Chamber and committees

I very much hope that that is the case. This type of discussion is exactly the same as discussions that we have had in recent years as a result of the pressures elsewhere in the culture sector. For example, the national collections, national museums and others have perhaps not had the allocation that they require in year, but they need assurances—in the case of some organisations, around staff and staff pay—to be able to report to board members, trustees and people who have fiduciary responsibilities.

As I am sure that Mr Harvie will appreciate, it is not simple for the Government to commit to something in a forward budgetary process. For example, with multiyear funding, we were able to confirm what we were going to deliver in the first year of multiyear funding, and what the intention was in year 2. That was very much about giving people a degree of assurance, in as much as a commitment can be given for the next year. Mr Harvie pointed to an additional reality that we need to recognise, which is that we have an election coming up.

I can speak only for my party in relation to what commitments might be given, but I encourage all colleagues in all political parties, in their manifestos, to give the same degree of commitment that my party will provide. That will help to give companies maximum clarity and assurance, so that no decisions that are avoidable need be taken by those companies or by anybody else.

Absolutely.

The fact that we have delivered 70 per cent—£70 million in total—of the £100 million increase should give people confidence that we are delivering on the aspirations of the culture sector. However, that in itself is only the revenue side of the picture, as I am sure that Mr Halcro Johnston would acknowledge.

One can look at other specific projects that are a major boost to confidence in the sector. Look at what is happening with the Dunard centre, the art works project and the King’s theatre and at what has already been delivered for the Citizens Theatre. The Scottish Government has made significant intervention in a load of areas that are giving people confidence and providing amazing venues. The art works project, for example, will be absolutely groundbreaking in relation to how Scotland’s national treasures are housed and opened to the public. Those things are happening.

Do I acknowledge that we are not there yet? Have we delivered 100 per cent of the £100 million increase that we committed to? No, we are not there yet, but we are 70 per cent of the way there, and with the encouragement of the likes of the national performing companies, members of this committee and others to make sure that we get there, we will do so.

11:15

The first thing to say is to assure Mr Halcro Johnston that work with local government is indeed on-going. Not that long ago, I met the culture conveners of local authorities—the people who are responsible for the provision of culture by local authorities, of all parties and none—and there was a shared commitment to maintaining cultural infrastructure, which is delivered currently—

Among other things, that funding is important for local government. I was able to point to the increased funding that is being delivered for local authorities. We have to work in partnership with local authorities to ensure that the entirety of the country has a provision of cultural service, which goes back to the initial question by Mr Brown.

Mr Halcro Johnston began his questioning with the youth music initiative and that is a good example of cultural intervention by the Scottish Government leading to delivery in every single local government area. I also draw Mr Halcro Johnston’s attention to the new youth arts open fund, which is based on the YMI model but is for other art forms. Not only do we have a model that the Scottish Government is delivering right across the country; we are trying to broaden its range to include other art forms.

Is there an on-going conversation with local authorities and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities about making sure that provision is retained right across the country? Yes, there is, and that will continue, but I am happy to confirm that that conversation is a positive one, with a commitment on both sides that we want to deliver across Scotland.

I think that Mr Bibby was here at the start of the evidence session when I confirmed the numbers to the committee—

I also took the opportunity to say that, in delivering the remainder of the £30 million uplift, which we are delivering in excess of the calls from those from Opposition parties, including Mr Bibby, my focus—

My focus in the next budgetary cycle is the national performing companies.

The Government does not have any plans, and it has not received any detailed proposals from any political party, including the Scottish Labour Party, for there to be a change to the budgetary process. If Mr Bibby wishes to confirm a detailed proposal, I would be happy to look at it. If Mr Bibby wants to send me his workings as to where he would wish to see cuts elsewhere in the culture budget and how it could be reallocated, I await that with keen interest.

This is the subject of correspondence that I have had with Mr Bibby—