Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 14 January 2025
14 Jan 2025 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Support for the Culture Sector
Scottish Labour welcomes the debate on valuing and supporting Scotland’s culture sector, because Scottish Labour has consistently supported the sector’s efforts to receive proper funding. We recognise the funding crisis that has engulfed cultural organisations and workers for far too long: indeed, we have used our debating time in Parliament to lead calls for supporting the culture sector and for the Scottish Government to do the right thing and to keep its funding promises.
Scotland’s cultural organisations have faced a perfect storm of crises and a constant cycle of promises followed by cuts. People are right to question why we are now having a debate in Government time about support for the culture sector. I presume that it is because, after years of uncertainty and standstill funding since 2018—as Creative Scotland reminded us last week—the cabinet secretary believes that the Government finally has something positive to say or, in other words, it has stopped adding to the financial problems that the sector has been facing.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-16092, in the name of Angus Robertson, on valuing culture: Scotland’s support to the culture sector. I in...
The Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture (Angus Robertson)
SNP
I am delighted to open today’s debate on how the Scottish Government and members across the chamber can best support Scotland’s culture sector, so that it ca...
Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention?
Angus Robertson
SNP
Of course.
Sarah Boyack
Lab
I thank the cabinet secretary for taking my intervention, which fits into his points about the importance of culture to our communities. Has the cabinet sec...
Angus Robertson
SNP
I have not yet met representatives of either the council or the theatre, but I have offered and if there is a wish and a willingness to do so, I will of cour...
Sandesh Gulhane (Glasgow) (Con)
Con
Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention?
Angus Robertson
SNP
I would be delighted to give way to Sandesh Gulhane.
Sandesh Gulhane
Con
Glasgow is full of culture and it is a fantastic city. However, on the point that you have just made about Screen Scotland and all the work in the film indus...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Always speak through the chair, please. Cabinet secretary, I can give you the time back.
Angus Robertson
SNP
Sandesh Gulhane’s point is timeous, given the concerns that have been raised around the commissioning of public service broadcasting in Scotland. If he has a...
Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
Although the additional funding is very welcome, I am sure that the cabinet secretary is aware that, right across Scotland, there is real concern about arts ...
Angus Robertson
SNP
I draw Murdo Fraser’s attention to the budget proposal, which sees funding go up for local government as well as for the culture sector. If he cares as much ...
Stephen Kerr (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
Will the cabinet secretary give way?
Angus Robertson
SNP
I would like to make some progress, if Mr Kerr would allow. As part of that work, it is important that the remit and functions of Creative Scotland—one of t...
Stephen Kerr
Con
Will the cabinet secretary give way?
Angus Robertson
SNP
I have already given way a number of times to Mr Kerr’s colleagues. If he does not mind, I am going to make some progress. I will see how I am doing for time...
Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
Will the member take an intervention?
Angus Robertson
SNP
I hope that the member will forgive me for not doing so. I have already taken a number of interventions and I want to share a lot of good news with those in ...
Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
I very much welcome the fact that we are having a debate on the importance of the culture sector. On a note of consensus, I agree with a lot of what the cult...
Neil Bibby (West Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Scottish Labour welcomes the debate on valuing and supporting Scotland’s culture sector, because Scottish Labour has consistently supported the sector’s effo...
Keith Brown (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP)
SNP
Will the member give way?
Stephen Kerr
Con
Will the member give way?
Neil Bibby
Lab
I give way to Stephen Kerr.
Stephen Kerr
Con
The reality is that that debate is happening now. If self-congratulation were an Olympic sport, Angus Robertson would win the gold at every Olympics.
Neil Bibby
Lab
I will come on to that. I would certainly not disagree with Mr Kerr about that. Of course we welcome the intention to increase the culture budget for the ne...
Michelle Thomson (Falkirk East) (SNP)
SNP
I, too, celebrate the increase in funding from the Scottish Government. Will Neil Bibby reflect on the continued, sustained and disproportionate impact of Br...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I will give you the time back, Mr Bibby.
Neil Bibby
Lab
I was not going to mention Brexit in this speech, but Ms Thomson has raised it, and there are issues relating to Brexit that the Constitution, Europe, Extern...
Keith Brown
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?