Chamber
Plenary, 22 Apr 2004
22 Apr 2004 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
Cultural Review
I envisage the commission comprising a relatively small number of people. As such, it cannot be absolutely representative of the diverse cultural and non-cultural strands in Scotland. As the position statement says, we want it to engage effectively and thoroughly with many of the organisations, people and areas that Mr Gibson has identified in his previous contributions on the subject of culture. People's credibility and quality will be the primary reason for their selection for the commission, rather than their background or geographical location.
On the question of resources, I say that, like Rob Gibson, I have a passion for arts and culture. I will argue the case in the Cabinet and the chamber about the centrality of arts and culture in our lives and the way in which it impacts on the quality of our lives. There will always be demands for resources from other areas of public policy; all I can do is make a contribution to the debate about resources and attempt to influence, inspire and persuade colleagues in that context.
Since the 2003 election, we have made progress on many of the issues that Mr Gibson has raised. The commitment that the First Minister gave in his St Andrew's day speech was a strong signal of the political support for this area. Obviously, that has concomitant demands on the arts sector, as Mr Gibson and I are well aware. However, we will try to develop our ideas in that regard in the coming period.
A few members have made points about the cultural strategy. The cultural strategy was a summation and an examination of where we were in 1999-2000. In the three or four years since then, the Executive and the Parliament have identified a number of issues that the commission can genuinely examine. Already, we have made shifts in the nuance of the cultural strategy in relation to traditional and contemporary music, because of my personal interest in those issues, and in relation to literature and writing, which we are trying to utilise more effectively in Scotland. However, that is a continuation of what we have already done.
The cultural strategy resulted in some substantial achievements, but we want to move on and undertake a dramatic, innovative and radical examination of what we do over the next 15 to 20 years and beyond.
On the question of resources, I say that, like Rob Gibson, I have a passion for arts and culture. I will argue the case in the Cabinet and the chamber about the centrality of arts and culture in our lives and the way in which it impacts on the quality of our lives. There will always be demands for resources from other areas of public policy; all I can do is make a contribution to the debate about resources and attempt to influence, inspire and persuade colleagues in that context.
Since the 2003 election, we have made progress on many of the issues that Mr Gibson has raised. The commitment that the First Minister gave in his St Andrew's day speech was a strong signal of the political support for this area. Obviously, that has concomitant demands on the arts sector, as Mr Gibson and I are well aware. However, we will try to develop our ideas in that regard in the coming period.
A few members have made points about the cultural strategy. The cultural strategy was a summation and an examination of where we were in 1999-2000. In the three or four years since then, the Executive and the Parliament have identified a number of issues that the commission can genuinely examine. Already, we have made shifts in the nuance of the cultural strategy in relation to traditional and contemporary music, because of my personal interest in those issues, and in relation to literature and writing, which we are trying to utilise more effectively in Scotland. However, that is a continuation of what we have already done.
The cultural strategy resulted in some substantial achievements, but we want to move on and undertake a dramatic, innovative and radical examination of what we do over the next 15 to 20 years and beyond.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Mr George Reid):
NPA
Good morning. The first item of business is a statement by Frank McAveety on the cultural review. The minister will take questions at the end of his statemen...
The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport (Mr Frank McAveety):
Lab
I thank the members who have made themselves available at this early hour.Today is the start of a new era for Scotland's culture. I know that both the cultur...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
The minister will now take questions on the issues raised in his statement. I will allow around 20 minutes for that process.
Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP):
SNP
Presiding Officer, I apologise for arriving 30 seconds late. Unfortunately, that came about because we were still waiting for a copy of the statement at 9.20...
Mr McAveety:
Lab
I apologise for the late delivery of the speech, but I thought that it was important to get the David Greig quote into it, which I came across earlier this m...
Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con):
Con
I thank the minister for the statement. I got it only five minutes before he delivered it, so I have done my best.I agree with the minister when he says:"Our...
Mr McAveety:
Lab
It would be wrong of me to prescribe fully what the commission should examine, but I expect that over the next year some of the big questions that Jamie McGr...
Mr Kenneth Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab):
Lab
Like all back benchers, I did not receive an advance copy of the statement, but I too will do my best.Does the minister agree that many creative pursuits are...
Mr McAveety:
Lab
I commend Ken Macintosh for his work in the cross-party group in the Scottish Parliament on the Scottish contemporary music industry. With Pauline McNeill an...
Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD):
LD
The setting up of a commission is a good idea that will receive wide support. I welcome the concept of individual rights to culture.Will the minister ensure ...
Mr McAveety:
Lab
I expect the commission to address many of the issues that members have raised. The Enterprise and Culture Committee is considering the role of community and...
Chris Ballance (South of Scotland) (Green):
Green
I draw members' attention to my entry in the members' register of interests: I am a playwright member of the Writers Guild of Great Britain and a board membe...
Mr McAveety:
Lab
I await with interest the commission's recommendations on resource allocation. I cannot pre-empt the commission's work or the discussions that the Executive ...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
From now on, we will need snappier questions and answers to try to get in most members who have requested to speak.
Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab):
Lab
I welcome the minister's statement, particularly the strands of increasing access and equitable provision and maintaining excellence. I have received several...
Mr McAveety:
Lab
One of the messages in my statement was that national organisations need to think much more about their responsibility to citizens and the wider public. That...
Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP):
SNP
I am delighted that the minister is pushing to ensure that culture has as central a position in the Government as it has in our lives.How the members of the ...
Mr McAveety:
Lab
I envisage the commission comprising a relatively small number of people. As such, it cannot be absolutely representative of the diverse cultural and non-cul...
Mr Ted Brocklebank (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con):
Con
I give a cautious welcome to the proposed new cultural commission. However, I am not exactly sure how the new body will differ in scope and role from the Sco...
Mr McAveety:
Lab
I have achieved something this morning if I have received a cautious welcome from Ted Brocklebank, and I thank him for that.The commission is time limited. I...
Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab):
Lab
I welcome the establishment of the cultural commission under James Boyle. It is time for the initial work of the cultural strategy to be taken forward.The mi...
Mr McAveety:
Lab
Like Rhona Brankin, I am passionately committed to the role that culture, arts and creativity can play in the development of young people. The speech that th...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
My regrets to members who were not called. I have allowed an extra six minutes.
Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab):
Lab
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. Yesterday's Business Bulletin did not say that there was going to be a statement on this subject and I found out only...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
I will make inquiries on that point and come back to you when I have further information.