Motion S5M-02974: Emma Harper, South Scotland, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 07/12/2016

Welcoming Wee Windaes

That the Parliament welcomes the launch of the website, Wee Windaes, which celebrates both the history of the Scots language and its continuing relevance; understands that the website has been produced by the Scots Scriever, Hamish MacDonald, in collaboration with the staff at the National Library of Scotland; notes that the website is based on a selection of Scots language material from the library’s collection that date as far back to The Buke of Howlat, which is a performance poem from the 1440s; believes that the launch of the website by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills on 1 December 2016 will help raise awareness of the cultural significance of Scots and its status as one of the indigenous languages of Scotland, alongside English and Gaelic; welcomes the news that contemporary writing will be added to the site as it develops further, and wishes the project every success.

Motion S5M-02145: Maurice Corry, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 26/10/2016

Congratulating Barrmill Jolly Beggars Burns Club

That the Parliament congratulates Barrmill Jolly Beggars Burns Club on receiving a £5,000 grant from the Big Lottery Fund; understands that the group encourages people to read the works of Robert Burns and organises social activities in the local area; notes that the group is mostly made up of over-65s who also work with local schools to encourage Scots verse speaking, and understands that the group is seeking funding to celebrate the people and volunteers in the local area by holding a concert and dinner celebration.

Motion S5M-00858: Emma Harper, South Scotland, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 26/07/2016 R

Commemorating Brow Well

That the Parliament commends the Scottish Southern Counties Burns Association, the organisers of the annual ceremony at Brow Well; notes that the 2016 service took place on 20 June and that it was well attended by local politicians and dignitaries from the Burns community; understands that the well is a place of pilgrimage for enthusiasts of Robert Burns as the poet famously bathed there just three days before his death in Dumfries; notes that this was the first event that has been hosted at the well since recent refurbishment works were undertaken under the guidance of the Solway Firth Partnership; commends the hard work put in by volunteers and Burns enthusiasts to organise the event on an annual basis, and agrees that organisations and events such as these play a vital role in celebrating and preserving Scots language and culture.

Motion S5M-00419: Lewis Macdonald, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 13/06/2016

New Project to Transcribe Aberdeen's Medieval Records

That the Parliament welcomes the launch of a joint project between Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire Council and the University of Aberdeen to transcribe thousands of medieval records in order to make them available for public viewing; recognises that the records were granted UNESCO heritage recognition in 2013 for their outstanding historical value, including in particular the city's records for the period 1398-1511, which are among the most complete in Britain and one of the most outstanding collections in Europe; understands that this latest project has been made possible by a £310,000 grant from the Leverhulme Trust and will involve archivists from the three organisations transcribing documents written in old Scots and Latin into modern English, and looks forward to these important historical documents being made available online for the North East public to access and enjoy.

Motion S5M-00232: Emma Harper, South Scotland, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 31/05/2016

Commending the Robert Burns World Federation

That the Parliament commends the Robert Burns World Federation on its achievements as a leading authority in promoting the life, poetry and works of Burns and in cultivating the Scots language; celebrates that this ideal is promoted without the distinction of sex, politics, or religion; notes that the federation's 242 hail from across the world, including the Dumfries Ladies Burns Club #1, the Halton Peel Burns club in Oakville, Ontario and the Dunedin Burns Club in New Zealand, and recognises and applauds the hard work of all of the federation's members.