Abbotsford

That the Parliament congratulates the Abbotsford Trust on its success in securing first round approval for a Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £4.4 million; recognises the trust’s hard work and dedication in putting together a successful bid to restore the former home of Sir Walter Scott; further recognises Abbotsford as a jewel in the Borders’ crown and its significance to Scotland’s cultural and literary history; acknowledges the unique nature of Abbotsford due to Scott’s involvement in its creation, design and contents, which are representative of Scott’s intellectual and historical legacy; appreciates the significance of the successful Heritage Lottery Fund phase one application and the project's aim of preserving such a rich centre of Scottish history, and wishes the trust every success in the next stages of the bid process.