Homecoming glory

We are all aware of Scotland's unique culture and significant contribution to the world. Whilst people the world over marvel at Scotland's rich heritage however, here at home it is all too easy to take it for granted and overlook the value of our cultural legacy. This is why the SNP Government is taking the initiative and bringing our national celebrations home in a year to appreciate Scotland all things Scottish.

To mark the 250th anniversary of our national bard Robert Burns, Homecoming 2009, a sensational series of festivities, will run from Burns Night up until St Andrews Day. With over 100 events taking place throughout the country, Homecoming will showcase Scotland's and indeed the North East's best assets from poetry to world class whisky to golf, traditional music, Scottish innovation and far beyond.

Here in the North East Homecoming offers an immense opportunity to celebrate our distinctive identity and traditions and to show this off to the world. Amongst the events happening here in Banff & Buchan will be our annual Portsoy Boat Festival - but with a difference. Following the Homecoming theme it will be opened up to the world with contributors from Scandinavia, Canada and the USA joining an international symposium on traditional boat building. The Museum of Scottish Lighthouses in Fraserburgh will put on an exhibition to highlight Scotland's world renowned innovations in lighthouse design - another show demonstration of our influence across the world. To honour our lineage a North East Clan Fortnight is also planned, running from the end of July with an enhanced Aberdeen Tartan Day.

This not about celebrating Scotland amongst ourselves however, but inviting the thousands of Scottish Diaspora around the world and indeed all of those with an affinity to Scotland to come and join in these celebrations. This represents not only an opportunity to promote our country and boost its standing in the international arena, but also a huge economic opportunity to be seized. With an estimated £40m in tourism to be generated from the events, Homecoming will reap rewards for the North East culturally and economically. And with the vast potential for tourism we harbour here in Banff & Buchan, locally this is excellent news for all of us. With our area's beautiful beaches, stunning seascapes, our fantastic golf course in Cruden Bay and much more we can only benefit from promoting our area and displaying its attributes to the world.

Harnessing the value of Scotland's oil

Oil has scarcely been far from the headlines in recent weeks. As prices hit almost $140 a barrel, from businesses to public services to families and individuals, every one is feeling the squeeze of rising fuel costs. At the same time, as a result the UK Treasury is experiencing a windfall, set to make an extra £4-5b in oil revenues on top of the £10b forecast in the last Budget.

In these times of booming oil prices, it has never been clearer that Scotland's oil must be harnessed and used constructively - we must seize the opportunity and plough this burgeoning wealth into a fund for future generations. We only need look across the waters to Norway to witness the benefits of their £186b oil fund wisely established by their government wisely 12 years ago. Without full power over its oil resources currently however Scotland must wait on the UK Government to act. The SNP has for years been pressing Scotland's case for greater control of its oil. And now, in government in Holyrood we are doing all in our power to urge Gordon Brown to give Scotland access to the expanding North Sea oil revenues to invest for our future generations. The SNP will continue to fight for everyone in Scotland to feel the benefits of our nation's oil.