PORTRAIT OF A NATION

That this House welcomes the launch of the Portrait of a Nation programme of events by the Liverpool Culture Company, the Heritage Lottery Fund and participating cities and places; recognises its importance in celebrating national and local heritage and distinctiveness; notes that the campaign will give young people across the UK a voice in the debate about cultural identity; further notes it will feed into a major event that will mark the Liverpool European Capital of Culture 2008 celebrations, providing a high profile platform for heritage; and congratulates all the young people who are taking part in Belfast, Birmingham, Bradford, Brighton and Hove, Bristol, Canterbury, Cardiff, Derby, Leicester, Leeds, Liverpool, Newham (London), Manchester, Newcastle, Gateshead, Norwich, Oxford and the Scottish Highlands and Islands.