The Labour amendment is unanimously agreed to.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

The Tory amendment is unanimously agreed

Image source, Scottish Parliament

SNP MSP Clare Adamson says the presiding officer wrote about the lack of gender balance on the bureau and the SPCB.

Ms Adamson says there will be new rules incorporating gender balance and she moves the motion in her name. 

Ms Hyslop says every person in the chamber has talked about Scotland's spirit.

She encourages every MSP to help with the authentic promotion of Scotland.

Image source, bbc

Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop responds to the debate for the government.

She says that the stories recounted by MSPs today are part of the fabric of Scotland "and we are the better for it". 

She adds that there are 200,000 people employed by tourism and our history heritage and archaeology underpins all of that.

Mr Greene says a cross sector approach to conservation can improve achievements.

He asks for support for the Tory amendment. 

In closing for the Scottish Conservatives, Jamie Greene says the history of Robert Burns is no longer confined to readings and people can now walk the hills that he walked.

Mr Greene says the cabinet secretary said that clans are one of the main reasons visitors come to Scotland but he would say it is also because of whisky and golf.

The Tory MSP says his party hope culture is not first on the list when councils are considering cuts and he will support the Labour amendment. 

Labour MSP Neil Findlay says that the chamber has been spared the full account of SNP member Stewart Stevenson's family history in the debate.

SNP MSP Bruce Crawford intervenes to say that it might be of interest to know that during the debate Mr Stevenson passed him a note explaining his relation to Robert Bontine Cunninghame Graham.

The socialist politician was a great uncle of the spouse of a great nephew of a spouse of a second cousin once removed, to Mr Stevenson, Bruce Crawford tells MSPs. 

"Beat that one" he tells Mr Findlay before sitting down.

Neil Findlay replies by saying: "You started that off by saying you may be interested to know - you were incorrect on that point". 

In closing for his party, Labour MSP Neil Findlay says we have been round the country this afternoon.

Mr Findlay says this debate has had him thinking about past and present events that mark Scottish history.

The Labour MSP says councils are being threatened with further cuts and the ability to fund culture in Scotland is becoming more difficult.

He says local authorities have called on the ability to impose a tourism levy and asks if the minister would care to expand on this. 

Mr Findlay asks how many projects the cabinet secretary supports with funding at grass root level in certain areas. 

SNP MSP Gillian Martin tells the chamber of her battles to keep Aberdeenshire East's culture on the map.

She says that she had to "have a wee go" at Buzzfeed on the weekend for omitting Slains castle in an article they wrote on 25 Scottish locations that could easily be in Game of Thrones.

"They know now" she says. 

The MSP says that Aberdeenshire has more castles per acre than anywhere else and also speaks about the many stone circles in the area. To reiterate her point, she tells MSPs that her parents have a stone circle in their back field. 

Ms Martin also speaks of Roman remains from where the Picts drove them away, boasting that the imperial armies of the Caesar's didn't make many inroads into her area "because we are hardy folk". 

Tory MSP Oliver Mundell says he would feel remiss if he wasn't doing his part to talk up the "Solway-riviera".

Mr Mundell says Dumfries and Galloway is rich in heritage and history.

The Tory MSP says you cannot visit the Dumfriesshire constituency without finding yourself on the Burns trail. 

He commends the efforts of Visit Scotland in highlighting Scotland's assets. 

The SNP's Bruce Crawford begins his contribution to the debate by hailing the "outstanding success" of the two previous themed years - 2015 being focused on Scottish food and drink, and 2016 recognising Scottish innovation, architecture and design. 

He calls the themed years "a phenomenal success for Scotland". 

Speaking of his constituency Stirling, Bruce Crawford tells MSPs that the town is built on history; speaking about Stirling castle, the remnants of an old Roman road, and even of whale bones that were left after a tsunami in 5000 BC. 

Mr Crawford recounts the history of Stirling castle, saying "Edinburgh eat your heart out". 

Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur says he "strongly supports" the cabinet secretary's motion.

Mr McArthur says support for regional archaeologists is required as many are under threat. 

The Lib Dem MSP says Scotland is hugely fortunate to have six world heritage sites. 

He says he warmly welcomes this year of history, heritage and archaeology and says the challenge will be making sure it has a lasting legacy. 

Labour MSP Elaine Smith says the safe keeping of our heritage is a responsibility we should take seriously and she supports the government motion and the Labour amendment.

Ms Smith says we have great examples of worker's heritage in Scotland. 

She recommends some of the visitor attractions in Coatbridge. 

The Labour MSP says "we should celebrate the mixed palate that makes Scotland the place we all love."

SNP MSP Stewart Stevenson says he is a "self confessed geek" as a genealogist. 

Mr Stevenson says in Scotland we have a rich access to family history archives.

The SNP MSP says his family, like many others, is rich in migration. 

He says all for us are likely to have relatives out there who are interested in what we do here in Scotland and this year is a good opportunity to discover these interests.