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Tartan register Bill launched |
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Wednesday, 26 March 2008 |
Conservative MSP Jamie McGrigor today launched his Member's Bill to create the first ever publicly owned Scottish National Register of Tartan.
The Register will work with Scotland's tartan experts to draw together
information about tartan designs held in private hands to create an
independently held Register on a statutory basis that can be accessed
by the public.
The National Archives of Scotland will create and maintain the
Register, with input from tartan and tartan industry experts in
Scotland. The Keeper of the Records of Scotland will act as Keeper of
the Register of Tartans, overseeing the Register and the registration
of new tartan designs.
Launching the Bill, McGrigor said: "This Bill marks the culmination of
long and assiduous work by many people and will meet a cherished, long
standing and shared ambition to create a Scottish Register of Tartans –
and ensures the valuable work that has gone into registering tartans
over many years will be captured and held in perpetuity for the nation.
"Tartan is a hugely important part of Scottish heritage – and makes an
important contribution to our economy. I am glad to help elevate the
status of tartan in this way and to contribute to tartan gaining ever
wider recognition worldwide.
"My Bill will create a Register of Tartans which will be held
permanently and in perpetuity for the nation. I am also pleased that
the proposals for the Register will minimise cost to the taxpayer,
utilise existing public sector expertise and infrastructure and –
importantly - avoid adding to the public sector landscape by creating a
new public body."
McGrigor said that this represented the second attempt to take the Bill
through Parliament and that much was learnt through the first
consultations. "I am pleased the Government has now recognised the
merit of my proposals for a Register and is supporting the Bill. It
now has cross party support and I am hopeful of the Bill going through
smoothly."
Minister for Parliamentary Business Bruce Crawford said: "The Scottish
Government is pleased to support Jamie McGrigor in bringing forward his
Member's Bill for a Scottish Register of Tartans.
"The Bill will create the first ever publicly owned Register of Tartans
to preserve and promote one of Scotland's iconic products. The tartan
industry contributes some £350m to the Scottish economy. Working to
support this Bill – and to develop key Scottish industries - will
contribute to the Government's objective of sustainable economic
growth.
"Supporting this Bill also shows the Government is prepared and willing
to work across party political lines to support good ideas from
wherever in the Chamber they may come - and to work to build consensus
for the wider benefit of Scotland and its key industries."
George Mackenzie, the Keeper of the Records of Scotland, that he
welcomed the work on the Register and looked forward to its operation.
"The National Archives of Scotland has a wealth of expertise
collecting, preserving and making available records of historic and
national significance. For the first time this Register will draw
together and preserve in Scotland the vital information about what
makes each tartan unique.
"It will enhance the excellent range of information services available
from the National Archives and be a useful addition to the genealogical
research facilities we are developing in the Scotland's People family
history centre which will be launched in Summer 2008."
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