Chamber
Plenary, 28 Feb 2001
28 Feb 2001 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
Teaching Centres of Artistic Excellence
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, recognised—remain dependent on their local authorities for funding support. Although we have raised the issue of discretionary bursaries with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, I have no powers to direct councils in such matters and I suspect that Parliament would not welcome any attempts by the Executive to curtail local discretion. I hope that authorities recognise that they have significant additional resources and will look at applications positively.
I also hope that Ballet West—which, by the way, is not incorporated and offers no accredited courses—can continue to be commercially successful and to play its part in providing tuition to students of dance. Indeed, I hope that all private sector providers in Scotland can.
The Executive is committed, as laid down in its cultural strategy, to the pursuit of excellence in all forms of art practice in Scotland, as many have recognised. The Executive recognises the importance of education and training in that strategy. The motion focuses our attention on dance and dance tuition. The Executive recognises the point that was made by Richard Simpson and others that the provision of support to various forms of dance is not, nor should it be, static. Neither is it perfect. Over time, some dance forms become more popular and some become less popular. There are important developments in dance and in our understanding of its role in society. A recent example is the report on community dance that was produced by Her Majesty's inspectorate. The provision of training must be sensitive to those developments. We must ensure that our infrastructure for dance is in keeping with modern requirements.
I recognise that Ballet West's Scottish students—as Elaine Murray, among others, recognised—remain dependent on their local authorities for funding support. Although we have raised the issue of discretionary bursaries with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, I have no powers to direct councils in such matters and I suspect that Parliament would not welcome any attempts by the Executive to curtail local discretion. I hope that authorities recognise that they have significant additional resources and will look at applications positively.
I also hope that Ballet West—which, by the way, is not incorporated and offers no accredited courses—can continue to be commercially successful and to play its part in providing tuition to students of dance. Indeed, I hope that all private sector providers in Scotland can.
The Executive is committed, as laid down in its cultural strategy, to the pursuit of excellence in all forms of art practice in Scotland, as many have recognised. The Executive recognises the importance of education and training in that strategy. The motion focuses our attention on dance and dance tuition. The Executive recognises the point that was made by Richard Simpson and others that the provision of support to various forms of dance is not, nor should it be, static. Neither is it perfect. Over time, some dance forms become more popular and some become less popular. There are important developments in dance and in our understanding of its role in society. A recent example is the report on community dance that was produced by Her Majesty's inspectorate. The provision of training must be sensitive to those developments. We must ensure that our infrastructure for dance is in keeping with modern requirements.
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.