Chamber
Plenary, 28 Feb 2001
28 Feb 2001 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
Teaching Centres of Artistic Excellence
Speaker
Watch on SPTV
That the Parliament notes the decision of the Department for Education and Employment to introduce Dance and Drama Awards for students to study at institutions in England and Wales; is aware that Scottish students compete on equal terms for places at such institutions with their counterparts from other parts of the United Kingdom and the European Union (EU); is concerned that tuition fees are only paid if students study in England and Wales and regrets that no parallel funding scheme exists for students who wish to study in Scotland; believes that this discrimination against Scottish institutions can only harm them and in the case of Ballet West may force it out of business or to relocate from Taynuilt to outwith Scotland, to the detriment of the local economy and employment; notes that Ballet West attracts students from across the United Kingdom, the EU and as far afield as Guatemala, Japan and Malaysia and outperforms competitor schools from south of the border in ballet competitions and quality of training; is puzzled by the Minister for Children and Education's view that "there is no evidence of significant demand for Dance and Drama training for young people aged 16 and over in Scotland" when 613 applications were received by Ballet West for 23 places; regrets that 34 students withdrew or rejected offers from Ballet West due to lack of funding, compared with only two students doing so at English institutions; notes that the Excellence Fund supports and encourages talented secondary school dancers in Scotland but that the only progression into tertiary training encouraged by the Scottish Executive is in England; is concerned that Scotland will become denuded of teaching centres of artistic excellence and be drained of artistic talent as a result of this discrimination; believes the current position of the Scottish Executive on this issue contradicts its own cultural strategy that has as its key themes "widening opportunities, promoting education, developing and celebrating excellence" and believes that the Scottish Executive should act in order that students from across the UK can choose where to study dance, drama or stage management based on the quality of course offered rather than on whether or not tuition fees will be paid.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Sir David Steel):
NPA
The final item of business today is a members' business debate on motion S1M-1251, in the name of Kenneth Gibson, on discrimination against teaching centres ...
Motion debated,
That the Parliament notes the decision of the Department for Education and Employment to introduce Dance and Drama Awards for students to study at institutio...
Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP):
SNP
I am pleased to be able to introduce this debate today; I thank all members who signed the motion.A number of members have asked why the motion is so long—it...
Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab):
Lab
I point out, for the purposes of the Official Report, that I voted erroneously in the previous debate. I offer my apologies to Robin Harper; I was not paying...
Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con):
Con
I welcome the debate and congratulate Kenny Gibson on securing it—and on securing a spot or two on the lunchtime and evening news, publicising the problems o...
Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
A horrible thought.
Mr Monteith:
Con
It is a horrible thought, but it might be worse if it were me. The minister may pirouette as much as he wants, but until there is some action rather than min...
George Lyon (Argyll and Bute) (LD):
LD
I support the motion that was introduced by Kenny Gibson.Mike Rowell, the administrator of Ballet West, has been in contact with me since 6 June 2000. I beli...
Dr Winnie Ewing (Highlands and Islands) (SNP):
SNP
I support Kenny Gibson's motion, but I am sad to say that George Lyon did not sign the motion and neither did any Labour members—perhaps they did not notice ...
Dr Richard Simpson (Ochil) (Lab):
Lab
I congratulate Kenny Gibson on securing the debate. There is no doubt that the current system gives rise to a waste of talent and, to an extent, an artistic ...
Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD):
LD
I am not sure whether I have to declare an interest, in that I once starred in a ballet. It was performed by the staff of a school at the variety show that w...
The Deputy Minister for Sport and Culture (Allan Wilson):
Lab
I welcome the opportunity with which Kenneth Gibson has presented me to respond for the Executive in this debate. It is an appropriate platform on which to r...
Mr Gibson:
SNP
Why then, on 21 July 2000, did the Scottish Executive write to Ballet West saying that "there is no widespread evidence of demand for post-16 Dance and Drama...
Allan Wilson:
Lab
That point was raised by Mr Monteith; I will respond to it in my concluding remarks.To suggest, as the motion does, that the Executive's policy discriminates...
Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con):
Con
I, too, met Mike Rowell at a surgery in Oban. He clearly outlined the situation. Is the minister saying that Ballet West is not an incorporated college? Is h...
Allan Wilson:
Lab
I have said nothing of the sort. I am coming to private sector provision now.I welcome the part that many private sector providers play in the provision of d...
Linda Fabiani rose—
SNP
Allan Wilson:
Lab
Let me continue. I am sure that I shall come to Linda Fabiani's point.I recognise that Ballet West's Scottish students—as Elaine Murray, among others, recogn...
Linda Fabiani:
SNP
I intervene because I do not know a lot about this subject and I would appreciate some clarification from the minister. Is there any establishment for the ex...
Allan Wilson:
Lab
Linda Fabiani has raised the point that I was steadily making my way towards in concluding our debate. Brian Monteith, Kenny Gibson and others talked about d...
Meeting closed at 17:42.