European Capital of Culture Bid (Inverness Highland 2008)
For members who are not going to have their photograph taken, the next item of business is a members' business debate on motion S1M-3407, in the name of Rhoda Grant, on the Inverness Highland bid to be European capital of culture.
Motion debated,
That the Parliament notes the on-going competition to decide the United Kingdom's nominee for the European Capital of Culture in 2008; further notes that Inverness Highland 2008 is the sole Scottish bid; recognises the imaginative plans that the bid team have proposed including capitalising on the Highlands' unique culture and the development of a cultural plan; further recognises the immense economic, social and cultural benefits that a successful bid would bring to Inverness and the Highlands, and considers that, as this is the sole Scottish bid, the Scottish Executive, MSPs, government agencies and the wider Scottish society should do all in their power to support the bid and promote a successful outcome.
It is a great pleasure for me to open this debate, which is of great importance to Inverness, the Highlands and—I hope—the rest of Scotland. I want to take this opportunity to thank all the members who signed my motion.
The debate is as much about the future as it is about the past. The bid for European capital of culture status in 2008 is a sign of growing confidence in the Highlands about who we are and what we have to offer the world. Anyone who visits the Highlands today will find a growing population—it has risen by 2.4 per cent since the previous census—and more job opportunities.
A number of key figures have supported the bid's development. As the bid co-ordinator, Bryan Beattie has played a key role in ensuring that a coherent, well-thought-out plan has been put together. Sir Cameron Mackintosh, the bid's patron, David Green, the convener of Highland Council, and local and national agencies have also supported and encouraged it. Many other people have been involved in it, but there are too many to mention this evening. I pay tribute to them all, whatever their role and regardless of how large or small their involvement has been.
The bid is about the people of the Highlands working together and taking ownership. I should add that Bryan Beattie left this month. We all wish him well for the future. Bill Sylvester, who replaces him, has our support and I am sure that he will continue the great work that has already been carried out. His enthusiasm was apparent to the members who met him today. Indeed, I think that Fergus Ewing wanted to put a few names to him because of that great enthusiasm. It is good to see someone who is so behind the bid.
Inverness Highland 2008 is the sole Scottish bid for the title of European capital of culture. For the first time, city regions can bid. As the Inverness Highland bid is the only one of this kind, it deserves unanimous support from all parties, the Government, public bodies and agencies and ordinary individuals. I know that the bid team is pleased with the support it has received from the First Minister and the Scottish Executive, which is one of the 23 concordat partners.
What does the Inverness Highland bid have to offer? I cannot do it justice in the short time that I have available, but under the broad theme of "Fàilte—Welcome All", the bid seeks to put in place programmes and events that celebrate and challenge the icons and stereotypes that have become associated with the city region. The bid recognises the environment of the area and looks at things that have inspired artists, writers, musicians and other creative people through the years.
In order to generate ideas, the bid team launched an initiative to find 2008 ideas for 2008. Within only three months, 2008 ideas had been submitted, which is a clear sign that ordinary people have seen the potential of what a successful bid could bring to the area. The ideas included: a new piece of musical theatre that would be produced and performed by young people; having a year of fèis, with a fèis held every week during 2008; the world's largest clan gathering, to encourage descendants from all over the world to return to the Highlands during the culture year; a Gaelic teaching programme to raise awareness of Gaelic culture; the creation of a Highland science centre; and a proposal to bring north one leg of the Tour de France in 2008.
Importantly, the bid has young people and volunteers at its heart, thus recognising that young people have as much right to have their say in culture decisions as everybody else. As part of the bid, two members of Highland Youth Voice have been working on a young persons' guide to the Highlands.
To assess the likely benefits that would come from a successful bid, the bid team commissioned two studies, one of which examined the economic benefits while the other focused on the social ones. The economic benefits are believed to be achievable by the bid team and are likely to make anybody sit up and take notice. Up to 8,600 jobs would be created throughout the north in the year of culture. That figure does not take into account the additional jobs that would be created from infrastructure development and from the programmes that have already been started.
The benefits cannot be judged simply in terms of finance, as the enormous social benefits that would be generated are just as important. For example, the cultural pledge would be a lasting legacy to the children and young people of the Highlands. The pledge would mean that every pupil would receive access to all forms of culture, including access to drama tuition, music tuition and tuition in six sports. They would also visit the Highland folk park and Highland museums. That is to name but a few of the benefits that the young people would receive. The pledge would make a substantial difference to the value that those young people place on culture. For those young people, this is an opportunity of a lifetime, the benefits of which would hopefully flow through to future generations.
The Highlands have something unique to offer. With their history and culture, the Highlands are best placed to showcase cultural activity to the rest of Europe. I hope that the minister will continue to do everything she can to ensure that the Inverness Highland bid is strongly represented to ministers and to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
The bid is full of exciting and challenging aims. It offers the Highlands the opportunity to unleash the talents and creativity of all its people, young and old. The Highlands could show that it is not simply a place of history but one with a vision for the future. This is the opportunity of a lifetime and one that we must fight hard to win.
I warmly congratulate Rhoda Grant on securing the debate and agree with just about everything she said. I am pleased to see that Dr Elaine Murray will reply to the debate, because I know that she has taken a close interest in matters Highland.
It is matters Highland that we are debating tonight. There can be few parts of the world that have such a high recognition factor. We think of ceilidhs, capercaillies, clarsachs and clans. We think of mountains, moors, crofts and peat-land. We think of whisky, bagpipes, claymores, kilts, heather—the list goes on. When we look at the prospect of success for Inverness Highland becoming the European capital of culture in 2008, we think about those things, which are the warp and the weft in the tapestry of everything that makes the Highlands what it is.
I do not believe that it is the wish of any politician or party, in supporting the bid, to attack the merits of other bids from cities in the United Kingdom. No doubt they all have their particular claims, but it is reasonable to point out that the Highlands, perhaps exclusively, have international recognition for their unique culture and heritage.
I commend the efforts of the individuals mentioned by Rhoda Grant and those of many others. I was especially struck by the enthusiastic presentation that Bill Sylvester gave today. I suggest that he should call himself Mr MacMotivator, such was the infectious nature of his enthusiasm.
There are many reasons why this bid should succeed. Some are not immediately obvious. We think of when Glasgow was the city of culture. The city's image was transformed around the world. It changed from "No Mean City" to a modern European capital in the European tradition. We think of the intangible benefits of things such as this, transforming the image and reputation of a place.
Part of the difficulty that Inverness faces is in some ways the difficulty of success. The city has very low levels of unemployment, which makes it difficult for some employers to find workers. I know that from a meeting I had with the Federation of Small Businesses on Monday. If we can draw people to Inverness by portraying it as an exciting place to stay, and if we can draw young people from Scotland and further afield by portraying our city as a European capital of culture, we can attract more people to the Highlands and no longer witness the emigration that we have witnessed over the years.
I want to make a particular mention of genealogy and the expert concept and plan that Mr Dennis MacLeod is promoting, to establish a centre in Helmsdale to commemorate the clearances. I am delighted that the idea has received support from people of all parties and none.
I played a modest part in the promotional literature for this bid—
We saw your legs.
Wisely, Mary, that photograph did not make the front page. I managed to participate in and complete the Loch Ness marathon, sponsored by Baxter's, which took place a week ago last Sunday. I achieved the twin aims of finishing and avoiding precipitating a by-election. The variety of events—both cultural and sporting—will be a key to the success of this bid.
I am delighted to be taking part in this debate. I know that people from all parties will unite in the Highland cause to support this bid and make Inverness Highland the European capital of culture in 2008.
I, too, congratulate Rhoda Grant on securing this debate in support of the Inverness Highland bid to become European capital of culture in 2008. On this historic occasion, I fully endorse everything Rhoda Grant and Fergus Ewing have said. Highland MSPs often leave their politics aside and work together. Like them, I congratulate Bill Sylvester, the chief executive of Inverness and Nairn Enterprise, on his role leading this bid. Such is Bill's enthusiasm that, if people do not support the bid when they meet him, they certainly will when they leave him.
This bid gives us a win-win situation. If we win, it could generate up to £230 million of additional income for the Highlands—a figure that is based on a 30 per cent increase in tourism. If we are short-listed, a benefit of £80 million could accrue. If we are not short-listed, we will have the benefit of having 23 partners across the Highlands working together and the benefit of probably the most extensive audit of culture, heritage, sports, environment, arts, language and music ever done. The bid will help to raise awareness, to develop innovative ideas on culture and to show the city's contribution to regeneration, social inclusion, education and business.
At lunch time, the bid was likened to the Scotland in bloom competition: if we win, it is wonderful; if we do not win, it is still beautiful. The cultural pledge is an example of joined-up thinking and partnership.
Free music tuition was enjoyed in the Highlands in the past. It is now based on a means test. I also raise the example of Caithness United: a young and able football team that has been banned from the Highland League because of travel distances.
Mary Scanlon raises a point that worries many of us in the far north. Does she agree that one of the most disconcerting aspects of the matter is the fact that a veil of secrecy seems to have been drawn over the matter in terms of explaining to Caithness United why it has been excluded? That is deeply unsatisfactory in this day and age. Answers must be given.
I take Jamie Stone's point and commend the work that he has done on the matter. I listened to Tommy Docherty on the radio this morning. He talked about the fact that managers of the Scotland team used to go to watch Scottish players playing for all the big football clubs in England, but now it is very difficult to get the team together. If we believe in social inclusion, we should believe in giving the young lads in Caithness the opportunity to play not only for their own club, for Caley Thistle and for Ross County, but for Scotland. I believe that Caithness United is an excellent team. I hope that the minister will investigate the secrecy around the decision.
The cultural pledge includes drama workshops, free access to swimming and creative arts or crafts courses. They should be the pledges not only of the cultural bid, but of every councillor who is elected on 1 May next year.
I welcome the bid and I support it. I wish the bid team all success in showing and highlighting the confidence of the Highlands as the European capital of culture.
I am delighted to be taking part in the debate, which demonstrates the support the Scottish Parliament has previously indicated for the city of Inverness's bid to become the European capital of culture in 2008. I am confident that Inverness will achieve that objective, primarily because the bid has been professionally prepared and presented and, most important, because it has universal support throughout the area. The bid has the support of all the communities throughout the Highlands and Islands and of business groups, both private and commercial. On top of that, the bid has been demonstrated to be innovative, enterprising and imaginative. It has all the hallmarks of success that we would expect.
Inverness is fortunate, because it is central to the Highlands. It is recognised as the Highland capital and its identity has always been enhanced by the cultural diversity of the region it serves, which is historically anchored in the language of Eden. I do not need to tell anybody that that is our Gaelic language—its culture, music and traditions, which have survived through the ages and still appeal to all groups, all ages and in particular our younger generation, who will carry forward those worthy traditions.
The initial bid identifies an extensive programme of capital development. According to the current figures, a sum in excess of £60 million will be spent in the area to provide opportunities for young and old alike to participate in and enjoy a wide range of cultural and sporting activities throughout the Highland area. That is new, innovative and enterprising.
The bid by the Highlands is for the Highlands. It is centred on the commercial hub of Inverness and it deserves our full and unmitigated support. Giving it that support will let us demonstrate that we agree with a young lady called Annie Marrs, the vice-chair of Highland Youth Voice, who is quoted in a pamphlet about the bid. She forecasts that Inverness will become
"the most fantastic and unique Capital of Culture that Europe has seen."
Let us prove her correct and support the bid.
On 19 September I supported the bid during a debate in the chamber. I highlighted the pledge that the Highland Council is making to young people to give them the opportunity to participate in at least six hours of sport and games per week, to give them free musical tuition in schools, and to give children and young people free entry to cultural events that visit Inverness and the Highlands. The pledge is scheduled for 2003 and 2004 and it is intended that, by 2005, the area will have a generation of young people who are more adept in sports and more culturally adapted than was previously the case. Even if the bid fails, that incentive will allow young people to reap in later life the physical and mental benefits that those extracurricular activities will bring.
But the bid must succeed. At any rate, the minimum target must be a place on the short list and to be one of the four areas that will be able to use the name "centre of culture". However, the object is to win. That will bring huge benefits to Inverness and Highland, and the rest of Scotland for that matter, as it did when Glasgow won.
In Inverness and Highland we have a special complexity of cultures, such as the environmental culture, where surely we reign supreme. Where else can one see herds of deer, eagles and ospreys, whales and dolphins, and a plethora of other animals and birds? There is a plan for an environmental orientation centre, if the bid wins, where people can be informed about the finer points of bird, animal and plant species, where to find them, when is the best time to see them in their natural habitat, and how to cause the least disturbance.
I like another idea, which is for tourist centres to provide inquiring visitors with individual computerised itineraries relating to their length of stay and particular interests.
We also have a scientific culture, which includes the highest medical research, marine biology centres and, of course, the university of the Highlands and Islands. When will the UHI receive full university status?
We have our Highland heritage culture, which is unusually strong, comprising archaeological and historical artefacts. There are plans for a Highland archive centre, to which many of the original Highland artefacts that clutter various shelves in Edinburgh could be returned.
Genealogical heritage could be a huge market. We should examine Ireland's progress and success in that sphere.
We have a great arts culture, with music, dancing, painting, sculpture and drama, and a particularly strong language culture based on Gaelic, especially through the fèis movement, which has done so much to transpose the traditional Highland music into a form of popular music that has received strong acclaim. That should prove to be a particularly strong point in the bid of Inverness and the Highlands.
We also have a multisport culture in the Highlands, in which angling reigns supreme, fast followed by shinty.
Inverness Highland is unique. Capital projects around Inverness, such as Eden Court Theatre and the bringing back into use of Inverness Castle, would be advanced. Other areas in the Highlands would stand to benefit, such as Fort William, with an arts centre and waterfront development, and Thurso, with an arts centre. The market centre project in Dingwall might well be advanced. Success in the bid would bring many benefits.
My recent involvement in the great glen raid on the Caledonian canal showed me only too clearly the value to Scotland in foreign advertising that can be generated by new innovative projects—15 million Europeans viewed and read about Scotland in a wonderful light.
While we must never forget our traditions of bagpipes, kilts, cabers and whisky, we must show that Scottish culture is not static, but continually moving on. That is why I urge the Scottish Executive and all people in Scotland to get behind Scotland's one and only bidder, Inverness and Highland. I wish the bid every success.
I had the privilege of being the chairman of the culture committee of the European Parliament for three years. Choosing the capital of culture was one of the big annual events. When I was on that committee, the capital of culture was Glasgow. Although I am a Glaswegian, I assure members that that had nothing to do with me—I can claim no credit for it. A minister from London came up to look at our case. Of course, Bath and Edinburgh were also involved. He eventually told me the secret that Glasgow had against the others. He said, "Bath and Edinburgh talked about the past and Glasgow talked about the future."
All of us know that we have a magnificent future in the Highlands and Islands. Jamie McGrigor has already mentioned the Highland Council's pledges to our young people, so I will not talk further about them, other than to say that they are the most magnificent set of pledges that I have ever seen and I am sure that the aims can be achieved.
When Glasgow won, in my capacity of chair of the committee I received a marvellous letter from Chancellor Kohl. He said that the choice of Glasgow was an inspiration to all Europe because Glasgow—unlike previous winners, such as Florence and Athens—had suffered from the demise of a lot of heavy industry and many European cities were in a similarly depressing position.
The choice of the Highlands, however, would be unique. It is an entirely different proposal. The area has 90 inhabited islands and is rich in cultures. There are more archaeological remains being found in Orkney than in any part of Europe at the moment. It is so rich in archaeology that the whole of Europe is coming to see it. Shetland has a magnificent fishing history going back to whaling and so on and now it is the norm that students from the third world come to the fishing college in Shetland. And of course, we must admit that Orkney and Shetland have distinctive cultures, as do the Western Isles, as a result of their connection with Norway and the Vikings. Further, the fact that Scotland was in the Hanseatic league is remembered in Hamburg, Berlin and Bremen, where I have spoken. We are rich in culture.
In Europe, John Hume and I created a budget line for the lesser-used languages, of which 35 are recognised across Europe, two of which we have in the Highlands and Islands: Gaelic and Scots. That is of fantastic interest in European terms. The attitude in the European Parliament, of which I was a member for 24 years, is that every language of Europe and every bit of our literature and music is precious and must be preserved in every possible way. As a reflection of that, the budget line has gone up each year and is still doing so, as far as I know.
That is another example of how the Highlands fits into the deepest concerns of Europe. Europe wants to rediscover all that it can about how the continent became what it is. Although we are on the periphery, we are a key part of that effort as we have been exposed to many different experiences.
Other people have spoken about the musical heritage of the Highlands, which is rich, and I am sure that many Europeans would like to share more of it with us. People have mentioned sport, so I need do no more than mention golf, shinty, curling, mountain climbing and the sheer joy of the most beautiful part of Europe.
The Highland and Inverness proposal is unique and I am sure that, across Europe, that approach will be seen as extremely refreshing.
When I was in the European Parliament, I used to say, "I've got 90 inhabited islands," and the whole place would say, "Ninety inhabited islands?" Mind you, when Greece came along with 222 inhabited islands, my gas was put at a peep. Nevertheless, Greece always says that it has no minority languages, but we have a fantastic richness.
We can offer Europe something that is different and modern and I hope that our new approach succeeds.
It being national poetry day, I feel that I should have brought at least one poem by George Mackay Brown or Sorley Maclean, but I neglected to do so.
I was born in Thurso and have lived in the Orkneys, so I am always glad to receive invitations to return to the Highlands, even if they are similar to the last two that I received—to open a sewage works and to assist Highland Council in the launching of a recycling initiative. I should say that both visits were thoroughly enjoyable occasions.
When I visit, I stay with friends who have been involved in the music and cultural life of the Highlands for the past 20 years. My friends travel frequently: to Ireland, Wales and—most often—Brittany. I want to make a point that may appear to be small, but that is important. If Inverness were to become the European capital of culture in 2008, that would make an enormous statement for the Celtic cultures throughout Europe. The people of Brittany would rejoice at the choice of Inverness, as would all of our other Celtic friends throughout Europe. We should not keep on saying, "Let us get into the last four." We should say, "Let Inverness become the European capital of culture in 2008."
As Jamie Stone has reminded me that today is national poetry day, let me say:
"My heart's in the Highlands, my heart is not here;
My heart's in the Highlands a chasing the deer;
Chasing the wild deer, and following the roe;
My heart's in the Highlands, wherever I go."
As it happens, I was born in Argyll, not in what is now thought of as the Highlands. However, over the past 30 years, I feel that I have been naturalised.
I congratulate Rhoda Grant on securing such a welcome debate. I would like to join her in paying tribute to all those who were involved in the preparation of the bid. As Rhoda said, the Inverness bid is the only regional bid. It is the first such bid to be submitted under the new rules that allow four regions to bid for the title "European capital of culture".
When I went to Inverness for the first time about 30 years ago, I was not impressed. It was a dull town with nothing much happening in it. I am talking about a time before Eden Court Theatre was built. Indeed, it was even before Marks and Spencer arrived in the town to put its label on Inverness as a town that people wanted to go to from as far north as Wick. Perhaps I should not go into the economics of all that, especially as it might not be a cultural reference.
I was interested to see Annie Marrs, one of my former pupils, on the front page of the Inverness Highland 2008 October newsletter. She is quoted as saying:
"When I started secondary there was no Youth parliament, no budget air travel from Inverness, no Highland Festival, no art.tm, Kilmorack or Castle galleries, no city status for Inverness".
So much has changed since my first visit. What will Inverness be like in 2008? How much more will it have changed by then?
There is such vibrancy in the Highlands today; not only in Inverness, but in other Highland towns. Look at the change that has taken place in Alness, which has pulled itself up by its own bootstraps. It has won Scotland in bloom, Britain in bloom and world in bloom awards. Look at Wick and the schemes to develop its old Poultney town—the old Thomas Telford complex around the harbour. All those things are happening now and there are plans for further developments in future.
Just as the Highlands in 2008 will be a different place, so it is the case with Europe. Only yesterday, the European Union announced that another 10 countries are to become members. That announcement further highlights the opportunities that would be opened up for the Highlands if it won the award.
I want to concentrate my remarks on two areas: tourism and Gaelic. The potential for tourism in the bid is great indeed. In simple economic terms, any boost to tourism numbers would be welcome. The activities that are proposed in the bid are likely to provide a significant boost to the area. However, the bid also poses a considerable challenge for transport and tourism operators and the wider tourist industry in the Highlands. There is a need to ensure that the area is prepared properly to cater for visitors from around the globe. I have no doubt that we will win the bid; we deserve to win it. The award would act as a tremendous attraction for people, especially as the award would be not merely a European event. It would give the Highlands the opportunity to speak to the world, to show it the value that we already place on our culture and to show it how our traditions and heritage are adapting in a changing world.
We must work closely with the British Tourist Authority and VisitScotland to ensure that marketing is of the highest standard. Marketing is of little use if the final product is not up to the standard that visitors expect, so improving quality is also a key priority and quality is improving all the time. We must attract Scots to visit the north, not just visitors from the United Kingdom or beyond.
Gaelic is a cornerstone of the bid. I agree with the bid document where it stresses that the Gaelic language is perhaps the most distinctive element of Highland heritage, although I recognise that other cultures are equally important. It is the element that sets the Highland bid apart from every other bid for 2008. The proposals for the development of Gaelic are imaginative—a language centre, a Gaelic teaching programme and the expansion of the Royal National Mod to include representatives from other Celtic countries. The Inverness bid is the Scottish bid to bring the capital of culture back home again. Glasgow benefited significantly from being the city of culture in 1990 and the benefits can be just as significant to the Highlands. As Rhoda Grant pointed out, the benefits will not end when 2008 has passed—the legacy will remain and the benefits will continue. I hope that the Executive and the Parliament will be passionately committed to promoting a successful outcome that will bring lasting benefits to the Highlands.
I add my congratulations to Rhoda Grant for securing the debate.
As members can imagine from my involvement in the arts in the Highlands—in the Eden Court Theatre and the Highland Festival—culture is dear to my heart. Since I was at school, we have had a renaissance of culture in the Highlands. If one thinks about music and art in particular, times have changed since I was a teenager. Culture in the Highlands has grown and got better and better. To demonstrate that, I mention two events of which I am extremely proud. The first was when the Gizzen Briggs—the traditional music group based at Tain Royal Academy and Kinlochbervie—came to play in the Parliament. The other was when the southern schools pipe band came to play for us. I thank all the MSPs who turned up to both those events—it was great for the young people and I was grateful to all who came.
There is no reason why, from such a renaissance, we should not have the ultimate flowering in recognition of Inverness as the capital of culture in 2008.
When one thinks about culture in other parts of Europe, one might think of Vienna. When one goes to Vienna, quite apart from the pictures, the magnificent buildings and the Ringstrasse—which I am sure you know, Deputy Presiding Officer—one thinks of the excellent coffee that is available in cafes, the wiener schnitzel and the schnapps. When one thinks of the Highlands, one thinks of whisky and scallops—a subject dear to the heart of my friend Jamie McGrigor. One might think of fine salmon or venison, which are equally dear to the heart of my friend John Farquhar Munro. Culture is also about food—members should remember that when they are offering an experience to tourists. We can build on those blocks to offer a wide experience. Culture is about the music, the art, the language, but it is also about the finer things in life and we have those to offer in the Highlands.
The acid test for me is what Bryan Beattie once referred to as the "spokes of the wheel" idea: how much culture can go out from Inverness to the more remote parts of the Highlands? Maureen Macmillan mentioned Wick and other areas have been mentioned. The bid passes that test handsomely. When I look at the brochure "Inverness 2008 Highland", I do not understand why that cannot be the case. Everything that has been said to me by the organisers of the bid gives me confidence that the philosophy behind the bid is to reach more remote areas.
I commend the bid to the Parliament and from the bottom of my heart I wish it the greatest success.
Are you done?
I continue for three words: let Mary intervene.
I support Mr Stone's comments as a member for Caithness and Sutherland. On this national poetry day, does the member say that Caithness, Sutherland and all of Ross-shire are worthy of being capitals of culture? [Interruption.]
It is clear that Mrs Scanlon's remarks had a profound effect on the minister. I endorse them entirely.
If the minister is ready, we shall move to the conclusion of the debate.
I congratulate Rhoda Grant on securing the debate and I congratulate all the members who spoke, because the debate has been good. Members highlighted the many and varied aspects of the bid, which make it strong. Like other speakers, I congratulate the bid team on producing such a strong bid and a well-developed set of proposals.
The bid is imaginative and audacious and it shows the team's pride in the region. The views of the members from Inverness and the Highland areas reflect that pride. When the bid was made, some people did not seem to appreciate the importance of the region's relationship with the city and how the city reflects the rural areas. Inverness was the county town originally, but it eventually became the regional capital and is now a city in its own right. Those who, to some extent, scorned the fact that the region was being included in the bid did not appreciate that such relationships are important in rural areas.
As Jamie Stone said, that is what Bryan Beattie referred to as a spokes-of-the-wheel approach, which came from the bid team's breadth of vision. Members referred to the large number of spokes in the bid wheel, such as the work that is being done with young people, the pledges to young people and the contribution to the bid by Young People, including Annie Marrs from Highland youth voice. I did not realise that she was a former pupil of Maureen Macmillan's. She went to London to make a presentation to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 24 September. That bid was produced partly by young people and was presented by young people.
The cultural pledge has reflected what many of us in the Executive feel that we want to do with school co-ordinators. We may be thinking along the same lines as the bid team.
A science centre has been proposed, and as a former scientist, I welcome science coming into culture. Science and the arts have much in common.
Jamie Stone referred to the development of a cultural quarter. Last night, I was at a production of "The Duchess of Malfi" at Dundee Rep Theatre, which is part of a cultural quarter in Dundee and relates to the educational experience of the University of Dundee. That is important to Dundee and I am certain that such a development in Inverness will strengthen its cultural base and be educationally important for the relationship with the university of the Highlands and Islands.
As my portfolio covers tourism, culture and sport, I am pleased that sports events are part of the bid. Rhoda Grant referred to the Tour de France and I congratulate Fergus Ewing on completing the marathon. I admire people who manage to remain fit in a job such as ours, because that is difficult.
As many people—including Winnie Ewing, John Farquhar Munro and Maureen Macmillan—have said, the Gaelic language and the Scots language are important. They are important to the cultural heritage of the area.
The bid team emphasised access. I will take up Mary Scanlon's issue about Caithness United, because access is an important part of the bid. Groups that are under-represented in cultural activity are being considered. The bid team is considering people with special educational needs, and community transport, and will hold a meeting about access issues.
As Jamie McGrigor said, the area is strong on the environment, which will play an important part in the bid. Maureen Macmillan and Jamie Stone referred to tourism, for which European capital of culture status would be valuable. Jamie Stone is right that the gastronomic delights of the Highlands should never be forgotten.
The bid reflects the breadth of the definition of culture, which I am pleased to see. I am depressed when people say, "Culture has nothing to do with me." Culture has everything to do with everybody. It is huge and broad and includes a number of activities. Fergus Ewing was right to mention the strength and importance of the international image of the Highlands.
All of us agree that success is extremely important. Winnie Ewing hit the nail on the head when she spoke of the Glasgow debate and the importance of Glasgow's successful bid. Success would make a real difference to Inverness. It does not have a cultural backdrop over the centuries, but a successful bid would make a huge difference to the city and the region. That is incredibly important and we should get that message across to those who make the decisions.
The Executive has been pleased to support the bid. It has done so financially, with many partners, and the First Minister and Mike Watson attended the launch on 25 March. I have had the good fortune to meet Bryan Beattie a couple of times. He has enthusiasm in buckets. I have known him for many years, during which he has been associated with the high arts, and I am sure that he will take his huge enthusiasm to Cork. I have not yet met Bill Sylvester, but he seems to be of the same mould and he is enthusiastic, which is important. I have also discussed the matter with Tessa Blackstone from the DCMS. She listened politely and encouragingly, but was diplomatic enough not to give me any hints as to how the DCMS was thinking.
We look forward to the announcement of the shortlist at the end of the month. I hope that Inverness will at least be one of the centres of excellence and that there will be funding for some strands of its bid. However, we want the gold medal—that would be the first prize for Inverness.
I enjoyed reading the book. I have seen the video and listened to the compact disc. If there were a T-shirt, I would be more than happy to wear it if that would help the bid to be successful.
That can be arranged.
I am pleased to hear that.
We have all expressed enthusiasm for the bid. Let us hope that there is a good result at the end of the month. If our bids for both major events are successful, 2008 could be a wonderful year for Scotland. Let us hope that there is progress.
Robin Harper reminded us that today is national poetry day. I appreciated Mary Scanlon's contribution. We must reflect on the tremendously strong literary and poetic heritage of the whole region.
I am pleased that national poetry day has been celebrated by a new competition sponsored by The Herald. However, I say to the organisers that I did not notice Gaelic mentioned as one of the languages in which to write poetry. I hope that they will reflect on that and on the importance of encouraging poetry and literature in Gaelic, as well as in Scots and English.
I am pleased to have taken part in the debate and look forward with great enthusiasm to the future. I am sure that, if the bid is successful, it will bring a tremendous amount to the Highlands. I am sure that many other areas of Scotland would look to how Inverness managed to achieve its aims. I congratulate all members who have spoken.
Meeting closed at 17:53.