Committee
Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee 09 March 2016
09 Mar 2016 · S4 · Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee
Item of business
Creative Industries (Economic Impact)
I want to come in straight away because Cumbernauld is in my region. We gave Mr Smith a hard time the last time that he was at the committee, and we were very angry. You have just taken my anger away, cabinet secretary, by announcing what I suggest is a major step forward in order to secure a studio. It has taken a long time. I am sure that you have been frustrated, as we have been, but now that you have made the announcement, I hope that it will be done. The planning application will be lying in a wee council office somewhere. I will contact—as I am sure many of my colleagues in my region will—North Lanarkshire Council in order to facilitate the planning permission, because such things can take some time. I welcome the fact that there are opportunities in Cumbernauld, but I also recognise the opportunities in the Pentland project. The two may complement each other.
In the same item of business
The Convener
Con
Agenda item 2 is continuation of our evidence taking on the economic impact of the creative industries. I welcome to the meeting Fiona Hyslop, the Cabinet Se...
The Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Europe and External Affairs (Fiona Hyslop)
SNP
Thank you, convener. If this is indeed the committee’s last meeting, I should thank the committee for its on-going interest in the creative industries and ac...
The Convener
Con
Members are interested in a number of different topics. We are keen to explore the film studio issue a bit more, given that it has been at the top of the age...
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
I have announced today that we will have additional studio space—subject, of course, to planning permission by North Lanarkshire Council—and the six-studio s...
The Convener
Con
The delivery of this new project is welcome news, and I am sure that other members will have questions about the detail. Do we have state aid clearance for S...
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
The point of frustration over the past year has been getting a combination of public and private money to ensure that it is state aid compliant. David Smith ...
David Smith (Scottish Enterprise)
We have considered the indicative package of support and the agreement in principle that we have with Wardpark Studios and we have taken advice, so we are co...
The Convener
Con
Thank you. What is the timescale for delivery?
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
That will depend on the private sector developer and the planning process, which will be starting in North Lanarkshire Council.
The Convener
Con
I understand the issues around state aid clearance but, for the record, is it your understanding that the Pentland Studios proposal was not reliant on any st...
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
Yes, that is my understanding. We welcome the opportunity for studio space in Scotland. However, as that particular proposal has been recalled by Scottish mi...
The Convener
Con
I understand that. Can Scotland support more than one film studio?
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
Yes—and I have said so on a number of occasions.
Richard Lyle (Central Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I want to come in straight away because Cumbernauld is in my region. We gave Mr Smith a hard time the last time that he was at the committee, and we were ver...
The Convener
Con
I am not sure that that was a question, but you can respond if you wish, cabinet secretary.
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
As I say in my letter, there are other live interests and we are pursuing them as well. We are not resting with one proposal. I have charged the film studio ...
Richard Lyle
SNP
Can you tell me when the planning application will be submitted?
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
I stress that the application will not be made by ministers. The private developer must make that move, and he has indicated to us that the planning applicat...
Chic Brodie (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
Good morning. Today’s news is good news. I am sure that it is no coincidence that it has been announced today, in view of the committee’s meeting. I want to...
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
As you will be aware, the competition rules do not apply only to films and the film market in Scotland—they operate across the UK and the rest of Europe. Whe...
Chic Brodie
SNP
Forgive me, but is it not the case that, even if a public entity was to use public sector borrowing to build such a facility, as long as it produced a commer...
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
Today’s announcement is certainly state aid compliant. As regards what has been happening not just over a number of months but since the film studio delivery...
David Smith
When the recent legal case in which there was an EU judgment on the Ciudad de la Luz development in Valencia was concluded, information was given about the l...
Chic Brodie
SNP
Yes, but—
David Smith
If I could just finish—
Chic Brodie
SNP
I beg your pardon.
David Smith
On the basis of that judgment, we modelled extensively the case for a new build studio project that was directed, owned and developed solely by the public se...
Chic Brodie
SNP
Forgive me, Mr Smith, but the cabinet secretary has just announced that you are going to build a 30,000 square feet—
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
We are not building it. The private sector developer is building it, as was the case in Northern Ireland. You should remember that, in Wales, a Government-ow...
Chic Brodie
SNP
Can I suggest, cabinet secretary, somewhere that is close to your heart and mine? Someone might look at the former Digital Equipment plant, which has been ly...