Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 11 March 2026 [Draft]
11 Mar 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Portfolio Question Time
Culture and the Arts Promotion(Local Authorities)
Creative Scotland’s chief executive has warned that he is increasingly concerned about the risk to arts funding due to pressures on local authority budgets. Culture is vital to communities across Scotland, yet councils are being forced to cut arts funding. In the Western Isles, for example, the council has removed all secured annual investment in the arts. Therefore, after nearly two decades of SNP power, councils have been so financially squeezed that access to the arts and culture in communities across Scotland is being put at risk. What is the Scottish Government doing to reduce that risk?
In the same item of business
4. Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting local authorities to promote culture and the arts. (S6O-05614)
The Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture (Angus Robertson)
SNP
Although it is for local authorities to decide how they allocate their funding, the Scottish Government’s budget for 2026-27 provides, in addition to the blo...
Alexander Stewart
Con
Creative Scotland’s chief executive has warned that he is increasingly concerned about the risk to arts funding due to pressures on local authority budgets. ...
Angus Robertson
SNP
I regularly hear, particularly from the member’s side of the chamber, that local decision making is important. I agree that it is right that local councils s...
Neil Bibby (West Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Last month, City Property (Glasgow), which is an arm’s-length organisation of Glasgow City Council, issued its tenants with an eviction notice for their prem...
Angus Robertson
SNP
I acknowledge the concerns that Neil Bibby raises and I recognise that a great number of people, particularly in Glasgow, are concerned about those developme...
Foysol Choudhury (Lothian) (Ind)
Ind
In the light of the launch of the 2026 Edinburgh international festival today, what steps is the Scottish Government taking to work with local authorities to...
Angus Robertson
SNP
I thank Foysol Choudhury for the opportunity to highlight Edinburgh international festival’s launch announcement. I encourage members across the chamber to s...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Question 5 has not been lodged.