Chamber
Plenary, 28 Feb 2001
28 Feb 2001 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
Teaching Centres of Artistic Excellence
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 we put on annually for the pupils' entertainment. The largest and hairiest members of staff did Tchaikovsky's "Valse des Fleurs" with straight faces. Though I say it myself, it was extremely humorous. Having had two new hips since then, I will not repeat the performance.
The specific issue has been well ventilated by Kenny Gibson, who deserves a lot of credit. The wider issue is that there is still residual discrimination against dance and ballet among many people, who think that ballet is an elitist and slightly effete activity. I think that that is quite wrong. They ignore the fact that dance is a basic activity. Over the past few years, modern dance has been the most successful part of the Edinburgh International Festival, drawing in all sorts of people of all classes and colours from across the world. Dance will be roused to fresh activity by the success of "Billy Elliot". I hope that we can gradually get away from the prejudice against dance.
The issue of how we fund potentially good students has been well covered. The Executive deserves credit for having started to tackle the issue of funding students by getting rid of tuition fees and soon introducing grants for poorer students. However, there are obviously people who are left on the periphery whom we still have to sort out.
One way forward that would retain local control would be for the control of bursaries to lie with the colleges. Obviously, that would have to be monitored in some way by central Scotland. In that way, it would not just be some guy at Victoria Quay, or wherever those people live, who decides who gets and who does not. The college will have investigated most thoroughly the student's circumstances. In many of the less specialised colleges around the country, that happens very successfully. The people who know about the individual's circumstances should be given the power to hand out money to keep them going.
I hope that we will develop not just ballet and modern dance but the Scottish styles of dance—Scottish folk dancing, which is a neglected and lovely activity, and traditional Scottish country dancing. If we thought about it, we would realise that we are quite good at dancing. We should develop those styles of dance.
It is encouraging that so many people are interested in the debate. I hope that the minister will respond to members who have made much better speeches than mine, pushing for the end of the postcode lottery. More power should be given to the colleges and there should be more funding from the centre for what is not an elitist activity. Dance is not just for people who want to be professional dancers. Good local dance activities are good community activities and an antidote to the individualism of gazing at machines and television sets.
The specific issue has been well ventilated by Kenny Gibson, who deserves a lot of credit. The wider issue is that there is still residual discrimination against dance and ballet among many people, who think that ballet is an elitist and slightly effete activity. I think that that is quite wrong. They ignore the fact that dance is a basic activity. Over the past few years, modern dance has been the most successful part of the Edinburgh International Festival, drawing in all sorts of people of all classes and colours from across the world. Dance will be roused to fresh activity by the success of "Billy Elliot". I hope that we can gradually get away from the prejudice against dance.
The issue of how we fund potentially good students has been well covered. The Executive deserves credit for having started to tackle the issue of funding students by getting rid of tuition fees and soon introducing grants for poorer students. However, there are obviously people who are left on the periphery whom we still have to sort out.
One way forward that would retain local control would be for the control of bursaries to lie with the colleges. Obviously, that would have to be monitored in some way by central Scotland. In that way, it would not just be some guy at Victoria Quay, or wherever those people live, who decides who gets and who does not. The college will have investigated most thoroughly the student's circumstances. In many of the less specialised colleges around the country, that happens very successfully. The people who know about the individual's circumstances should be given the power to hand out money to keep them going.
I hope that we will develop not just ballet and modern dance but the Scottish styles of dance—Scottish folk dancing, which is a neglected and lovely activity, and traditional Scottish country dancing. If we thought about it, we would realise that we are quite good at dancing. We should develop those styles of dance.
It is encouraging that so many people are interested in the debate. I hope that the minister will respond to members who have made much better speeches than mine, pushing for the end of the postcode lottery. More power should be given to the colleges and there should be more funding from the centre for what is not an elitist activity. Dance is not just for people who want to be professional dancers. Good local dance activities are good community activities and an antidote to the individualism of gazing at machines and television sets.
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.