Motion S4M-01323: Dennis Robertson, Aberdeenshire West, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 11/11/2011

Congratulations on Citty Finlayson Nomination for Shona Donaldson

That the Parliament congratulates Shona Donaldson from Tarland on having been nominated for the Citty Finlayson Scots Singer of the Year award in the 2011 Scots Traditional Music Awards; pays tribute to one of Scotland's leading young tradition bearers, who grew up in Huntly surrounded by music and speaking Doric in the agricultural heartland of Aberdeenshire and who became a musician-in-residence with the Deveron Arts project in the heart of Scotland's bothy ballad country; recognises Shona's talents, and praises her efforts to push the cause of Scots song.

Motion S4M-01322: Rob Gibson, Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 11/11/2011

60th Anniversary of the Edinburgh People's Festival Ceilidh

The Parliament applauds the 10th Carrying Stream Festival, held in Edinburgh from 9 to 16 November 2011; notes that the festival was formed to celebrate the life and legacy of Hamish Henderson, the renowned folklorist who died in 2002; especially praises what it considers the organisers' outstanding success in mounting a 60th anniversary concert in the original venue that saw the first People's Festival Ceilidh in 1951, which presented traditional Gaelic and Scots singing and piping to an enthralled urban audience; welcomes that, 60 years on, on 10 November 2011 the knowledgable audience was treated to what it considers unforgettable performances from a few surviving singers; notes that the festival also displayed today's crop of young singers and players, many of whom are studying for degrees in traditional music at the Conservatoire in Glasgow, which it considers a modern symbol of the popularity and strength of traditional music in Scottish culture today, and considers that Scottish roots music, first brought to urban audiences by Hamish Henderson in the People's Festival Ceilidh in 1951, today fills the largest halls in the land.

Motion S3M-07747: Sandra White, Glasgow, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 19/01/2011

Scots Makar Liz Lochhead

That the Parliament welcomes the appointment of poet and playwright Liz Lochhead as Scots Makar, following on from her success as Glasgow Makar; considers Liz Lochhead to be a celebrated poet, author, translator, playwright, stage performer and broadcaster; believes that she has continually championed Scottish culture and language and, further believes that, as Scots Makar, Liz Lochhead will continue to inspire Scots in their appreciation of what it sees as Scotland’s rich cultural heritage and will serve as an inspiration for those adding to it.