Hansard

The Convener SNP

Welcome back. Our third item is our final evidence session on the budget. We are joined by Angus Robertson, the Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, Exter...

The Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture (Angus Robertson) SNP

It is always a pleasure to be back at the committee, convener, and thank you for the opportunity to make some opening remarks. First, I would like to thank a...

The Convener SNP

Thank you very much, cabinet secretary. Your opening statement answered many of the questions that were asked by cultural organisations last week, so thank y...

Angus Robertson SNP

I do not think that there is a single, silver bullet through any of the different organisations or funding streams to help the Scottish culture and arts sect...

Mark Ruskell Green

I come back to your comments about how the additional £6.6 million will be allocated, and the priorities and themes in relation to that spend. The impression...

Angus Robertson SNP

I acknowledge the importance of those funds for Creative Scotland as it goes through the significant funding change to multiyear funding. The Scottish Govern...

Mark Ruskell Green

Thanks for that detailed answer. Other members might also be interested to come in on this issue, but I want to go back to your comments about the need to ...

Angus Robertson SNP

No. One of the things that I am optimistic and upbeat about is that, given where we have come from—the committee has taken a considerable amount of evidence ...

Kate Forbes SNP

Some of those who gave evidence previously commented that they were enormously relieved by the budget this year. One comment was about the tension between en...

Angus Robertson SNP

On the point about relief in the sector that we are turning a corner in funding, a significant number of people in the sector have been very kind about the f...

Kate Forbes SNP

One other question that is indirectly linked concerns the economic powerhouse of culture. We all know that Scotland faces challenging economic circumstances,...

Angus Robertson SNP

I agree entirely. To take only one example of that, if one needed any evidence for it—we are getting increasing amounts of evidence about the economic impact...

Kate Forbes SNP

Thank you.

Donald Cameron Con

Cabinet secretary, you have given some clarity to Mark Ruskell on the £6.6 million that is going to Creative Scotland, but I want to ask about the longer-ter...

Angus Robertson SNP

Thank you for the question—there was a lot in there. I understand that everybody who cares about the culture and arts sector wants the maximum financial supp...

Donald Cameron Con

I want to ask about the Edinburgh festival fringe, which you mentioned. Shona McCarthy of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society outlined to the committee in ...

Angus Robertson SNP

First off, Edinburgh has a deserved reputation as the festivals capital of the world, and not just because of the decades of festivals that we have had in Sc...

Neil Bibby Lab

Good morning, cabinet secretary. Following on from Donald Cameron’s question, I note that, last week, we heard about the need for urgency as well as clarity....

Angus Robertson SNP

It is in addition to the £15 million-plus in this budget. It is cumulative. What we are saying is that, every year, the funding will be in addition to the mo...

Neil Bibby Lab

My point was that, up until now, there was talk of a minimum of an extra £25 million coming online, but I understand that it is £25 million.

Angus Robertson SNP

Sorry, but can I stop you there? I have just said that it is £25 million in addition to the £15 million-plus that is being committed in this budget, so it is...

Neil Bibby Lab

Yes, but previously the indication was that it would be a minimum of £25 million—

Angus Robertson SNP

I have just confirmed, again, that it is cumulative, so it is just over £40 million additional.

Neil Bibby Lab

The point that I was going to make is that it would have been a minimum of £40 million if it was more than £25 million. In terms of the clarity that you are...

Angus Robertson SNP

I have now said this three or four times, I think, so there should be no doubt about the clarity of the commitment that has been given about the additional £...

Neil Bibby Lab

On that, the Government has pointed to an increase in this budget, as it has done on a number of occasions. However, we know that the culture budget was cut ...

Angus Robertson SNP

I totally understand the question that Mr Bibby is asking and that is being asked by people in the wider culture and arts sector who, understandably, want ma...

Neil Bibby Lab

If we want to sustain culture and cultural activity and participation, it is important that we ensure that the right resource—whatever that is—is in place. I...

Angus Robertson SNP

We need to be fully aware that the support of culture is not just the responsibility of the Scottish Government and Scottish Government agencies. Working in ...

The Convener SNP

I am a wee bit conscious of the time because we also have a private agenda item this morning, but I will move to questions from Mr Stewart.