my book city status we'd enhance and remind international travellers of the powerful connection of Burns with Dumfries it's not just Allaway and Burns cottage that's in the frame and finally on a personal note what have I got to do with Dumfries and Galloway well I lived in Minigaff and I taught at the Douglas in Newton's for over a decade both my sons were born in the Creswell maternity hospital now demolished nothing to do my son's been born there both now Gallavadians by birth and I'll always really remember the great next 60 mile journey from Minigaff to the Creswell in a pretty rickety ambulance with my next door neighbour the local midwife who had to have a stop every so often to relieve herself of car sickness thank goodness and delivery skills were not required all route later that night small angus all eight pounds three ounces of him fell asleep and I left the ward and I stood before a floor to ceiling window first time mum and looked out over Dumfries in the darkness and lit up by the street lights and wondered what I'd let myself in for 48 years later with the son now a father himself I'm still wondering what I'll let myself in for so one of my fond memories of Dumfries is that I remember that night very clearly and thinking what a beautiful place it was now mine may not be a royal connection it is my connection and again I thank Emma Harper and Colin Smyth as Dunhamers for at the very least whether this is successful or not shining a bright light on Dumfries whatever the outcome of the bid thank you thank you Mr I now call on the minister to respond to the debate Mr Lockhead for around seven minutes please Can I begin by thanking Emma Harper for lodging this motion she's certainly been a energetic and feisty champion for Dumfries and the south of Scotland and I congratulate her on all her work to make the case for city status for Dumfries which she outlined in her speech and also can I also thank everyone else for their contributions to this debate as well I've learned a lot in terms of the many famous sons and daughters from Dumfries and the fact that it's been a town of invention down the centuries as well and the way in which Emma Harper and others have sold the town I think we should all take a leaf out of Bob Doris's book and perhaps book our summer holidays there at some point in the future as well because they've certainly sold its attractions to the rest of us as well and whatever happens in terms of the the town's bid for city status I think this has been a good opportunity for everyone to talk up the many qualities that Dumfries has We have heard much in the chamber about what makes Dumfries unique and a deserving candidate for city status but of course I know that several towns in Scotland are applying for city status and I wouldn't want in the Scottish Government wouldn't want to choose a favourite I have no doubt that all would be strong favourites or strong candidates and of course I'll have to be extremely careful because as someone who lives in Elgin and who represents Elgin in this Parliament I have to note that Elgin is also bidding for city status indeed it does have a cathedral known as the Lantern of the North it also has too many seagulls which I heard was an attribute for many of the candidates as well and Elgin of course is bidding alongside Dumfries of course but also Dumfermlyn, Greenock, Irvine, Livingston, Oben and St Andrews as well With that saying all that of course today's debate is to discuss Dumfries so I do want to highlight some of the ways in which the Government is already supporting Dumfries and the wider region and of course firstly in April of 2020 we officially launched the South of Scotland Enterprise our economic and community development agency for Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders and already it supported a range of projects and Dumfries itself including £4.8 million of funding to support the PPE manufacturing firm Alffersallway and establishing a new manufacturing hub there and then in March 2021 we signed the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal which of course includes Scottish Government investment of up to £85 million in the south of Scotland region over a 10-year period along with £65 million in the UK Government meaning a total investment in Scotland there will be £150 million The project supported by the Borderlands Deal will enhance regional economic performance they will develop the region's tourism offer support innovation in key sectors develop the skills and infrastructure needed to build communities and create jobs and improve digital connectivity across the south as well Oliver Mundell I thank the minister for giving way he's missed one important investment from the list what's happened to dualling and upgrading the A75 under his government 14 years the answer is nothing I thought perhaps the member was going to use the opportunity to celebrate many good policies that have been put in place to support Dumfries and the wider region but I think as my late mom would say the conservatives in this debate to be fair have come across as big trips looking for a puddle and I think that many people will be taken aback by the negativity expressed by some of the members in this debate given I'm sure it's one where there's some consensus in talking up the attributes of Dumfries Dumfries will also benefit from the dairy nexus project which will deliver cutting edge research to facilitate decarbonisation across dairy farming and the centre will be based at SRUC's Barony campus in Dumfries and the Scottish Government's committee £4 million to support this project and through the Borderlands Deal Dumfries and Galloway will also benefit from £5 million of Scottish Government funding committed to the Seven Stains mountain bike network that others mentioned also and that investment will upgrade several of the sites and their associated facilities to encourage users to travel across the region and develop a stronger visitor experience after taking on intervention Emma Harper I thank the minister for taking an intervention I think there is so much going on in the south west you've described the dairy nexus project and then the alpha solway so there is a lot of investment that is happening in Dumfries right now but does the minister agree that even just having an aspiration to apply for the bid is something that could help raise awareness and shine a light on the south of Scotland? I think Emma Harper makes a good point and that is no doubt one of the considerations that all cities or all communities that are bidding for city status have taken into account and after all this is a competition being organised but the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Civic Awards which will of course announce the successful cities next year so clearly that group of people or committee of whoever is taking decisions do feel it's worthwhile for communities to bid for city status and it's the Lord Chancellor who will make a recommendation to the Queen in due course so again I think others do believe that there are benefits to be acquired from city status I also want to just say given we are against the backdrop of Covid at Dumfries has also played its role in the national effort against the pandemic and the economic and community recovery from its scarring effects as well and the Scottish Government has provided £55,000 to the Stove Network Scotland's only arch-led development trust to mitigate the impact of the pandemic through increasing skills, knowledge and availability of shared resources for community-led activity as well again our high streets have been particularly impacted by the pandemic and I think someone mentioned empty shops in many of our communities across the country and the mid-steeple quarter is a community-led initiative seeking to breathe new life into Dumfries Town Centre by developing a section of the high street as a contemporary living, working, socialising, learning and enterprise in quarter and it aims to see the local community take control of and refurbish underused and neglected high street buildings another issue I know that Emma Harper is taking a very close interest in as well and that initiative receives £300,000 in the Scottish Government through investment from the South of Scotland economic partnership and will receive on-going support through the South of Scotland enterprise as well The regeneration work that we are seeing supporting Dumfries Town Centre is a great example of what we want to see across Scotland and we aim to achieve that through our place-based investment programme Local people have stepped up with very ambitious plans for revitalising the Town Centre they have identified opportunities for bringing buildings back into sustainable uses and these solutions are promoting inclusive economic development with community wealth as a key theme so I want to close by recognising the efforts of the people and organisations on Dumfries and I particularly like to recognise the considerable work done by Dumfries and Galloway Council in preparing the bid Dumfries is, as we have heard described many times today, a wonderful town it is a strong sense of community in a unique historical, cultural and civic heritage it is business-based from food and drink to agriculture to tourism to manufacturing it is dynamic and full of innovation As it is, as Mrs Harper stated the town of Bruce of Burns and of GM Barrie who based the world of Peter Pan on the gardens of Moatbury House now an attractive tourist destination as well so if Dumfries is successful in its bid it will I know become a wonderful city so best of luck to Dumfries and of course the other candidates as well many people are working hard to make their bids a success and I'm sure Parliament will want to wish them all the best Thank you very much indeed Minister, that concludes the debate and I close this meeting of Parliament