Image source, Getty Images

That's all from Holyrood Live on Tuesday 21 January 2020.

MSPs unanimously passed the Scottish National Investment Bank Bill, external.

The bank is designed to make longer-term investments in Scottish businesses, with £2bn committed by the government for ten years.

It was first announced by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in her 2017 programme for government speech.

Minister Ivan McKee welcomes the Glasgow University report highlighting the contribution Robert Burns' legacy makes to the economy.

Our celebration of Burns' night marks the end of winter festival celebrations he says.

The winter festivals affirm and promote our values of fairness and inclusivity he adds.

Mr McKee says the government has supported the development of regional economic partnerships, which are highlighted as being important to Burns' tourism economic success.

Image source, bbc

The economic and cultural importance of Robert Burns is worth £203m to Scotland each year, according to a new report.

The University of Glasgow study found that the "worldwide fascination" with the poet supports Scottish businesses.

It showed that investments in Scotland to recognise the bard, including the opening of the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, have helped increase his value.

The report includes a number of recommendations to help grow the value of Burns' brand for Scotland.

Read more here.

Image source, Getty Images

25 January 2009 marked 250 years to the day since Scotland's national poet was born.

This website celebrates Rabbie Burns's life and achievements in poetry and song.

66 of Scotland's biggest names recorded 716 of Robert Burns's works for our collection.

Click here for more.

SNP MSP Joan McAlpine said two years ago she called for more information on the economic impact of Robert Burns in a member's debate.

The Scottish government duly invested in that and the result is Prof Pittock's study explains Ms McAlpine.

The SNP MSP points out the report showed Robert Burns is worth just over £200m a year to the Scottish economy.

She says the report says cultural tourists stay longer and spend more money than other tourist.

Ms McAlpine points out the Mozart brand brings in £3.5bn to Austria showing there is much more that can be done to capitalise on Scotland's national bard.

Image source, Glasgow University

Ms McAlpine is celebrating the publication of Robert Burns in the Scottish Economy, external, a research study led by Professor Murray Pittock of the Centre for Robert Burns Studies at Glasgow University.

It found Scotland’s national bard is worth just over £200 million a year to the Scottish economy and the poet’s brand is worth nearly £140 million annually.

The year long study funded by the Scottish government and led by Prof Pittock assessed how much the worldwide fascination with Robert Burns is supporting Scottish business and jobs.

It found that Burns economic and cultural importance to the Scottish economy is now estimated to be £203 million annually and the bard’s brand is worth £139.5 million a year.

• Read more here, external
• Here's the report, external

Image source, bbc

SNP MSP Joan McAlpine will now lead a member's debate marking the findings of a year long research study into the impact of Robert Burns on the economy.

Image source, Getty Images

MSPs unanimously pass the Scottish National Investment Bank Bill, external.

The bank is designed to make longer-term investments in Scottish businesses, with £2bn committed by the government for 10 years.

It was first announced by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in her 2017 programme for government speech.

The economy committee backed the bill in July, but did call for MSPs to have a formal role in setting its long term focus.

Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie calls for the bank to look to develop opportunities relating to offshore energy in Scotland.

It will be a great temptation to pressurise the bank to prop up failing businesses which may have local significance instead of investing in new opportunities he says.

We must allow the bank to decide what it thinks is best, he adds.

Mr Rennie concludes saying the bank must seek to create jobs and opportunities, as well as pursue a low carbon economy.

Green MSP Andy Wightman welcomes any attempt to place the public interest at the heart of economic policy.

Mr Wightman points out fundamentally the SNIB is there to address issues around the Scottish economy.

The most important mission for the SNIB is to accelerate the transition to a zero-emissions economy, he argues.

The Green MSP says there are significant challenges in areas like transport and with the two tier pension arrangement.

Local government must have a "very, very significant role" in the bank's missions, he argues.

He concludes saying: "The Greens support this bill and will vote for it tonight."

I remain as convinced now as I was 25 years ago that we need bold and ambitious action, Mr Leonard says.

He confirms his support for the bill - but warns it is neither bold nor ambitious.

Instead the Scottish Labour leader labels it "a tame mediocrity".

He calls for an industrial strategy, a re-commitment to full employment and proper capitalisation of the SNIB.

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard says today is an important day in the history of the Scottish Parliament, saying he has been calling for a SNIB for a quarter of a century.

Mr Leonard points out there is an acute shortage of suitable finance for investment and the failure to sort this has led to slow rates of economic growth and job losses.

He argues successive governments have failed to provide sufficient capital and investment so the passing of the SNIB Bill tonight will be welcome.

The Scottish Labour leader welcomes the clear focus on small and medium enterprises but accuses the SNP of siding with the Tories against a number of Labour amendments.