Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government directly funds Museums Galleries Scotland and Historic Environment Scotland to support the sector by providing advice and grants to organisations across Scotland. In 2026-27, we will provide £6.25 million of resource funding to MGS, which includes funding to continue the flagship museum futures programme as well as £1.6 million in capital funding. In addition, we support Historic Environment Scotland, which offers a grant scheme of around £13.5 million a year.

I encourage the Adam Smith heritage centre to engage with MGS and HES on sector-specific support, as well as VisitScotland and Scottish Enterprise, to help to maximise its potential.

The Scottish Government funds our national cultural body, Creative Scotland, which has funding programmes that are open to creative authors. Organisations that receive Creative Scotland multiyear funding, such as the Scottish Book Trust and the Gaelic Books Council, also support creative authors. There is also support for a wide range of book festivals, which enable creative authors to platform their work and engage with audiences.

The Scottish Government also funds organisations that preserve and promote Scotland’s arts, culture and heritage, including the National Records of Scotland, the National Library of Scotland, Museums Galleries Scotland and Historic Environment Scotland.

As of 1 February 2026, 450 of 461 public libraries across Scotland were open, with a further eight libraries scheduled to reopen. Some remain closed due to refurbishment or reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete inspections.

The Scottish Government places great importance on public libraries and believes that everyone should have access to library services. The Scottish Library and Information Council has convened a short-life advisory group to explore good-quality public library services, and I look forward to receiving its recommendations shortly.

I will in a second; I just want to finish this point.

The presence of the Bella 1 in Scottish waters emphasises the fact that international events directly impact on the responsibilities of the Scottish Government.

I have already said that I am not taking further interventions.

We disagreed fundamentally with the US in relation to Greenland, and we spoke against threats of economic coercion. We will not hesitate to restate that position while maintaining ties of friendship and family with the US. We recognise that our relationship will be tested, and we will continue to speak out in support of Scotland’s interests and Scotland’s values.

It is no surprise to any member in the chamber that I support Scotland becoming a sovereign state. That would involve the ability to determine our own defence and security policy and to underline our solidarity with neighbours and treaty partners, including the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, as a non-nuclear-hosting nation just like our Nordic neighbours. It would also allow this Parliament and Government to determine the use of our military and civilian air facilities and other facilities.

Members will be aware of my track record in highlighting to the Council of Europe the suspected use of airports for rendition flights, and I fully understand why having legal agency in landing rights for flights is relevant and important. However, at present, foreign affairs, defence, national security and air transport policy powers are all reserved to the United Kingdom Parliament and the UK Government.

The Green Party motion appears to invite us to consider taking steps in contravention of the Scotland Act 1998, which, clearly, we would not be able to do. The amendment in my name would, instead, reaffirm our commitment—across the whole chamber, I would hope—to support domestic and international law and the rules-based order, which is relevant in the case of the recently interdicted Russian shadow fleet vessel; our commitment to support the future of Greenland determined by Greenland and Denmark; and our commitment to Ukraine and a just peace to which its people are agreeable.

I move amendment S6M-20819.3, to leave out from “strongly” to end and insert:

“supports Scots law, international law and the rules-based order; respects the future of Greenland as a matter for the people of Greenland and Denmark; is unwavering in its solidarity with and support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s illegal invasion; supports international sanctions against the Putin regime and the interdiction of its shadow fleet, and encourages the international community to secure a just peace acceptable to Ukraine.”

15:09

Rhoda Grant would acknowledge that the Government is currently providing the biggest uplift in cultural spending in Scotland in the history of devolution, other than during Covid. When it comes to multiyear funding of organisations and project streams, the Scottish Government is playing its part. It is very disappointing if local authority partners see culture and arts as the first area to cut.

The 2026-27 budget delivers record funding of almost £15.7 billion for local authorities, which is a real-terms increase of 2 per cent. That includes funding of £124.7 million for Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, which is an increase of £6.7 million. It is for locally elected representatives to decide on the delivery of services in their local communities, but I recognise the deep concerns that have been raised by cultural organisations in the Western Isles.

VisitScotland has made significant progress on measures to improve efficiency and better tailor and target the support that it provides. A key focus of VisitScotland remains how it can continue to evolve to best meet the ever-changing demands of the visitor and events economy, while ensuring that public funds are used to maximum effect. The Minister for Business and Employment engages regularly with VisitScotland, and I will ensure that Ms Tweed’s views are conveyed to its chief executive when they meet again next month.

I am glad that the Greens have finally raised Ukraine and Russia in the debate. I will come on to the United States in a moment.

Next week, as I mentioned, it will be four years since Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russia predicted victory within days. Now, almost four years later, Ukraine continues its heroic fight for its survival, and Scotland has welcomed many displaced families who have sought refuge here. As a Parliament, time and again, we have stood with the people of Ukraine in defiance of aggression. I ask the Parliament to once again affirm its support for Ukraine and for international law and to condemn the devastation that has been caused by Russia.

If we accept the principles of international law, we must support action where that law is flouted. Regimes that undermine the rule of law and illegally invade their neighbours should face consequences. It is therefore correct that Russia faces sanctions. This Government therefore supports the UK Government’s action against Russia’s shadow fleet—a fleet that prolongs the suffering by financing Russia’s aggression. I believe in international co-operation in partnership with our allies. That is founded on the belief that, if we want to maintain a rules-based international order, we must ourselves abide by those rules.

I listened closely to what has just been raised, which is a matter of concern. Our proceedings are watched outside the chamber, including by the likes of the Scottish Library and Information Council. I would be grateful if the member could forward me information about those cases, because that sounds very concerning. I would like to look a lot more closely at that and to draw the issue to the attention of the council.

I recognise the important role that libraries and community centres play in providing access to information technology, improving attainment, supporting children in the early years, helping and engaging older people, empowering our communities and much more besides. The Scottish Government supports public libraries via the Scottish Library and Information Council. In 2026-27, SLIC will receive an additional £100,000, taking its funding to £1.035 million. That includes funding for the public library improvement fund, which enables libraries to undertake a wide range of pioneering projects in communities.