Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 11 March 2026 [Draft]
11 Mar 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Portfolio Question Time
Freedom of Speech (Culture Sector)
The Scottish Government recognises freedom of speech as an essential part of a healthy culture sector and democracy. At the same time, the exercise of that right must never be used to justify behaviour that is harmful, intimidating or unlawful. The Scottish Government works with publicly funded culture bodies to ensure adherence to public sector frameworks that govern the use of public funding. Those principles, and the legal frameworks within which all organisations must work, also apply to cultural organisations in receipt of public funding and are subject to the regular scrutiny of the awarding public body.
In the same item of business
7. Tess White (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support freedom of speech across the cultural sector. (S6O-05617)
The Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture (Angus Robertson)
SNP
The Scottish Government recognises freedom of speech as an essential part of a healthy culture sector and democracy. At the same time, the exercise of that r...
Tess White
Con
Poet and novelist Polly Clark was shamefully cancelled by literary magazine Gutter for her gender critical beliefs. Gutter is funded by Scottish National Par...
Angus Robertson
SNP
The first point that I will make is that—as I hope that Tess White knows—Creative Scotland operates at arm’s length from Government. It does so for very good...