Sandesh Gulhane’s point is timeous, given the concerns that have been raised around the commissioning of public service broadcasting in Scotland. If he has an interest in that area, I would be interested to hear not just his views but those of his constituents who have raised their concerns. I share some of those concerns about public service commissioning in relation to productions in Scotland. No doubt we will hear more about that in the weeks and months ahead.

I turn to the budget issue, which everybody agrees is key. I am sure that everybody is aware of the Scottish Government’s proposals for a draft budget, which, if the Scottish Parliament passes it in February, will be transformational for the culture sector. A significant uplift has been achieved despite the fiscal challenges that all portfolios face, which reflects the value that the Government places on culture in Scotland. With a £34 million boost in 2025-26, the budget brings the Scottish Government halfway to reaching its five-year commitment to provide at least £100 million more annually for the sector by 2028-29. I can also confirm that, for 2026-27, subject to the normal budget processes, our aim is to deliver a further £20 million increase for the sector.

I draw Murdo Fraser’s attention to the budget proposal, which sees funding go up for local government as well as for the culture sector. If he cares as much about that issue as he suggests in the chamber, I look forward to him voting for the Government’s budget in February.

A further £20 million in the next financial year will enable Creative Scotland to offer regular funding to the largest ever number of organisations across the country, ensuring that even more people can get involved in cultural and creative pursuits and benefit from the increased wellbeing that comes from self-expression, creativity and connecting with others through culture.

I know how important it is to ensure that that additional funding provides the maximum impact for those working across the sector. That is why the Scottish Government has committed to review how the sector is supported, including by carrying out a review of Creative Scotland. That will involve working with partners across the public, private and third sectors to find ways to grow the overall funding pot for culture, to diversify funding streams and to support the sector to move forward on a more sustainable footing.

I have not yet met representatives of either the council or the theatre, but I have offered and if there is a wish and a willingness to do so, I will of course be content to do just that.

We are now at a critical point in deciding how, collectively, we want to support culture in Scotland. How a nation values its many cultures and heritages, its artists, its creative people and its communities is an insight into the wider values and the priorities of that society, and I ask members to reflect on that during the debate.

As culture secretary, I am immensely proud of what is already being achieved in Scotland. The 2022 Anholt-Ipsos nation brands index ranked Scotland 11th for its cultural heritage and 12th for its contemporary culture when compared with 60 other participating nations. That is a testament to the expertise, dedication and practice of our cultural organisations, creative professionals and cultural workers, and to the vitality of community culture across the country.

In the past few years alone, I have witnessed astonishing growth in the screen sector in Scotland, with more quality productions than ever before choosing to come to Scotland, from Leith to Stornoway. Many members will have seen “The Outrun”, which used the natural beauty of the Orkney Islands to stunning effect and is just one of the recent examples of a successful Screen Scotland-supported production. Today sees the first broadcast of high-end Gaelic drama television series “An t-Eilean”—“The Island”—which can be seen on BBC Alba, BBC Four and the BBC iPlayer. I extend congratulations to MG Alba, BBC Alba, Black Camel Pictures, All3Media International and Screen Scotland.

That is a thoughtful question from Daniel Johnson. He raises points that will be reflected in the forthcoming review of the operation of Creative Scotland. He is right to point out that it is not just about the main vehicle of public funding to support creative and artistic organisations. We have national performing companies and national organisations, such as galleries, libraries and museums, and the structure of the funding needs to be thought about right across the piece. That also involves the likes of our enterprise agencies. If the member has specific suggestions, I would be very keen to see them—as, I am sure, the incoming chair of the review would be.

As Alexander Stewart knows, I am a great supporter of music teaching in schools, and I would be greatly concerned if there was any diminution of that, because this Government has a good record of supporting teaching across Scotland. I am content to write to him to give him more detail on that.

The forthcoming budget provides for additional resources for local government and for record funding for culture and the arts. If Mr Stewart is keen for local government and the sector to have the means to make that provision, I hope that he will vote for that in the budget and not just raise questions at question time. He actually has a vote—he can influence things—and I hope that he will vote for the budget.

I appreciate—as, I suspect, do MSPs across the chamber—the importance of the Creative Scotland multiyear funding process, and I look forward to Creative Scotland announcing the outcome of that process later this month. I have heard concerns about the complex nature of the application process, and I expect that to form part of the review of Creative Scotland that was announced in the programme for government in September.

Next week, we will launch a survey that will help to inform the scope of the review of Creative Scotland and the wider work on how the culture sector is supported. If Collette Stevenson or other colleagues have feedback from within the culture and arts community on the application processes or any other reflections on Creative Scotland, I encourage them to take part in the forthcoming review.

The Scottish Government recognises the value of independent cinemas to our communities, and we continue to work closely with Screen Scotland and partners to support the development of such cinemas for Scotland’s audiences today and in the long term.

Screen Scotland’s strategy and its funding, which will increase by £2 million in 2025-26, support inclusive and sustainable growth of our screen sector, with a focus on ensuring wide access to cinema and a diverse range of screen content. That includes support for cultural cinema venues, organisations, touring programmes, independent film exhibitors and the distribution of Scottish titles across Scotland.

I very much recognise the huge value that the Belmont and cultural cinema as a whole bring to Scotland’s creative landscape. Cinemas such as the Belmont are a vital source of cultural experience, community connection, learning and wellbeing. Since the cinema’s closure in 2022, Screen Scotland has provided £320,000 in funding to support reopening of the Belmont.

The budget for 2025-26 includes a further £20 million for Creative Scotland for its multiyear funding programme, which will enable Creative Scotland to roll out that programme, thereby ensuring that the highest-ever number of artists and organisations receive regular funding.

The Scottish Government will continue to liaise with Screen Scotland to explore all viable options to deliver sustainable cultural cinema for our communities right across Scotland.

That is the first time that I am hearing that we will have Labour’s support for the budget, which I very much welcome, and I look forward to Mercedes Villalba voting for the increase in culture and arts funding when it comes before the chamber.

I will be content to write to her and other colleagues who have been asking specifically about the Belmont. As the member probably knows, I lived in Aberdeen for some time and was happy to support the Belmont. I would look forward to its succeeding in the future. I have already met the team who are running the cinema, and I will look at every way in which we could support it.

The First Minister and the president of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities wrote to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 3 January, supported by 48 public and voluntary sector organisations, to raise concerns about the impact of the increase in employer national insurance contributions and to seek clarity on funding. The estimated impact of the UK Government’s decision on the five culture public bodies is as follows: £1.046 million for the three national collections, £1.7 million for Historic Environment Scotland and £150,000 for Creative Scotland. Early estimates suggest an additional liability of £250,000 for National Records of Scotland’s core staffing costs.