Education and Lifelong Learning
Outdoor Education
To ask the Scottish Executive what commitment it has to increase access to outdoor education facilities for all school pupils. (S3O-9763)
The Government is fully committed to securing increased opportunities for all pupils to access outdoor learning. The Forestry Commission and national parks, which receive Scottish Government funding, promote the key role of outdoor learning in supporting delivery of the curriculum for excellence. In addition, we provide funding to, among others, the Royal Highland Education Trust and the National Trust for Scotland and we support visits to farms, Bannockburn, Culloden and other places. I will shortly launch “Curriculum for Excellence Through Outdoor Learning”. That guidance and a supporting online resource have been developed alongside Learning and Teaching Scotland to help local authorities and schools to embrace opportunities that the new curriculum presents for learning in the outdoors to be embedded in learning and teaching.
I thank the minister for that positive response, and I will put a positive suggestion to him. Loch Insh water sports and outdoor activity centre, which is based near Kincraig in the Cairngorms national park, has been owned and run for 40 years by the Freshwater family. The centre has trained or instructed three Olympic skiers and holds awards for the best on-the-water facility in Scotland and the best small business in the Highlands.
Currently, the Scottish Government contributes £2.5 million per annum to sportscotland to fund sporting centres of excellence. The minister might want to bring the Loch Insh centre into the new opportunities for outdoor learning. Does he consider it fair and reasonable that such an exceptional centre receives no funding towards providing a nationally recognised facility and a world-class level of training and instruction?
I am not the arbiter of what is fair and reasonable on sports facilities, which is probably just as well for the people of Scotland.
However, I take the member’s point and I am happy to ask my officials to investigate the issue and to inquire about the situation with sportscotland and the Minister for Public Health and Sport.
Many opportunities are going splendidly well—I was about to say swimmingly well, but I probably should keep off that topic. For example, outstanding work is being done by forest schools in the member’s area, but also in the most unusual places. For instance, I saw a forest school project in Tollcross park in Glasgow. I intend to work vigorously to expand the opportunities that are presented by forest schools. I will ensure that the member is written to on the issue that she raises.
Physical Education
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to give primary and secondary school-age children and young people more and better physical education opportunities. (S3O-9818)
The Government, together with our partners in the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and local authorities, is committed to children and young people throughout Scotland receiving two hours of quality physical education every week. The two-hour commitment is an integral part of the curriculum for excellence and it is being introduced by local authorities in schools, in addition to physical activity and sport. To support that, we agreed funding of £1.8 million with the University of Glasgow and the University of Edinburgh for the period 2008 to 2011 to provide a postgraduate certificate in physical education. About 657 primary teachers have enrolled on the course and 381 of them had completed it in Glasgow by December 2009. Those teachers are making a significant contribution to improving the quality of PE in our primary schools.
The new curriculum framework opens up opportunities for children and young people to participate in a wide range of activities in and around the school day. We provide significant funding to councils through the concordat and through the £12 million active schools programme, which supports schools and councils in their work to increase the amount of PE, physical activity and sport that are offered to pupils. About 2,500 schools throughout the country are involved with activities that take place in and around the school day.
I thank the minister for that succinct answer. Before the election, the SNP promised that schoolchildren would have a guaranteed five days of outdoor education but, unfortunately, the number of outdoor active schools co-ordinators has reduced. There was also a promise that all children would be given free swimming all year round. In answer to parliamentary questions on that, I was informed that the Government is “currently working” to provide “more ... opportunities”, but there was no mention of free swimming. On the eve of the SNP’s fourth year of administration, can the minister confirm that those promises will be fulfilled?
Jim Hume is well aware that the onus of delivering two hours of PE every week is on us in conjunction with local councils. He is also aware of the legacy of constraints that we inherited from the previous Administration, in relation both to the number of teachers who are properly trained to deliver physical education and the facilities in which physical education can take place. We have increased massively—by around 25 per cent—the number of teachers who are trained to deliver PE. In addition, there is a political impetus behind the commitment that was not present before we came into office. If Jim Hume believes—as I am sure he does—that this is a good thing for us to do, he could spend his time more productively on working positively towards success, so that all our children benefit from the policy, instead of endlessly wishing for failure.
Anti-drug Policies
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to promote its anti-drug policies in schools. (S3O-9852)
Substance misuse education is a key strand of the health and wellbeing area of the curriculum for excellence and is the responsibility of all in the school community. The experiences and outcomes give particular emphasis to young people developing an understanding of the use and misuse of a variety of substances, including over-the-counter medicines, prescribed medicines and illegal drugs. Teachers will help young people to explore and develop their understanding of how risk-taking behaviours impact on and have consequences for their life choices. The new school curriculum will support young people to make informed personal choices, with the aim of promoting healthy lifestyles.
The minister will be aware that drug barons specifically target schoolchildren. Does the Scottish Government believe that we are informing children at the right age, or do we need to start teaching children a bit earlier than we do at present?
Under the curriculum for excellence, from pre-school through early primary, children will learn about things that are dangerous to them—things that they should not touch or eat—and how to keep themselves safe, including ways of getting help in unsafe situations. In their later years at primary school, they will learn skills in making choices that may affect their health and wellbeing, and how to identify the different kinds of risks that are associated with the use and misuse of a range of substances, including the impact that misuse can have on them, their families and their friends. It is for schools and teachers to determine the context in which those skills are taught. If criminals—drug barons—are operating in the local community, we expect schools to build that factor into their teaching. This is a good example of an area in which the police should work with local schools to deliver education.
Education Budget (Departmental Expenditure Limit)
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities regarding the impact that a future United Kingdom Government emergency budget would have on the departmental expenditure limit for the education budget. (S3O-9848)
The Scottish Government regularly discusses issues of strategic importance with COSLA. The First Minister and the president of COSLA, with the support of all the political group leaders—I stress the word “all”—have each written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and relevant Opposition members at Westminster to emphasise the adverse impact that an emergency UK budget could have on Scottish budgets and public services. We will continue to make the strongest possible representations on the matter in the interests of the people of Scotland.
I am disappointed that there appears to be no clarity on the issue from either the Conservatives or Labour down south, and only contradiction and confusion from within those parties. Does the cabinet secretary agree that our children and students deserve better than to live in some kind of limbo, not knowing how the Scottish National Party Government will be able to maintain education budgets, as the people of Scotland are forced to wait like dependent children for wannabe Prime Ministers in their headmasters’ offices to decide who can wield the biggest axe over our children’s futures? Does he agree that all of our children and students will have a far more certain future when we finally decide to have just one budget and one Government making the decisions in an independent Scotland?
That is a difficult one.
Difficult as it is, I am up for almost any challenge—certainly that of telling the truth on behalf of the people of Scotland. Indeed, I have found it to be a truism that the more sense that is being talked in this chamber, the louder the groans that come from Mike Rumbles. Anne McLaughlin’s question is immensely sensible.
However, before members on the Tory benches think that this is too entertaining, perhaps those Tory members who are planning to contest Westminster seats—indeed, I see that Alex Johnstone is among us today—might like to enlighten the people of Scotland on the point that Anne McLaughlin has made. Both Tory and Labour are saying, “There will be cuts,” and both are indicating the need for a special budget after the election, but if that special post-election budget cuts back on education in Scotland those members will need to account for the resulting decimation of Scottish hopes. I hope that members such as Mr Johnstone are listening. Perhaps if he goes to Westminster—
He has no chance.
Indeed, he has no chance. However, if he goes to Westminster, perhaps he can take that message very loudly with him.
Question 5 was not lodged.
Nursery Classes (Educational Standard)
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is regarding the educational standard of pre-school nursery classes led by nursery nurses compared with those led by qualified teachers. (S3O-9809)
We are committed to improving the standards of education in the early years to ensure that every child has the best start in life. Research suggests that levels of highly trained staff are important in raising standards to improve children’s outcomes. That is why we are committed both to ensuring that every pre-school child has access to a teacher and to supporting the rest of the workforce who deliver services to our children and young people. Those workers are an essential part of delivering our early years framework and our drive to raise standards through registration with the Scottish Social Services Council.
I note what the minister says, but can he say precisely what progress has been made on the Government’s manifesto commitment to deliver
“a fully qualified nursery teacher for every nursery age child”?
Does that manifesto commitment remain? When will it be achieved?
Also, will the minister recognise the excellent work of our highly qualified nursery nurses inside the current system?
Yes, we are certainly pushing up the access figures. Over the past couple of years, we have seen a stabilisation in the teacher workforce, which had, unfortunately, substantially reduced during the term of the previous Administration.
On the question of the quality of the workforce, we are also seeing significant increases in the levels of qualifications. In the early years workforce, there has been an enthusiastic take-up of the opportunities that are available to people to improve their skills. At the moment, we have 1,200 people working towards level 4 Scottish vocational qualifications. We also have 940 people undertaking degree-level study, which is an unprecedented number for the sector.
Kemnay Academy
To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with Aberdeenshire Council regarding the replacement of Kemnay academy. (S3O-9771)
We have had no recent discussions with Aberdeenshire Council regarding the replacement of Kemnay academy. However, the Scottish Futures Trust has been in regular dialogue with the council to progress the Ellon academy and Mearns academy school building projects, which the Government is supporting through the new school building programme.
I acknowledge the measures that were put in place for Ellon academy and Mearns academy, which were most welcome. However, does the minister accept that Kemnay academy remains a high priority? Will he undertake to ensure that every possible fiscal device is made available to replace the Kemnay academy building so that the necessary capital investment can be made in an appropriate way?
As the member has acknowledged, Aberdeenshire Council was the only local authority in Scotland to have two secondary schools in the recent announcement on capital investment, so the area is benefiting greatly from Government support. The member will also know that £1.7 million of work has been done to take the existing Kemnay academy from condition C to condition B, although I am aware that the council still sees the school as one of its top priorities. As I said, the school will be considered as part of the forthcoming discussions on the next tranche of schools to be refurbished or rebuilt.
As has been mentioned already, our ability to continue with the plans that have been announced will be coloured by what happens in any new emergency budget at Westminster. I enjoin the member to ensure that, if he is lucky enough to be elected to Westminster, he makes the same representations as he is making here in the Scottish Parliament.
In last week’s schools debate, the cabinet secretary acknowledged my point that children only have their education once. The fact is that an entire generation of children in Kemnay face the prospect of receiving their education in a substandard learning environment. Will the cabinet secretary or his colleague today give a commitment to bring forward the £38 million that Aberdeenshire Council estimates is needed to replace the school? We must bear in mind the fact that, in relation to the two schools to which the minister referred, Aberdeenshire Council already has to find the two thirds of the costs, so the money is not coming only from Government.
I think that the member will find that the Government bears two thirds of the costs of the two schools that have been proposed, not the councils. Perhaps he should check that fact.
I am sure that the member is aware of the legacy of buildings that the Government has to deal with. In a time of substantial financial constraints, it might not be possible to deal with all of that in the course of one session, so perhaps the best thing for Mr Rumbles to do would be to campaign for the re-election of a Scottish National Party Government so that we can continue the work.
It is worth pointing out that Ellon and Mearns academies were the top priorities for the council when we took office, and we met the council’s requests.
School Provision (Planning Developments)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether education authorities are obliged to take account of major planning developments in their area when planning primary and secondary school provision. (S3O-9816)
In fulfilling their duty to provide adequate and efficient education within their areas, local authorities regularly review their school stock in light of many changing factors, including population patterns and educational needs. Major planning developments might lead to changes in the local school age population, which should, of course, be taken account of by education authorities. Whether such changes require changes to the local primary and secondary provision will depend entirely on local circumstances.
I would like to draw the minister’s attention to two examples in my constituency of situations in which the number of new houses and the school provision has got extraordinarily out of kilter. The first is the well-known case of St Ninian’s in Eastwood—not, admittedly, in my constituency, but overlapping the border—whose capacity has been overwhelmed by new house building in Glasgow and East Renfrewshire. The second is in the Drumsagard area of Cambuslang, where some children are having to be shipped to a school a mile away because nobody seemed to notice that 2,000 new houses had been built in the vicinity. Does the cabinet secretary agree that it is time that councils were required to take greater account of that sort of thing in their education provision?
I agree with Mr Brown that councils should take account of such factors. There is a requirement in the law for councils to provide adequate and efficient education in their areas. By definition, that means that councils should know what is happening in their areas and should plan ahead.
I am happy to meet the member or anyone else to discuss the individual circumstances that the member mentions. However, the responsibility lies with the local authorities. Of course, the fact that local authorities are also planning authorities means that we should be entitled to think that one side knows what the other is doing.
We are extremely supportive of councils thinking ahead and deciding how they should provide. The debates that we are having in Scotland about how we can ensure that that process continually improves can only help with regard to the member’s concerns.
School Inspections
To ask the Scottish Government how often schools receive inspections. (S3O-9854)
In line with a commitment made by the previous Administration, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education inspects on a generational cycle. Currently, all primary schools and pre-school centres will be inspected over the seven years from 2008-09 to 2014-15, and every secondary school will be inspected over the six years from 2008-09 to 2013-14. In all sectors, some schools and centres will have additional follow-through inspections, and further inspections might be carried out in response to special circumstances.
Current school inspections seem to be based on a tick-box mentality, with a desire on the inspectors’ parts to find and highlight only faults. There appears to be little in the way of supportive encouragement to headteachers—indeed, the opposite often seems to be the case. What does the cabinet secretary plan to do to improve that apparently flawed system?
Since coming into this post, I have made it clear that the system of inspection needs to be reformed, to an extent. I am pleased that the new senior chief inspector of education agrees with me. I must pay tribute to his predecessor, Graham Donaldson, who made significant changes in the means of inspection.
HMIE began to revise its inspection models in January 2007. The revised models were based on a set of principles, which were agreed with stakeholders after a pilot period, and were fully adopted in August 2008. I will be happy to meet the member to discuss in more detail those approaches to inspection and to facilitate a discussion between him and the inspectorate. The revised models have significantly reduced the pre-inspection demands and focus on how well a school knows itself and is engaged in planning its future and work for its pupils.
There is always room to take such issues further and involve people more. With the new senior chief inspector, I have focused on issues to do with small school inspections, in relation to which special considerations must be taken into account. We are making progress. The member will be pleased to hear that later this month I will meet a group of senior inspectors, teachers, parents and others for a discussion about how the system is working and how we can take it further.
Europe, External Affairs and Culture
Design and Creative Industries
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for bringing together the design and creative industries, following the closure of the Lighthouse, in Glasgow, and what role creative Scotland is expected to play in the development of the design and creative industries sector. (S3O-9804)
The Lighthouse building is not closed. Government support has enabled it to stay open. Staff from the Lighthouse Trust transferred to Architecture and Design Scotland, to maintain our architecture programmes. Proposals are being explored to find financially viable options for the Lighthouse so that it can continue to make a major contribution to architecture and design in Scotland.
Creative Scotland will work with a wide range of partners to support architecture and design in Scotland, which are an important part of our creative industries. One of the new reference groups that are being established under Scotland’s creative industries partnership will consider how best to support the needs of design services, including architecture, to ensure that the sector can flourish.
I am a former chair of the Lighthouse, so I am delighted that the building did not close. I pay tribute to the minister, her predecessor and Glasgow City Council for ensuring that the architecture aspect of the Lighthouse’s activities has continued.
There remain concerns about the creative industry sector. Design was a component of the Glasgow 1999 festival of architecture and design, out of which the Lighthouse came. It is important that we maintain the dynamism of the creative sector. Are there plans for a venue in the west of Scotland or elsewhere, where the creative industries could come together in the way that was envisaged when the Lighthouse was established?
I reassure the member that I share his concern to ensure that we have a vibrant and dynamic sector. It is important that we listen to everyone involved. Discussions are going on that involve Glasgow City Council, which owns the Lighthouse building. It would be wrong to pre-empt the outcome of the discussions, but positive suggestions are coming forward, which we will consider carefully.
National Galleries of Scotland
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the National Galleries of Scotland to extend the scope of exhibits made available to other museums and galleries across Scotland. (S3O-9779)
The Scottish Government has regular discussions with the National Galleries of Scotland on a wide range of issues. The galleries are developing the concept of a gallery without walls, to embrace all their partnership activity. In 2009, exhibitions or displays were lent to galleries in Aberdeen, Dumfries, Glasgow, Inverness, Banff, Kirkcudbright, Kilmarnock, Perth and Stromness. There will be further tours to Aberdeen, Banff, Glasgow, Perth and Inverness and NGS will also travel to Dundee, Stornoway, Thurso, Fort William and Helmsdale in 2010 with its latest exhibitions.
I welcome the minister’s positive response. She will be aware that I successfully campaigned alongside the Evening Times for Titian’s “Diana and Actaeon”, which was purchased with the aid of taxpayers’ money, to be brought to Glasgow. I very much look forward to seeing the painting in Glasgow in July. However, it will spend more time on loan in the United States than it will spend in Scotland on its short, three-month tour.
Given that thousands of exhibits are currently in storage and that the National Galleries of Scotland had access to public funds of up to £41 million in 2008-09, will the minister ensure that works by, for example, Botticelli, Cézanne, Raeburn and Blake are considered for display in venues throughout Scotland?
The member is aware that I cannot direct the National Galleries of Scotland and would not seek to do so. However, I am sure that NGS will pay close attention to what the member has said. There has been major progress on sharing the artworks of Scotland, through exhibitions.
On managing collections, we must ensure that we reach out and internationalise, and celebrate Scotland’s exhibitions in other countries. It is equally important that we take responsibility for our collections when they are here and ensure that we maximise them. The painting "Diana and Actaeon" is at Kelvingrove art gallery and museum from 1 July to 1 August, and I hope that Bill Butler will be first in the queue to welcome it.
We would all accept that our magnificent national collections should be shared with other museums across Scotland, but does the minister agree that the National Galleries of Scotland still does not fully reflect the scope and quality of artists working in Scotland? Will she seek answers from the National Galleries as to why Scotland’s most popular living artist, Jack Vettriano, has thus far not had a work included in any of the permanent collections?
I can seek answers from the National Galleries on behalf of Ted Brocklebank. I, too, welcome Jack Vettriano’s talent and the pleasure that many people experience from his work. However, despite constant requests from others for me to direct the National Galleries, the member will understand that it would not be appropriate for me to do so.
Visiting exhibitions, which are very welcome, come to Glasgow from the National Galleries of Scotland, but does the minister welcome the prospect of a permanent, curator-led NGS facility in Glasgow? I have had talks with Ben Thomson, chair of the National Galleries of Scotland, and with Culture and Sport Glasgow over a period of months on bringing such a facility to Glasgow, and I hope that it can be achieved. Does the minister believe that we should head in that direction?
I commend the member for his active pursuit of sharing the available resources. I encourage the National Galleries and Glasgow City Council to work collaboratively on a range of issues. Decisions about what would be permanent and what would be loans would obviously be up to the two bodies concerned, but I would expect a constructive approach from both. Indeed, I encourage them to have further dialogue with Bill Kidd to ensure that we make best use of our best exhibitions and have the best opportunities to share across Scotland the talent that we have in Scotland.
Scotland and Catalunya (Cultural Links)
To ask the Scottish Government whether it supports the development of cultural links between Scotland and Catalunya by, for example, encouraging the organisation and holding of football matches between their teams. (S3O-9840)
The Scottish Government has long enjoyed strong cultural and other links with Catalonia. In December 2008, the First Minister met the Catalan president and agreed to strengthen economic, cultural and sporting links between Scotland and Catalonia.
Scottish international fixtures are a matter for the Scottish Football Association. The SFA has told us that the 2012 qualifying campaign is its priority at the moment and any fixtures chosen will be expected to support that. However, I would encourage Catalan officials to contact the SFA to discuss further their ambitions to hold football matches with the Scotland football team.
The minister will be aware that Catalunya has undertaken a number of matches over the years against the full international sides of Argentina, Brazil and Nigeria, to name but three. Does she agree that a match between Scotland and Catalunya, preferably at Hampden, would encourage and enhance links between Scotland and Catalunya, bring tourists and revenue to Scotland and give our national side an idea of what it can expect when meeting Spain in the European qualifiers?
Unfortunately, my responsibilities as minister do not extend to fixing or arranging matches and international fixtures. However, I agree that collaborative approaches, whether in sports or culture, should be pursued. Indeed, the First Minister spoke with the Catalans about, for example, BBC Alba and TV3, the Catalonian television station, sharing programme experience. Obviously, we have just had the fantastic Gaudi exhibition at the Lighthouse, to which I referred in my previous response to Des McNulty, who has unfortunately now left the chamber. Therefore, we are pursuing collaborative approaches in such areas. However, I am afraid that I might have to leave the subject of football to the Minister for Public Health and Sport and, probably more important, the SFA.
Will the minister join me in commemorating the 25 th anniversary this year of the European cup quarter-final between Dundee United and Barcelona, in which, in a brilliant second leg in Barcelona, despite losing 1-0 at half time, following brilliant goals from Ian Redford and Paul Sturrock, Dundee United emerged to win the game and was applauded off the field by the Barcelona supporters? Will the minister acknowledge that, having had that experience, the Catalunyans are probably feart?
That may have been funny, but it was complete misuse of a question.
I think that Glasgow would welcome any Barcelona fans, as I am sure it has done in the past. The only time that I saw Dundee United play was during Celtic’s centenary year, when I think Celtic beat them in the Scottish cup final.
Victoria and Albert Museum (Dundee)
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made towards establishing the Victoria and Albert Museum in Dundee. (S3O-9839)
I apologise to the member, who probably did not like my last answer.
The V&A in Dundee is being created through a partnership between the V&A Museum and the University of Dundee, the University of Abertay Dundee, Dundee City Council and Scottish Enterprise. The Scottish Government is supporting the partnership in developing a robust business case to help to seek funding from a variety of private and public sources. The partnership has launched a high-profile architectural competition for the new building. I look forward to meeting the partnership later this month to hear of further progress.
I thank the minister for that answer, which I do prefer to the previous one. I welcome the Scottish Government’s continued support for this vital project, which will be the jewel in the crown of Dundee’s redeveloped waterfront. It will create 900 permanent jobs, as well as affording opportunities to our construction industry. What response has there been from the international community to the architectural competition that she mentioned?
I understand that there has been extensive international interest, but the people who are in charge of the project will be able to give a better summary of the situation. I am looking forward to getting feedback from them on that. The project has extremely strong potential to help develop Dundee, but as far as the Scottish Government’s responsibilities are concerned, we look forward to receiving a strong and robust business case for the V&A in Dundee. We are highly appreciative of the fact that there has been such strong international interest in what could be a groundbreaking project involving the design of a purpose-built facility. We will all try to support it in whatever way we can.
The minister will be aware that her predecessor, Mike Russell, visited Dundee to announce that the Scottish Government would make a financial investment in the V&A project in the city. As he has already committed the Scottish Government to that investment, will the minister, as his successor, now indicate that in addition to the work that she has outlined she will make the project a priority and argue for its funding in the Cabinet?
I do not think that the member was at the event at which I was involved in launching the architectural competition. I know that Shona Robison, Stewart Hosie and Joe FitzPatrick were, and they will have heard my firm commitment on behalf of the Scottish Government. We obviously have to see the business plan, which we expect to be robust, but when I gave my commitment, the Government was highly supportive of the project and it continues to be so.
Scottish Opera (Funding)
To ask the Scottish Government what level of funding Scottish Opera receives. (S3O-9859)
Scottish Opera is expected to receive £8,628,000 in core funding from the Scottish Government in the financial year 2009-10, and £8,713,000 in 2010-11.
As the minister will be aware, in June 2008 I asked whether Scottish Opera’s funding level was comparable with that of Opera North. Opera North will receive funding of £10 million in 2010-11.
The minister will be aware of Scottish Opera’s current outreach tour, but does she know whether Scottish Opera plans to extend the number of outreach performances throughout Scotland? Does Scottish Opera’s programme continue to benefit from co-productions with Opera North?
I certainly know that there have been co-productions in the past. I do not know the answer to the question about current collaborations, but I will find out and get back to the member on that.
I took the opportunity to look at the most recent figures that we have to hand comparing Scottish Opera with Opera North. The question is not just the amount of money that is spent on a particular company, but what it does with that money. I am pleased to say that in 2008 Scottish Opera had audiences of 76,523 and Opera North had audiences of 78,223. That represents only a marginal difference of 1,700 in what were large numbers. On education, the figure for Scottish Opera was 35,973 and that for Opera North was only 5,000, so we must recognise the work that Scottish Opera is doing in that area. On outreach, it is doing a great deal more.
I also commend The Scottish Sun for its sponsorship and support of Scottish Opera’s recent performance of “La Bohème”. It helped to provide tickets at the cut price of £9.50, and it was a sell-out. It was a fantastic performance, but what was important was the reception that the people of Glasgow gave to Scottish Opera. That will benefit the city and Scottish Opera, and I understand that ticket sales have improved for the whole run of “La Bohème”, perhaps because of The Scottish Sun’s popular campaign.
The Gathering 2009 Ltd
To ask the Scottish Executive how much public money has been provided to support The Gathering 2009 Ltd since its inception. (S3O-9811)
Prior to the gathering event last July, the Scottish Government provided The Gathering 2009 Ltd, a private limited company, with a loan of £180,000 to assist it to address specific cash flow difficulties. A range of public sector partners provided grant support to the gathering event in order to increase its economic impact.
The gathering event was a success, generating £10.4 million for Scotland, but it became apparent some weeks after the event that The Gathering 2009 Ltd had encountered serious financial difficulties. The public sector partners involved in the gathering event judged the company’s debts to them to be irrecoverable and took the decision not to recover the amounts that they were owed.
Given the Government’s vocal public support for the gathering, what steps did it take to ensure that the company was viable before public investment and loans were made of such large sums? What steps will the Government now take to assist the many small companies that believed The Gathering 2009 Ltd was viable but have now been left high and dry by the company’s liquidation and the failure of rescue talks?
The private company is now in liquidation and any future questions on that can be directed to Jim Mather.
On Government support, a business plan was put forward in 2008 and at that time the Government supported the Highland games element of the gathering and the educational outreach. As I said in my first answer, subsequently we gave support in a number of areas to help to promote economic activity and the loan that helped to support the event.
Question 7 was not lodged.
Music Teaching (Fife)
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will support the culture of musical excellence in Fife, given the proposals by Fife Council to halve the number of visiting music teachers in Fife and the potential impact that that will have on Fife’s cultural heritage, local music groups such as Fife youth orchestra and events such as the Fife festival of music. (S3O-9795)
Fife has a thriving musical and cultural scene, which is supported in a number of ways. The Scottish Government pursues its aims for the cultural sector through working with our partner the Scottish Arts Council, particularly through the youth music initiative, and through supporting the work of higher and further education institutions. In addition, the Scottish Government provides funding for local cultural services through the local government finance settlement.
From her answer, I know that the minister is aware of the cultural and social importance of music to Fife, particularly in traditional mining areas. The proposed 50 per cent cuts will result in 17 members of staff losing their job in each of the next three years, and I hope that the minister agrees that that is unacceptable. Does the minister agree that those cuts will have a detrimental effect on the culture of music excellence in Fife? What steps will she take to ensure that there are opportunities for young people in Fife who want to pursue music and that the cuts do not introduce a two-tier system in which access is based on the ability to pay?
I remind the member that my responsibility for funding of musical tuition is in the form of the youth music initiative, which continues to be paid more than £0.5 million, which is the same as previously. I understand from Fife Council that the member’s figures on the impact of the cuts are 34 per cent out. The member would be better to direct her attention to the Labour Government at Westminster where she should seek reassurance that there will not be an emergency budget that will put greater pressure on the Scottish block and on councils. That would be the best thing for the member to do if she wants to continue to support music and music tuition in Scotland.
Culture and Sport Glasgow
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of Culture and Sport Glasgow and what issues relating to its cultural remit were discussed. (S3O-9803)
I had an introductory meeting with Bailie Liz Cameron, the chief executive officer of Culture and Sport Glasgow, on 19 January 2010, during which we had an initial discussion about current and future plans for museums and the arts in Glasgow. I intend to visit Glasgow in the near future to hold full discussions with Culture and Sport Glasgow colleagues and to visit some of the cultural service providers.
Scottish Government officials last met representatives of Culture and Sport Glasgow on 22 February 2010 at the 2012/2014 cultural strategic overview group, which the Scottish Government chairs. The group received an update on the cultural legacy for the Olympic and Commonwealth games and discussed activity relating to the Delhi handover.
I declare an interest in that half of Glasgow’s museums and galleries are in my constituency. The Kelvingrove art gallery and museum is the most visited museum in the United Kingdom outwith London, yet it receives no national funding. I welcome the Government’s setting-up of the museums think tank and the work that it is doing. Will the minister confirm that that was, in part, a response to the view that it was unfair for Glasgow not to receive any national funding? What does the minister expect to come out of the think tank for Glasgow? Does she believe that it will result in a fairer deal regarding the funding of Glasgow’s museums and galleries?
I congratulate the member on having so many museums and galleries in her constituency. The newly refitted Kelvingrove art gallery and museum makes a fantastic contribution to the cultural scene not just in Glasgow, but in Scotland. She said that the museum receives no Government funding, but the Government did provide capital funding to support its refurbishment.
The museums think tank was set up by my predecessor to consider how we can have a more integrated, supportive sector that provides support and access throughout Scotland, not just in Glasgow. The think tank has been active in its deliberations and I look forward to the results of those soon. I will be happy to share the conclusions of the think tank with the member once we have them.
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First Minister’s Question Time