Education, Culture and Sport Committee, 09 Nov 1999

Meeting date: Tuesday, November 9, 1999

Official Report 269KB pdf

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National Arts Companies (Inquiry)

Item 2 is on our inquiry into the national arts companies, which we wish to proceed with next week. Members will have received a paper that suggests a remit and witnesses for the inquiry. Do members have any comments on the paper?

I have a number of comments.

We will require more time with Scottish Opera. I suggest that, on Tuesday 17, we see the Scottish Arts Council for an hour maximum, because it will be giving us factual information on its support for the national companies. I suggest that we see Scottish Opera for an hour to an hour and a quarter—or even an hour and a half—and Scottish Ballet for the rest of the meeting, as our questions will be principally about Scottish Opera.

The composition of the delegations from Scottish Opera and Scottish Ballet is important. It would be unhelpful if only the new chair was present; we must also request the presence of the previous chair and Ruth Mackenzie, who was in charge until her recent resignation. If they will not appear as part of Scottish Opera's delegation, we must request them to appear in front of the committee as individuals. The clerk will have to negotiate with them to see whether that can be done.

On Wednesday 1 December, we will hear from the national theatre. I suggest that we add the Saltire Society to the agenda, which has, over many years, taken a strong position on this matter. I suspect that Paul Scott, who has been a strong supporter of the national theatre for many years, will wish to appear.

Are there any problems with that? I am quite happy with Mike's suggestions.

The third bullet point under point 4 of the brief talks about the appropriateness of establishing "a national theatre for Scotland". I think that the word "company" should be inserted so that we are talking about "a national theatre company", because if we start to talk about establishing a national theatre, we will get into tremendous difficulties—it will confuse us and get in the way.

I support Mike's comments on Ruth Mackenzie—it would be impossible to get a clear picture of the timing of events without being able to speak to her.

I support positively the idea that we should hear representations from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities. We should hear not just from COSLA, but from people in COSLA who can talk about the educational aspect of the national companies—the touring companies' involvement in education and local authority support for the national companies.

Another organisation with something to say on this subject is the British Council, which will have an important input into the international aspect of the national companies. Undoubtedly, there will be opportunities for a national theatre company to tour and the British Council may wish to give us details on its role.

Although I do not disagree with that suggestion, we will run into timing difficulties if we invite everyone. Could we ask the British Council to provide us with a written submission?

I am happy with a written submission.

If we have further questions, we could invite representatives from the British Council to the final inquiry meeting, which would avoid too many people coming to the earlier meetings.

I am happy with that, but I think that the British Council should be approached for a written submission.

I have just checked with Gillian and I understand that we are light on festivals. I have already declared an interest in one festival, but what do we do about the Edinburgh International Festival or the St Magnus Festival, which are both significant spenders and users of public money?

We could adequately deal with the national companies through the interface between the Scottish Arts Council and the companies themselves.

I have three further points. First, we should invite submissions from any member of the public who wishes to submit evidence—at this stage, such evidence should be in writing rather than in person. The clerk should publicise the inquiry through the parliamentary press office. More witnesses may emerge as a result of those submissions.

Secondly, we need a full and comprehensive introductory statement from each person who gives evidence to us. They should be asked to provide that in writing at least three or four days before we are due to take evidence from them. That is a tight time scale, but this is an important matter.

Thirdly, at our most recent meeting, I suggested that we should ask researchers to produce for the committee a briefing document on the national companies.

The committee is free to invite written submissions. If members want to complete the inquiry in December, a number of people will feel that they are being given too little time to comment—members would have to live with that.

I have discussed with the researchers the possibility of their producing a written briefing. They will do what they can, but pressure of work means that, in a week, such a briefing will be fairly limited. They have offered to help to frame questions that the committee might want answered. The Scottish Arts Council, too, will provide as much factual briefing as possible.

We must also get written material from each company and from those giving evidence. There is a lot of enthusiasm for this inquiry and the companies will want to give us written material, as it is in their interests to do so, but it must be received in time for us to read it.

I will certainly tell them that. The next witnesses are due to appear here next week and have been alerted to that.

It is essential that Scottish Opera gives us factual information and is prepared to answer questions fully and constructively.

When we invite witnesses, is it made absolutely clear that they have to answer questions? Is it made clear that that is the power of this committee?

One does not usually need to stress that, as people are extremely anxious to come before parliamentary committees and want to be seen to be helpful. It can be stressed where it is considered necessary.

It might be helpful to ensure that people are aware that questions will be asked.

I agree with Mike Russell that we need to have information beforehand. It is not good enough to have it an hour before the meeting. We need to be able to consider what questions we want to ask.

When we are considering the matter of a national theatre, it will be useful to meet representatives of the Scottish Youth Theatre, which is already a national theatre and has plans for a building. Such a meeting might inform our discussion.

We will take that on board.

We will try to get written material to people as promptly as possible, so that we are informed before beginning our discussions.

At the previous meeting, we agreed that we would have four reporters on various issues. Members who have been appointed as reporters should discuss their remits and the way in which researchers can help them with Gillian Baxendine, so that they can get as much help as possible.