I thank Lorna Slater for securing the debate and I pay tribute to Christine Grahame, Edward Mountain, Neil Bibby, Patrick Harvie, Emma Roddick, Douglas Lumsden and Mark Ruskell for their speeches.

There is one reflection from this debate and the one earlier today that has not been teased out and reflected on much but which it is important to air in the Parliament. It is something on which I hope that there is agreement between parliamentarians and parties: that democracy is not a moment in time. It is not a single vote or a single question but how we govern our society. We trust the public to be able to use it, regardless of the party that they vote for or how they determine a question, which might be a constitutional question, of course.

That is why we regularly get to choose who represents us at what level—at local government, at Scotland’s national level, at UK level and, previously, at European level. It also means that, more than once, we have been able to discuss, debate and decide on the constitution of the UK in relation to Scottish self-government. A devolution referendum was held not once but twice.

The Scottish Government places great importance on cultural activity in the local community. We believe that young people of all backgrounds should have the opportunity to access quality cultural services in their local area.

The Scottish Government supports a range of organisations through Creative Scotland. In the Cunninghame South constituency, those include the Irvine and Dreghorn brass band and the music education partnership We Make Music libraries group, which caters to young people specifically. We also provide upwards of £190,000 in support for North Ayrshire Council’s highly regarded youth music initiative programme, which is based in Cunninghame and whose work reaches all schools in the local authority area.

We know that it is vital to nurture culture and creativity across all of Scotland’s communities. The funding that we provide via Creative Scotland reaches individuals, organisations and projects across the whole of Scotland. For example, our long-standing investment—of more than £150 million since 2007—in the youth music initiative continues to support and empower young people in all of Scotland’s 32 local authorities. It allows young people to access music-making and learning opportunities, with every pupil being offered a year of free music tuition by the end of primary school.

I have just outlined a series of ways in which cultural provision is being delivered and protected in local authorities, including in the region that Katy Clark represents. If she has particular examples of cultural services that have been cut that I may not be aware of, I would be perfectly happy to take a look at that.

I am absolutely committed to ensuring that Scotland’s culture and arts agencies, which deliver in different ways, do so right across Scotland, and that young people—no matter where they are or what their background—are given the option of participating in cultural activities. I look forward to the member reaching out to me with any information that she may have.

I start by acknowledging Paul Sweeney’s long-standing interest in this area. The Scottish Government delivers support for the historic environment through sponsorship of Historic Environment Scotland, the lead public body for the protection and preservation of the historic environment.

As reported in its 2023-24 grants funding report, Historic Environment Scotland delivers more than £13 million of grant funding each year for the protection and promotion of the historic environment in projects across Scotland.

The point that Beatrice Wishart raises is very apposite. I have often heard from colleagues with specific issues focused on stonemasonry, but other traditional skills are essential for us to maintain our historic and built environment. A lot of effort is going on behind the scenes to ensure that our places of learning at a variety of levels allow young people to accrue the skills that are necessary for those undertakings.

I will write to Beatrice Wishart to update her on that. If she has any specific issues relating to her constituency or others in the wider region, I would be keen to hear from her on that.

Given the rhetoric that we heard a moment ago, it is very disappointing to hear that Labour local authorities, such as Clare Haughey’s own, are cutting library services and closing libraries. Public libraries in Scotland are devolved to local authorities, and they have a statutory duty to ensure that there is adequate provision of library services for residents. However, the Scottish Government recognises the significant financial pressures and community-level impacts that flow from 14 years of Westminster austerity. The Labour Government has confirmed that it is to continue that austerity, with £22 billion-worth of public spending cuts.

With all roads leading back to Westminster, as we hear and as the Labour Government acknowledges, the First Minister has been clear that we need an injection of investment in our public services, not more cuts.

As I said, it is a matter of fact that the Scottish Government has increased culture sector funding this financial year by more than £15 million, which is the first step towards achieving the First Minister’s commitment to invest at least £100 million more annually in culture and the arts by 2028-29. The commitment to additional funding comes despite the challenging budget situation, and it signals the Scottish Government’s continued confidence in the culture sector and the value that we place on it.

The Scottish budget continues to face significant challenges, and no additional funding was confirmed in the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s recent statement. As is normal practice, any consequentials will be confirmed, in early 2025, as part of the supplementary estimates process. The Scottish Government will, of course, continue to work with the new UK Government to seek clarity on any changes that might have an impact on funding in Scotland.

Kevin Stewart makes very good points. It is a statement of fact that the Scottish electorate was mis-sold in 2014. It was told that it should vote no to protect Scotland’s place in the European Union. Since then, we have been taken out against the democratic will of the majority of people in this country.

Independent research organisations and the Office for Budget Responsibility have been tracking the economic impact of Brexit since the referendum in 2016, when Scotland voted overwhelmingly to remain in the European Union. According to analysis by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, the UK economy was 2.5 per cent smaller in 2023, and it expects that figure to rise to 5.7 per cent by 2035. That equates to around £69 billion in output and £28 billion in public revenues lost as a consequence of Brexit. That immense economic hole is a stark reminder of the price of Labour’s continued support for Brexit.

Scottish Government officials have met Channel 4 on several occasions, and I met the chief executive of Channel 4 on 23 May.

In our communications with Channel 4 and the regulator, Ofcom, including letters that were sent on 26 April, 25 June and 28 August, we have challenged the inadequate made outside England quotas that are proposed and have set out our expectation that they should be increased to at least 16 per cent, with individual nation quotas. The Scottish Government also responded to both of Ofcom’s consultations on 14 February and 28 August to set out those views.