Congratulations to the Borders Book Festival and James Kelman, Winner of the Book of the Year 2009

That the Parliament congratulates James Kelman on winning Book of the Year 2009 at the Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust Book Awards and the £30,000 prize for his novel, Kieron Smith, boy, at a ceremony held at the Borders Book Festival in Melrose on 19 June 2009; notes that this was the second year that the awards were held at the Melrose festival; considers that the ceremony, hosted by writer and comedian Rory Bremner, was a triumphant success and testament to the growing popularity of the Borders Book Festival; congratulates Alistair Moffat, Paula Ogilvie and team in developing the festival; recognises that the awards are indicative of the current strength of Scottish literature, and further congratulates Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust, the Scottish Arts Council and the category winners, Janice Galloway (Non Fiction), Tom Pow (Poetry) and Andrea McNicoll (First Book) and all those involved in making this event such a success.