Committee
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee 18 January 2024
18 Jan 2024 · S6 · Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
Item of business
Budget Scrutiny 2024-25
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 maximum resource as quickly as possible in order for the sector to thrive. 11:00 However, we need to understand the budgetary constraints that the Scottish Government is operating under and the relative priority that has been attached to culture and the arts. Therefore, in comparison with, and in contrast to, other Governments in the United Kingdom, we are increasing culture spending. That is important not just as a down payment on the significant increase that has been committed to for culture and the arts; given the actual cuts that are taking place elsewhere, it gives Creative Scotland, among others, the significant means to help us through the sustain period. Do I acknowledge that there are venues and organisations that will continue to be in financial distress and that will require support over the coming financial year before additional funding is in place? Yes, I do. Can Government and Government agencies do more? Yes, absolutely. Having said that, let us look at specific examples of venues or events—some are in the public realm and some are not—that have had significant support from Creative Scotland or Screen Scotland. Let us look at the Filmhouse or the Edinburgh International Film Festival and others; let us look at the support that we are providing to V&A Dundee. We are intervening, whether as the Scottish Government, Creative Scotland, Screen Scotland or other agencies, to try to get through this sustain period. I am absolutely focused on our being able to do that. Would I, as cabinet secretary, like to have the additional £100 million in the coming financial year? Yes, absolutely. However, we have been able to secure additional culture funding while other Governments have been cutting it. We have secured additional commitments from the Government on what will be provided next year as cumulative additional support for culture and the arts and I will work tirelessly—as will my officials, Creative Scotland and other agencies—to make sure that we get through this sustain period where there is financial distress, until we are in a position with additional funding but also a renewed approach to culture and the arts, administratively and, yes, financially, to ensure that it is thriving, as everyone hopes that it will.
In the same item of business
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.