Meeting of the Parliament

Meeting date: Thursday, March 29, 2018

Official Report 970KB pdf

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UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage

The next item of business is a debate on motion S5M-11347, in the name of Fiona Hyslop, on Scotland’s support for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.

I call Fiona Hyslop to speak to and move the motion. You have up to seven minutes, cabinet secretary.

15:06  

The issue of intangible cultural heritage lies at the very heart of who we are as individuals and as members of a healthy and vibrant society. It is also timely that we are discussing this important issue in 2018, which is the European year of cultural heritage.

Standing here in this building, redolent with its own stories, we are surrounded by the tangible remains of our nation’s great cultural heritage—Holyrood palace, Edinburgh castle and the buildings and monuments of Calton Hill, to name but a few. However, let us reflect for a moment on those buildings. How many of us can really say that what resonates most is the architecture, the construction techniques or the types of stone? They are important, of course, but the attraction of those buildings has just as much to do with what happened in them, the stories behind their construction, the people who stayed in them and the things that they did. Our heritage professionals are well aware of that already. When we tour Holyrood palace, we are invited to consider the fate of David Rizzio, allegedly at the hands of Lord Darnley, and not just the fine architectural details such as the Roman Doric columns and the octagonal cupola of the entry gateway.

Cultural heritage is not just about the physical aspects of culture, such as historical artefacts and buildings. It is also about the traditions, the representations and the practices or living expressions of groups and communities. Those can be enormously wide ranging—encompassing oral traditions, performing arts and traditional crafts. The intangible aspect of our cultural heritage is hugely important. It is a living form of heritage that is continuously recreated and evolves as communities adapt their practices and traditions in response to their environment. It is inclusive, representative and community based and helps to bond societies together.

I believe that to be able to move forward as a nation, we must acknowledge our roots and recognise the value of that intangible cultural heritage in defining and shaping our national identity, our sense of belonging and our continuity as individuals and communities. The success of Fèisean nan Gàidheal is an excellent example of that, for Gaelic song, story and tradition. The intangible is a critical part of how we experience our heritage—binding and connecting us to our past, our present and our future. It is of vital importance that we nurture that legacy.

One of the key issues is the risk of losing our traditions and collective memory. Education is key to transmitting intangible cultural heritage practices to our children and young people. We must also continue to encourage communities, and individuals within those communities, to become active participants in that process.

The core aim of the UNESCO convention is to safeguard the intangible cultural heritage at international, national and local levels. We already do much in Scotland in support of those overarching aims. Intangible cultural heritage is fully embedded in “Our Place in Time—The Historic Environment Strategy for Scotland”, which defines the historic environment as

“a combination of physical things (tangible) and those aspects we cannot see—stories, traditions and concepts (intangible)”.

Similarly, intangible cultural heritage permeates all the work that is undertaken by Historic Environment Scotland. As the lead public body for the historic environment sector in Scotland, it helps not only to curate our heritage but also to tell the stories associated with it. Such activities include, for example, interpretation of all kinds that is associated with our properties in care, through the provision of things such as costumed guides, audio guides, online interpretation and educational materials, and events and interpretation at sites. Historic Environment Scotland also operates the Scotland’s urban past project, in which communities are actively recording and creating intangible cultural heritage.

I commend Museums Galleries Scotland for its work in the area. The organisation became involved following requests for development support from Scotland’s museums and galleries. In 2007, Museums Galleries Scotland commissioned Edinburgh Napier University to scope intangible cultural heritage in Scotland. As a result, it developed a wiki site to capture examples of intangible cultural heritage in Scotland. The site provides a place to hold information about cultural practices in our communities. It is universally accessible and everyone is invited to add content. That will help to build a dynamic inventory of Scotland’s intangible cultural heritage practices. The site includes hugely diverse entries, from the Marymass fair in Irvine to the Burry Man of South Queensferry and from the extraordinary Stonehaven fireball festival to the stories, traditions, myths and legends that are part of the living heritage of our common ridings.

The UNESCO convention provides a framework for working in the area. “Safeguarding” means ensuring the viability of the intangible cultural heritage, including identifying, protecting and promoting it as well as revitalising it. To date, 175 states from across the globe have signed up to the convention; indeed, it is the fastest-growing UNESCO convention. Here in Europe, 27 states from within the European Union have signed up to the convention. With the United Kingdom’s non-ratification of the convention, we are clearly out of step not only with Europe but with the world, where other Governments fully recognise and acknowledge the importance of intangible cultural heritage.

Critically, in not ratifying the convention, UK examples of intangible cultural heritage are not eligible to be nominated to UNESCO for inclusion in its representative lists. In that, we are missing out. We have many examples of intangible cultural heritage, such as Harris tweed, the Paisley pattern and the clarsach—the list is endless. In my view, many are worthy of formal recognition and safeguarding.

In December 2017, UNESCO gave special status to the Irish uilleann pipes, which were added to the organisation’s representative list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity. As many commentators noted at the time, that accolade raised awareness not only of the pipes as an aspect of Ireland’s rich culture but of the importance of protecting and sharing it. Of course, I very much welcome that move and congratulate our Irish friends on the inclusion of the pipes on the list, but surely Scottish piping and our contribution to world culture through piping are worthy of recognition.

To fully realise the potential for intangible cultural heritage to further engage communities and tackle inequalities and to help us to build on the excellent work that is already under way in Scotland, the UK Government must ratify the convention. The amendment refers to the Hague convention. That is hugely important and many of us have been calling for many years for the UK to ratify it. It is welcome that the UK Government has now legislated in that regard, but it has taken 13 years to do so since the UK announced its intention to ratify in 2004. Being late to the gate with the Hague convention cannot be used as an excuse not to sign up to the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. I therefore urge members to make a clear call for the UK to sign up to the convention, and to encourage it with a single positive statement from the Parliament, which has responsibility for culture and heritage.

I move,

That the Parliament notes the terms and purposes of the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, which was adopted by UNESCO in 2003, and calls on the UK Government to ratify it.

I call Rachael Hamilton, to speak to and move amendment S5M-11347.1.

15:13  

I welcome the debate. Fiona Hyslop will be pleased to know that Conservative members will support the Government motion. My amendment seeks to add a bit of meat to its bones. Many folk have not heard of intangible cultural heritage but, when it is explained, its purpose clearly resonates through Scottish life and beyond. I hope that members of other parties recognise that the Scottish Conservatives agree that the UK Government should ratify the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. Our amendment seeks to communicate that the fact that the convention has not been ratified yet—although we hope that it will be—does not mean that work is not being done on that front.

The UK Government has ratified a number of other United Nations conventions to protect cultural heritage, including the 1972 World Heritage Convention, the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of Diversity of Cultural Expressions, the 1984 Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage and the 1954 Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict with Regulations for the Execution of the Convention. Furthermore, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has signalled plans to review whether the United Kingdom should ratify the 2001 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage.

The UK’s not being part of the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage has not prevented Museums Galleries Scotland from becoming the first UK organisation to be accredited as an expert non-governmental organisation adviser to UNESCO on the ICH convention.

There are never enough opportunities to talk about Scotland’s culture, because our culture is so rich, vibrant and diverse, and because no two places in Scotland are the same. From the Highlands to the Scottish Borders, and everywhere in between, a wealth of cultural experience is on offer, whether we are talking about dance, food, music, theatre or storytelling.

That is certainly the case in the Scottish Borders, which I represent, with its many vibrant and culturally unique villages and towns. We have the coastal town of Eyemouth, the common ridings in Selkirk and Hawick, the civic weeks in Coldstream and Kelso and countless events, such as the Borders book festival, arts festivals and agricultural shows.

The pleasure of such events is in the enjoyment that they bring to families in the respective communities. Rich cultural traditions are passed down through the generations, which is in itself a form of protection—although it is unclear whether intergenerational methods of communication are compatible.

With the passing down of traditions comes the passing down of attitudes and values. Civic weeks and common ridings teach us important values of inclusivity, acceptance and pride in Scotland’s towns and their histories. It is fundamentally important that we teach those ideals from an early age and engrain them in our communities.

Civic weeks have at their core young people; laddies and lassies are appointed as guardians of a rich tradition. In this year of young people, it is crucial to acknowledge the connection between tradition and young people. Too often, there is a misconception that traditions and the like are just for old people, but the involvement of young people is crucial to the longevity of our traditions. That is perfectly demonstrated by the role that laddies and lassies play in civic weeks in the Scottish Borders, because the most important role is entrusted to a young person in a week that is full of cultural and historical significance, and which involves people of all ages. The same is true of agricultural shows. Everyone gets involved, to try to get a rosette or a trophy. Taking part teaches hard work, respect and pride.

Culture, like food, must remain accessible to and enjoyable for everyone. Indeed, what is better than combining our culture with food? A delicious fish supper reminds us all of Scottish haddock and our rich fishing industry; haggis is eaten across the country and has us all licking our lips; and cock-a-leekie soup warms and comforts our souls.

In my passionate pursuit to add the Selkirk bannock to the ICH register, it seemed that all that I had to do was sign up to be a wiki contributor. The cabinet secretary might give the issue some consideration, because to preserve through an online format traditions that are passed down from the older generation might be a step too far, particularly for people into whose lives digital technology does not enter.

Does the member agree that it is more difficult to convince the younger generation to take up traditions when politicians or people in the media deprecate them? I am thinking about my constituency and the Gaelic language.

When Kate Forbes makes her speech in Gaelic later in the debate—we all have our headphones here—she will do wonders to promote the language. I heard Ms Forbes on “Good Morning Scotland” this morning, promoting the language most eloquently.

I agree with Alasdair Allan that it is difficult to get young people involved in traditions, but the Borders common ridings is a brilliant example of that, because the young people enjoy the ridings so much and are proud to take part.

I welcome the debate and support efforts to protect our culture. Like other members, I hope that the convention will be ratified soon. In the meantime, I welcome and encourage continuing efforts to promote local traditions, such as the common ridings and civic weeks in the Scottish Borders and, of course, food.

I move amendment S5M-11347.1, to leave out from “, and calls” to end and insert:

"; notes the UK Government’s position that it is necessary to carefully prioritise resources towards those conventions that will have the most impact on the safeguarding of heritage, such as the recent ratification of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property; understands the importance that oral traditions, social practices and festive events have to Scotland and the wider UK’s cultural fabric, and joins the UK Government’s continuing calls to encourage communities to celebrate such practices and to pass them on to future generations for them to do the same, and believes that the UK Government should, in due course, ratify the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage."

15:19  

I welcome this afternoon’s debate, which gives us an opportunity to highlight the rich intangible cultural heritage of Scotland and to consider the merits of ratifying the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Recognising, valuing, preserving and celebrating our intangible cultural heritage is important. I have previously raised the evidence from the Scottish household survey that points towards a growing cultural gap that is largely linked to income. People who live in our more deprived areas are less likely to engage and participate in, and to produce, our country’s cultural activity. The engagement phase of the Scottish Government’s cultural strategy was published yesterday. It highlighted the growing feeling in the sector that such inequality exists with regard to access and participation, and the fact that some people are questioning whether the cultural establishment is out of touch with the community and its particular issues, interests and priorities.

That should be at the forefront of our thinking on culture. We should be considering how we can encourage and support greater equality and diversity. Although I recognise the value of the household survey measurements and I want the identified cultural gap to be closed, the value of intangible cultural heritage should be recognised for what it—often by its very nature—can involve. It is often community driven, and the skills and expressions that it involves have often been passed from generation to generation. Its value has not always been recognised, which means that it has not always had the support of the authorities but has instead been more organic and more grass-roots focused.

The Parliament has played a part in providing a greater focus for recognising the value of intangible cultural heritage. ICH helps us to share the experiences of the many communities that make up our country today, and of our diverse and shared heritage. It can be democratising and can give people an emotional connection that makes them feel that they belong to something. There is evidence to show that it can reach and engage with individuals and communities that are hard to reach.

When I met the Heritage Lottery Fund this week, I was pleased to hear that it provides grants and support to intangible cultural heritage, in recognition of the value and diversity of the heritage of local and national cultures and traditions, of languages and dialects, and of people’s experiences and memories. Research by the Heritage Lottery Fund identified that young people engage more when the activity or project is about intangible cultural heritage. The fund also provides access to resources for grass-roots community groups that are doing work in that area.

Although Scotland also benefits from support from Museums Galleries Scotland, there is little formal infrastructure in the UK that is linked to ICH. Local authorities can be supportive of cultural community events, but their budgets are under increasing pressure to focus on other front-line services.

What would involvement in the UNESCO convention bring to that picture? The convention recognises the social and economic value of intangible cultural heritage as well as the risk for cultural elements that could disappear if they do not receive help. The convention recognises heritable tangible objects such as monuments and collections, and immaterial objects such as oral traditions, festival events and traditional knowledge.

Given my earlier comments about the weakness of formal support for and acknowledgement of intangible cultural heritage across the UK, membership of the convention would mean that the UK would have two obligations: first, it would have to take necessary measures to safeguard ICH; secondly, it would have to identify and define, with community and expert involvement, the elements of ICH. That would mean the quite exciting prospect of creating a national inventory of ICH, and the cabinet secretary mentioned the work that has already been undertaken by Napier University in that regard. We would also have to develop action plans for safeguarding the country’s culture.

Not being part of the UNESCO convention does not prevent a country from doing any of that, but being a member means that we can nominate heritage for inclusion in the convention’s lists. It is fascinating to look at the convention’s two lists. A committee meets annually to decide whether something should be included on the at-risk list—the list of ICH in need of urgent safeguarding—or the representative list. On the at-risk list at the moment is the whistled language from Turkey, and the representative list includes a host of crafts, celebration days, languages and traditions. The lists raise awareness and demonstrate diversity, and they offer the possibility of receiving UNESCO support towards safeguarding.

One way to work in partnership with other countries to support and protect ICH is to ratify the convention, and 176 countries have ratified, approved or accepted the convention since its inception in 2003.

I contend that our intangible cultural heritage in Scotland is in a fairly healthy state. Our heritage is a living piece of history that is constantly evolving and being recreated in our communities. It expresses a sense of identity and belonging, and parts of it are thriving throughout Scotland. If the UK were to ratify the convention, it would provide us with an opportunity to collectively identify and protect ICH, as well as enabling us to raise awareness and seek support on an international stage.

We move to the open debate.

15:25  

I am obligated to remind members that I am the parliamentary liaison officer for the Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs.

As we have heard, UNESCO provides international recognition of nations’ heritage and culture. It celebrates that diversity and reminds us of our responsibility to safeguard our heritage. Today, we consider not our nation’s natural beauty nor its famed artists and influential writers but the traditions and rituals of Scottish communities that have influenced and nurtured our culture over hundreds of years—the practices that have shaped our identity as a nation.

The Scottish Government recognises the value of intangible culture, and we have heard about some of the important ways in which it is safeguarded here in Scotland. The UK Government’s failure to ratify the UNESCO convention means that Scotland’s world-renowned culture misses out on some of the international recognition that other cultures can secure, such as the recognition for violin making in Italy, beer brewing in Belgium, cowbell crafting in Portugal and even bagpipe culture in Slovakia. The fact that Scotland is unable to put forward its traditions and practices to be considered for inclusion on the international representative list sells Scotland’s culture short.

With summer swiftly approaching, I will take the opportunity to draw attention to a couple of Scottish seasonal practices. The halfway point between the spring equinox and the summer solstice, towards the end of April, was held by Scotland’s Celtic people to be a particularly special time of year that possessed regenerative powers and bestowed springtime fertility. They celebrated that transition at the ancient Gaelic festival of Beltane, at which they drove cattle through bonfires to bestow protective powers on them before they were led to their summer pastures. That ritual was practised until the 19th century, over more than a thousand years.

Equally significant was the first water of Beltane, which was supposed to hold especially potent powers. Washing oneself in it was supposed to bring health and happiness, which is how the tradition of washing oneself in the May day dew was established. I am pleased to report that my constituency holds Scotland’s most famous location for that tradition—Arthur’s Seat. For hundreds of years, Scots have climbed Arthur’s Seat to catch the sunrise and to wash themselves in the dew in the hope that it will bestow everlasting youth. At this point, I must admit that I am quite tempted.

Although I am unsure of the mythical powers of the May day dew, I am certain of the lasting powers of such Celtic traditions. It is incredible that, hundreds of years after the original practice, we still celebrate the coming of the summer months here in Scotland. If members wish, they can join those who will celebrate the Beltane festival on Calton hill in between the flames, or they can take a dawn stroll to the top of Arthur’s Seat to wash their faces in the dew. Although the rituals have evolved and adapted—I am not sure whether cows are still welcome on Calton hill—we can see the way in which Celtic traditions still influence our modern culture.

That is why the Scottish Government is quite right to acknowledge and celebrate the central importance of intangible cultural heritage to Scottish culture. It is also why I am happy to support the motion. The Scottish Government has repeatedly called on the UK Government to ratify the UNESCO convention, and I hope that it will take note of today’s debate and the calls from across the political parties in Scotland that are represented here. I hope that the UK Government will listen and will consider ratifying the convention as soon as possible.

15:29  

I welcome the opportunity to speak in the debate. We need to hold the preservation of our cultural heritage in high regard because of the great pride that we take in our oldest customs and traditions. By preserving our heritage, we can maintain the diversity of our communities and highlight traditions that have enriched our cultures throughout our history.

Usually when we think of intangible cultural heritage, we think of things such as language, customs and traditions, but such heritage goes far beyond that. Artefacts, objects and instruments are the physical pieces of intangible cultural heritage that can most easily be protected in institutions such as museums. Other sorts of intangible cultural heritage are harder to protect.

Maintaining traditions and events can be a challenge in the 21st century: it requires the public to remain engaged and interested in the tradition, as well as ensuring that the tradition is funded.

Although the United Kingdom Government has not ratified the 2003 convention, Museums Galleries Scotland has worked hard towards achieving the goals that are set out in the convention through the creation of a log of traditions, including events, foods, crafts and many other traditions that are practised in Scotland.

Highland games are a crucial part of our heritage and they need protection. They can be traced back to the 14th century Ceres games in Fife—that will please Willie Rennie. Back then, the games were used to establish who the strongest and bravest soldiers in Scotland were and to show off artistic and musical talents. Since then, the games have become an integral part of the Scottish cultural scene and are recognised around the world.

I welcome to the gallery Don Campbell from the Scottish Highland Games Association and Robert MacIntyre, who is chairman of the Rosneath peninsula highland gathering, which takes place in the West Scotland region, which I represent.

The games continue every year, keeping up traditional events such as shot put and caber toss, along with artistic expressions in the form of traditional music and dance, with graded competitions that attract participants of all ages. Each year, the games draw thousands of visitors to Scotland, contributing to local economies and spreading knowledge of our culture. The games allow us to share that heritage with a local and a global audience.

For many smaller communities, including one in my region about which I have spoken before, each year is more of a struggle to meet the financial demands of running the games. For many communities, the highland games are the biggest event of the year and attract the most visitors to the area, so it is vital to those small communities that the games continue.

Most highland games are volunteer-run events, and the ability to access sponsorship and funding is dependent purely on the volunteers’ knowledge. Many highland games organisers struggle to access funding and support. I would be interested to hear from the cabinet secretary how we can better support the highland games organisers.

The games are so important to Scottish culture as a whole, but I would argue that the importance that they have to individual communities is critical in defining those communities and in stimulating a robust local economy—as my colleague Rachael Hamilton said about the Borders.

By involving several levels of the public sector, from the Government to VisitScotland to Scottish Athletics, there is great potential to empower small communities to host their own highland games.

Highland games provide us with a chance to protect our intangible cultural heritage in a way that surpasses the conservation of old pieces of art in a museum. Highland games give us a way to continue a tradition that has been in our culture for centuries and allow us to pay respect to our past. We must do what we can to support and protect them in the future.

15:32  

I am very happy to participate in the debate. They say that every day is a school day, and I have learned a great deal more about the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage than I knew at the start of the debate—although I confess that I was starting from a very low base.

There seems to be a simple division in the Parliament: either we endorse the convention now or we endorse it later. That does not seem like a huge amount of disagreement. Indeed, there is a huge amount that we can agree on.

So far we have heard from members of three different parties and we all support getting the UK Government to hurry up and ratify the convention. I am not sure where the member’s information comes from.

Perhaps I misread the Conservative amendment, which appears to say that it wants certain things to be done before endorsing the convention. It does not matter. I am absolutely committed to the idea of endorsing the convention. However, if we want to support our intangible cultural heritage, we must try to understand the challenges that we face, beyond simply endorsing the convention.

I want to make some observations—I do not pretend to be any sort of expert, so forgive me if this is the political equivalent of thinking aloud.

First, there needs to be an understanding of what is intangible. For me, Gaelic is not intangible; the Gaelic language is all too tangible, and the policy choices that resulted in my generation losing the language were entirely tangible. We have to be careful about that.

I was the first person to speak in a debate in the chamber in Gaelic, which is the language of my forebears, and I made a point then about the way in which choices had been made, which meant that all too many people—certainly in my generation—lost the language. I support initiatives across Government that revive the Gaelic language.

Perhaps we are seeking to open up an understanding of culture and how we value it, so that we do not have mainstream culture and define everything else as intangible, which I do not think is intended. That means that we should challenge our notion of what Scottish culture is and recognise just how diverse it is.

I caution against defining too tightly what intangible culture is. There is the joy of the vast range of cultural experiences—the diversity of poetry, song, music and dance across our communities. Trying to put intangible culture in a box can be counterproductive. We know what it is; let us not spend too long killing ourselves with definitions.

I can think of many examples of the riches of the culture into which I was born. That was a culture of humour, of understanding the elements and of the daily battle working against the elements, and it was shaped by the land on which people worked. It shaped the people of that land. It was a culture of seanchas—storytelling—and ceilidhing. The people did not think that they were taking part in it, of course; they were simply living it, and that is how we should see it.

I recall that, as a child, I thought how far away the Gaelic culture and life that I was born into—which thrived by the fireside in Anderston in Glasgow and was alive at the hearth in my family’s croft—felt from what was presented as the Gaelic culture through television, and how far even the Mod and the Gaelic institutions felt from the cultural experience that we had.

I congratulate the feìs movement—I know that the minister mentioned that—for making live and visible my experience of the Gaelic language and Gaelic culture, music, drama and song. It has provided an opportunity for a younger generation that we were perhaps denied.

I want to think about the way in which we capture our history and oral traditions across a range of cultures. The University of Edinburgh’s Scottish studies department did a wonderful little project that captured the voices of people from Tiree in the 1980s. I am sure that that approach has been replicated in other places. We need to ensure that we invest in those little projects. The storytelling project in south-west Glasgow is another example of capturing the range of voices and diversity. In supporting the convention, there should be a commitment to ensuring that there are the little bits of funding and work that can make a massive difference in celebrating the vast range of cultures across this country.

Before Kate Forbes makes the last contribution to the open debate, I draw members’ attention to the headphones that are on their desks. Kate Forbes will make her speech in Gaelic, and interpretation facilities are available. I was about to do all the demonstrations, but I will not. Members can plug their headphones into the little sockets at the base of the consoles. If members are unable to hear the interpretation, they should press the audio button on the console screen and select channel 2, which is English.

15:38  

Bha ùidh mhòr agam san deasbad seo air sgàth ’s gun do chuir mi taic ri iomairt inbhe UNESCO dhan Gàidhlig an-uiridh. B’ e beachd Iain MhicLeòid, nach maireann, a bh’ ann inbhe UNESCO fhaighinn airson cultur, dualchas agus seann nòs nan Gàidheal. ’S ann mar chuimhneachain air Iain Macleòid a nì mi an òraid seo.

Tha inbhe UNESCO a’ ciallachadh gum bi inbhe “intangible cultural heritage” aig a’ Ghàidhlig, agus tha sin a’ ciallachadh gum bi dòigh eile ann ar cànan, ceòl agus dualchas a dhìon airson an ath ghinealaich. Tha a’ Ghàidhlig a’ fosgladh doras gu sealladh eile air ar saoghal—a’ toirt dhuinn tuigse nas coileanta air ar n-eachdraidh is ar cultar, agus dealbh nas soilleire air na tha romhainn. Tha beartas a’ chànain a’ cur dath air an tìr, agus tha e na dhleastanas dhuinn a bhith ga dìon.

Following is the simultaneous interpretation:

I have a huge interest in this debate because I supported the UNESCO status campaign for Gaelic last year. It was the late John MacLeod’s idea to acquire UNESCO status for the culture, heritage and traditions of the Gaelic language, and it is in memory of him that I am delivering this speech.

UNESCO status means that Gaelic will have intangible cultural heritage status, which means that there will be another way of protecting our language, music and heritage for the next generation. Gaelic opens doors to another vision of our country and gives us understanding of our culture and a brighter vision of what is before us.

A bheil am ball ag aontachadh gu bheil e math gu bheil Google air Gàidhlig na h-Alba a chur ri na seirbheisean eadar-theangachaidh aca?

Following is the simultaneous interpretation:

Is the member aware that Google has added Scottish Gaelic to its translation services?

Tha, gun teagamh, agus tha e gu math feumail nuair a tha òraid agad ri sgrìobhadh sa Ghàidhlig airson deasbad sa Phàrlamaid.

Tha inbhe UNESCO a’ ciallachadh gum bi dòigh eile againn Gàidhlig a dhìon airson an ath ghinealaich, mar a thuirt mi.

Chan eil cothrom againn an-dràsta, mar a thuirt am ministear, a’ Ghàidhlig fhaighinn air liosta UNESCO leis nach eil Riaghaltas na Rìoghachd Aonaichte ag aontachadh leis.

Tha mise a’ dèanamh na h-òraid seo sa Ghàidhlig airson dà adhbhar. Sa chiad àite, chan i a’ Ghàidhlig cànan ar n-eachdraidh a-mhàin. Tha Gàidhlig beò am-measg sgoilearan, choimhearsnachdan, phàrantan agus nam meadhanan poblach, ann an Glaschu agus anns a’ Ghàidhealtachd.

Following is the simultaneous interpretation:

Yes, indeed, and it is very useful when you have to write a speech in Gaelic.

UNESCO status would give us another way of protecting Gaelic for the next generation, as I said. However, as the minister said, we do not have the opportunity to get Gaelic on to the UNESCO list, because the UK Government does not agree with it.

I am delivering this speech in Gaelic for two reasons. First, Gaelic is not only the language of history; Gaelic is a living language among pupils, communities and parents and in the public media in Glasgow and in the Highlands.

A bheil am ball ag aontachadh gur e argamaid gu math faoin a th’ ann nuair a tha sinn a’ cluinntinn bho àm gu àm nach eil cuideigin an aghaidh na Gàidhlig, ach tha iad an aghaidh dhaoine a tha a’ cleachdadh na Gàidhlig air soidhnichean rathaid no ann am foghlam?

Following is the simultaneous interpretation:

Does the member agree that it is a silly argument that we hear from time to time from people who say that they are not against Gaelic, but they are against people using Gaelic on signs and in education?

Tha mise an aghaidh nan argamaidean sin gu dearbh agus gun teagamh, agus sin aon de na h-adhbharan a tha mi a’ cleachdadh Gàidhlig sa Phàrlamaid an-diugh, air sgàth ’s gu bheil mi airson sealltainn gu bheil daoine a’ cleachdadh na Gàidhlig anns a’ Phàrlamaid, tha iad a’ cleachdadh Gàidhlig sna sgoiltean, tha iad a’ cleachdadh Gàidhlig sna coimhearsnachdan agus tha e gu math feumail gu bheil sinn fhathast a’ cleachdadh na Gàidhlig an-diugh.

Chan eil mi airson seasamh an seo a’ bruidhinn mun Ghàidhlig mar gur e cànan marbh a th’ innte. Gu dearbh, ’s e sin an t-adhbhar a dh’fheumas sinn a dìon le inbhe UNESCO.

Tha tòrr dhiofar dhòighean prataigeach airson ar dualchas agus ar cànan a dhìon. Nam bheachd-sa, cha bu chòir dhuinn a bhith a’ dèiligeadh ris a’ Ghàidhlig mar rudeigin ann an taigh-tasgaidh. Ged a dh’fhuiling a’ Ghàidhlig iomadach buille chruaidh anns na bliadhnaichean a dh’fhalbh, tha i beò fhathast, mar a thuirt am ministear, agus ag ùrachadh mar chànan sam bith eile, agus bheireadh inbhe UNESCO taic ris an amas againn uile, uile tha mi an dòchas, a bhith a’ leasachadh na Gàidhlig agus ga neartachadh airson an àm ri teachd.

Sin an dàrna adhbhar a tha mi a’ dèanamh na h-òraid seo sa Ghàidhlig, gu bheil mi airson sealltainn dhan a h-uile duine aig nach eil fios mar-thà cho prìseil ’s a tha i agus gum feum sin a bhith air a chomharrachadh le inbhe oifigeil bho UNESCO.

Tha rannsachadh Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd a’ sealltainn gu bheil luach £148.5 millean anns a’ Ghàidhlig do dh’eaconamaidh na h-Alba gach bliadhna. Tha sin mìorbhaileach. A bheil e ceart a bhith a’ bruidhinn mu luach na Gàidhlig mura h-eil sinn ga cleachdadh? Gu tric, bidh sinn a’ bruidhinn mun Ghàidhlig mar rudeigin fa leth. Bidh sinn a’ bruidhinn mun Ghàidhlig gun a bhith a’ bruidhinn sa Ghàidhlig.

Am-bliadhna-sa, ’s e bliadhna na h-òigridh a th’ ann, agus gun teagamh tha an òigridh ’s na fèisean, mar a thuirt buill eile, a’ dearbhadh gu bheil ceòl Gàidhealach fhathast beò.

Following is the simultaneous interpretation:

I am against those arguments, and one of the reasons that I am using Gaelic in the Parliament today is that I want to show that people use the language in the Parliament, as well as in the schools and in the communities. It is very useful that we are using the language today.

I do not want to be standing here talking about Gaelic as though it were a dead language. Indeed, that is the reason that we must give it protection through awarding it UNESCO status. There are a lot of different practical ways of protecting our heritage and our language. In my opinion, we should not be dealing with Gaelic as though it is something that is from a museum.

Although Gaelic has suffered many a cruel blow in the years that have passed, it is still a living language, as the minister said, and it is renewing itself, like any other language. UNESCO status would support our aim to develop the language and strengthen it for the future. That is the second reason that I am delivering this speech in Gaelic. I want to show everybody who does not know already how precious it is. That must be substantiated with official UNESCO status.

The research from Highlands and Islands Enterprise shows that Gaelic has a value of £148.5 million for the economy in Scotland every year. That is wonderful. Is it correct to be talking about the value of Gaelic if it is not being used? Often, we talk about Gaelic as something apart. We talk about Gaelic without speaking in Gaelic. This year is the year of young people, and indeed the young people and the fèisean have proved that Gaelic music is still living.

A bheil i ag aontachadh rium gu bheil na fèisean a’ cur dìon air ar dualchas, gu h-àraidh dhan fheadhainn òga?

Following is the simultaneous interpretation:

Does the member agree that the fèisean are protecting her hopes for Gaelic, especially for young people?

Tha, gun teagamh. Dh’ionnsaich mi fhìn Gàidhlig tro fhoghlam tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig, agus bha cothrom againne a bhith ag ionnsachadh mu cheòl, cultar ’s a h-uile càil eile anns a’ Ghàidhlig tro na fèisean. Tha iad gu math feumail airson dhaoine aig a bheil Gàidhlig agus cuideachd airson sgoilearan aig nach eil a’ Ghàidhlig a bhith ag ionnsachadh. Bha mi ann an àrd-sgoil an t-seachdain a chaidh. Bha iad a’ faighneachd cheistean mun Ghàidhlig ged nach robh iad fileanta sa Ghàidhlig.

Leis an sin, ma tha eòlas air ar n-eachdraidh, bheir e dhuinn sealladh nas fheàrr air na tha romhainn, agus mar sin, tha a’ Ghàidhlig luachmhor agus cudromach dhuinn uile.

Following is the simultaneous interpretation:

Yes, indeed. I learned the language through Gaelic medium education and we had the opportunity to learn about Gaelic music and culture and everything else through the fèisean. It is very useful for people who have Gaelic and for pupils who do not have Gaelic to be learning it.

I was in a high school last week and they were asking questions in Gaelic, although they were not fluent. If there is knowledge of our history, it gives us a better vision of what is in front of us. Gaelic is valuable and important to us all.

If members wish to clearly hear the rest of the debate, assuming that the rest of it will be in English, they should please remove the headphones from the consoles. We move to closing speeches.

15:44  

It is an honour to follow Kate Forbes and her accomplished speech, which she delivered with great style. I am sure that everybody appreciated what she did. [Applause.] She has probably done an awful lot more for the Gaelic language today than this Parliament has done for some time. Gaelic is a special thing that we must protect, cherish and encourage.

VisitScotland conducted a valuable experiment a few years ago. It gave diaries to some tourists who were visiting Scotland and asked them to write down what they experienced. The tourists wrote, of course, about castles, mountains, glens, cathedrals and fine architecture but, more often, they wrote about stories that they heard from locals. They heard about what Mary—a local—had experienced and about the fact that her family was born and brought up in the community where she was born. They heard the stories of peoples’ ancestors. They talked about Jimmy, who took them to the local pub to sing along to songs. Those were the experiences that the tourists cherished most. Looking at what other people see and recognise in us tells us who we truly are, so that was a valuable experiment for VisitScotland to do and reflect on. That is why it is important that we recognise intangible heritage such as our stories, experiences and lifestyles, and why the UK Government should sign up to the convention before too much longer.

I am grateful to Maurice Corry for his speech about highland games. Ceres highland games in my constituency are the oldest games in Scotland. They were established 700 years ago following the battle of Bannockburn. Robert the Bruce granted a charter to hold the games in appreciation of the support from the locals from the village in the battle. The games are still an incredibly popular event today. They are held in the natural amphitheatre in the village and they are special. They attract visitors from all over the world—America, Brazil, Australia and China—who mix and rub shoulders with the locals, and locals who have gone further afield to live somewhere else often come back to share the stories of their lives. They come back to the village each year to share the intangible culture and stories from previous years. It is the eclectic mix that makes it successful.

How do we support the highland games? They are held not only in Ceres, but in more than 60 other places around the country. If we add the borders games, there are even more traditional games with heavies, dancers, athletes and cyclists taking part. There are two or three things that we can do to support the games. We need to do more of what VisitScotland does to get more tourists to come to the games—VisitScotland does a grand job of promoting the highland games. We also need to encourage Scottish Athletics to do even more to get more runners and athletes to take part in the games. Further, we need to provide financial support through seedcorn funding for the games, because, with the new regulations that are in place, it is sometimes particularly challenging and difficult to make the games thrive. That is why a small grant scheme to support the highland games and make them grow and flourish is exactly what we should be doing. I encourage Fiona Hyslop in her summing up to consider providing a small grant scheme to make the highland games the best that they can be.

15:48  

It has been an interesting, if short, debate. We will support the Government’s motion, and it would be good to see a unified position from the Parliament. The Conservative amendment sounds very similar to the reply that Lord Ashton gave in the House of Lords last April, but I welcome that the Conservatives have confirmed this afternoon that they are supportive of ratification.

The UNESCO convention has been laid out by members this afternoon, and strong arguments have been made for ratification. Ash Denham argued that, at the moment, Scottish culture loses out. I recognise that, but I also recognise that ratifying the convention would benefit the whole of the UK, which has a rich culture, whether that is Lancashire clog dancing, folk music or whatever.

I will say a word about Brexit. We must consider how culture will operate on an international stage post-Brexit. Members are familiar with concerns about freedom of movement and access to European cultural funds. Joining the convention would demonstrate our commitment to co-operative working on an international stage within culture.

Members also gave local examples from their regions and constituencies. Rachael Hamilton made points about how the list is created and whether it should be self-selecting. If we were to ratify the convention, that would provide a formal process, which would be of benefit.

Some members mentioned the role of young people and the importance of education. That point was well made. In this age of globalisation, how do we ensure that interest continues from generation to generation?

Maurice Corry and Willie Rennie both mentioned Highland games and spoke about the struggle to get volunteers and financial support for them, recognising their importance to Scotland as well as their challenges. Willie Rennie offered some solutions to that situation that would be worth pursuing; however, as I said in my opening speech, our local authorities have often played a big role in supporting such events and they are under significant funding pressure.

Johann Lamont made a point about people’s understanding of what is intangible. Sometimes, the language that we use does not really help with what we are trying to explain to people. She also talked about challenging our notion of what culture is. In my opening speech, I said that intangible cultural heritage is more linked to communities and the grass roots and would widen our understanding of culture.

Many members spoke about Gaelic. The convention provides the opportunity to protect traditions that are at risk of being lost. When the Parliament was first established, there were real concerns that Gaelic was a fading language. It certainly still needs support, but we are in a much healthier place for the survival and, even, flourishing of the language. Kate Forbes made a strong case that it is a living and expanding language. However, although Gaelic is still being spoken, it is no longer the first language for many people, and there are concerns that, as generations pass on, traditions that are linked to Gaelic—such as the stories and the psalms—will be at risk. Johann Lamont’s remarks about her experience of growing up with Gaelic were perceptive and insightful.

That highlights the challenges that we have in trying to capture what is important. On the radio this week, I heard a discussion about how to preserve Doric as a language. We can all make cases for what we could put into the list and what should be preserved, but ratifying the convention would provide a way of curating that and a framework for protection. It would also be for the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage to decide what was to be included under its criteria. The list is not expansive, so we would need a UK list and a Scottish one to sit alongside what we would argue should be listed under the convention.

The cabinet secretary mentioned the Napier University report. There is an issue with the pressure that is put on some of our cultural festivals. A risk has been identified of our losing the things that are important. For example, hogmanay has become a big commercial festival that is important to our tourism. However, the traditions in Scotland are about first footing with lumps of coal. In my family, we opened the back door to let out the old year and opened the front door to let the new year in. In Fife, it was always known as auld year’s night, not hogmanay. We are in a time of globalisation when there is a need to maintain cultural diversity, and being part of the convention could help us in that.

I have been guilty of allowing the debate to run on a bit and I do not want it to affect the next debate too quickly, so I ask the next two members to be kind and cut down their speeches a little bit.

15:53  

Good luck with that, Presiding Officer.

I am delighted to close the debate on behalf of the Scottish Conservatives. In fact, to be honest, I am relieved to be at the end of the debate, because I have thought long and hard about the nature of intangible heritage and culture and I could not quite put my finger on it.

As Johann Lamont said, every day is a school day. I like the definition that I found of intangible culture as

“works through which the creativity of … people finds expression”,

because that gives me latitude to mention whatever I like. In music, it encompasses for me everything from my favourite bagpipe piece, “Highland Cathedral”, through to that little old rock band from Glasgow, AC/DC. I know that we are all “Thunderstruck”, but therein lies the beauty of the word “intangible”. How far back do we have to go to claim that something is culture?

I think that sport has to be included, too. How about bonspiel—a traditional curling tournament that is usually held on a frozen lake and can last for up to two or three days over a weekend? Who remembers playing elastics in the school playground? I think that health and safety would have a field day with that one, but I would like to see it brought back again.

I am glad that Maurice Corry and Willie Rennie mentioned Highland games. I fondly remember, during my early athletics career, getting on the ferry to Brodick and running on a 300m track on a hillside and golf course. If a runner could get their stride pattern right, they could land on all the little hillocks and run faster than everybody else. I was glad to hear Fiona Hyslop mention the Marymass fair in Irvine, which also has a great Highland games tradition.

Mr Whittle would have been an amateur at that time. Does he have a declaration to make about any prize money that he won at those games?

I thank Willie Rennie for that intervention. He is absolutely correct. There was no prize money. We used to win things that people never used in their lives, such as little china birds. I do not know where they came from. No—I have no declaration to make, and certainly not to Mr Rennie. However, I echo his call for Scottish Athletics to look at bringing more athletes to Highland games. It is an experience that is beginning to be lost, and it really helped to shape some of my previous.

I will skip over some examples, but I want to mention things such as stone skimming and tig. Do they lie within intangible culture?

Coming from God’s own country, it would be remiss of me, an Ayrshire boy, not to wonder whether our great bard, Rabbie Burns, falls into this category. His works have certainly been interwoven in my life from an early age. I remember reciting at Troon primary:

“The King cam’ drivin’ through the toon,
Slae and stately through the toon;
He bo’ed tae left, he bo’ed tae richt,
An’ we bo’ed back, as weel we micht;
But wee Jock Todd he couldna bide,
He was daft tae be doon at the waterside ...
Och, wee Jock Todd!”

That was in 1975, when I was a runner-up in the Burns competition. That early education has followed me right through my life, and in my MSP travels I often pass by Burns’s cottage in Ayrshire, the auld kirk that spawned “Tam o’ Shanter” and Souter Johnnie’s cottage.

As I am speaking near the end of the debate, I have been able to listen to a variety of inputs to it. It was wonderful to hear Kate Forbes speak in Gaelic, which is a wonderful, lyrical language and, as she said, a living, breathing language. I am glad to say that my youngest daughter is at a school where Gaelic is taught.

However, not all culture should necessarily be resurrected. Ash Denham talked about Beltane and mentioned cattle being driven through bonfires, which we should maybe consign to the history books.

Rachael Hamilton made the good point that, during the common ridings in the Borders, attitudes and values are passed on, and the integration of the young and the old is extremely important.

Claire Baker said that social background may be a barrier to cultural heritage, but I am not convinced of that, to be honest, because—

Will the member take an intervention?

No, he will not. [Laughter.]

I am in my last half minute.

We have only to listen to the musings of that great poet Billy Connolly to get a view into that world and that different culture.

The safeguarding and maintaining of Scotland’s intangible cultural heritage is incredibly important, and the job of passing it on lies with all of us in our communities, our schools and our homes. We should not try to define it, because the title of this debate tells us that we cannot do that. We should enjoy it, revel in it and pass it on.

It is intangible how long Mr Whittle speaks for when we ask him to do so quickly. [Laughter.]

I call Fiona Hyslop to wind up. You have up to six minutes but no more, cabinet secretary.

15:59  

This has been a short debate, but an important one. It is the latest in a recent series of strategic discussions about the issue. Last November, I chaired the strategic historic environment forum, which considered intangible cultural heritage. The forum noted not only the amount of good work that was already being taken forward, but the many organisations throughout Scotland that have a keen interest in intangible cultural heritage. I was pleased to hear of the cross-party group on culture’s welcome consideration of the issue in November.

Before I turn to some of the speeches that we have heard in the debate, I should declare an interest. I am currently the chieftain of West Lothian highland games, and I would like to formally invite both Brian Whittle and Willie Rennie to take part in the hill race of the games, which will take place in a few months’ time.

I will reflect on some of the members’ points. Claire Baker, in a very considered speech, set out a clear explanation of the obligations under the convention. I am concened that one of the reasons that the UK has not signed up to it is that it considers that doing so would somehow open up the floodgates to costs and requests. We then had such requests from Willie Rennie and Maurice Corry for the Highland games. There have previously been discussions about that. I will ask EventScotland to engage in those again, but we should not put the issue of instant demands for funding in the way of understanding the wider obligations of the convention.

Ash Denham talked about Celtic traditions and Beltane. I know people—the Presiding Officer may be one of them—who have washed their faces at Arthur’s seat. Celtic traditions tell us much about our story and they need to be expressed, too.

Johann Lamont and Kate Forbes reflected on the importance of Gaelic language and the living and developing traditions, and on how there may not be that much disagreement about what we are trying to achieve here.

The amendment to the motion is probably unnecessary commentary, because we want a clear, simple statement. I am not demanding that the UK Government sign up to the convention tomorrow—although I would like it to do that—but the motion would send a strong statement, and I welcome Rachael Hamilton’s reflections on the need to help the UK to understand the importance of signing up to the convention.

Earlier this month, I discussed the matter in Paris with Mr Engida, the deputy director general of UNESCO. I assured him that, even without the UK’s ratification of the convention, intangible cultural heritage is strongly supported by the Scottish Government. We agreed on the tremendous scope to use modern means, including digital technology, to celebrate intangible cultural heritage. Mr Engida expressed a keen interest in today’s debate and I agreed to inform him about the issues that were raised in the chamber this afternoon.

It is significant that UNESCO is interested in what is happening in Scotland. We should not lose sight of the fact that we have much to share with the world in the area of intangible cultural heritage, not simply in the examples that we have that are part of our everyday lives but in how we approach the subject. For example, the intangible cultural heritage in Scotland wiki site, which was developed by Museums Galleries Scotland, was copied by Norway and Finland as best practice, with other nations interested in learning from it, too. Again, I congratulate everybody who was involved in the initial development of the site.

Against that backdrop, the time is right for the Scottish Government and the Scottish Parliament to call for the UK Government to ratify the convention. Indeed, the UK Government’s ratification last year of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict may signal a meaningful shift in the UK Government’s approach to culture in the wider international context. I reassure the Conservatives that that was the impression that I received from the UK’s ambassador to UNESCO when I met him in Paris.

It is important to promote and safeguard our cultural practices and our living traditions for this and future generations. In that generous, encouraging and positive spirit the chamber can come together and agree to the simple motion. I understand and will reflect on the Conservatives’ commentary, but I do not consider that their amendment is necessary to communicate our message. In that context, I urge the chamber, with our responsibilities for cultural heritage, to call on the UK Government to ratify the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and I ask members to support the motion.