No, I will not, because I am running out of time.

Patrick Harvie made the absolutely right connection between what Brexit did and how the previous UK Government acted, especially in relation to the deposit return scheme. It does not have to be that way. We have common frameworks and we now have an offer to do things differently. The Scottish Government has been working with the other Governments across the United Kingdom to finalise common frameworks and on intergovernmental mechanisms to manage policy divergence by agreement and in a manner that respects devolution.

There is an agreed process to exclude the work of the common frameworks from the 2020 act’s effect. That process was, unfortunately, not just ignored but routinely misrepresented by the previous UK Government. We now have the opportunity to work with a new UK Government that was elected on a manifesto commitment to reset relations with the devolved Governments to ensure that the exclusion process is scrupulously observed and that, in future, we take an approach that is based on mutual respect, proportionality, transparency and the use of evidence. What a welcome change that would be after recent years.

However, a properly observed process for excluding some matters from the act can only ever be a workaround, because the flaws in the act go much deeper and must be addressed. That was recognised in Parliament last October, when every party in the chamber, bar the Conservatives, supported a motion calling for the act’s repeal. The act is wholly discredited and hopelessly flawed. The Scottish Government stands ready to work with the new UK Government and the Governments of Wales and Northern Ireland to build a better system that is based on agreement and respect for the principle that drove the delivery of devolution: that decisions affecting Scotland are best taken in Scotland by this democratically elected Parliament.

Michelle Thomson’s points about the challenges are well made—in particular, about the challenges for colleagues who have to deal, in the first instance, with budgetary considerations across the Scottish Government. As the cabinet secretary who has responsibility for culture, I know that the Government has given a commitment not just to protect but to increase culture funding. I remain committed to that, as does the Government, and I look forward to updating colleagues on that in the near future.

I am sure that the Presiding Officer would wish me to focus my reply in relation to the open fund, which I know that the member is very committed to. However, he is right to point out that there are other potential income sources. The visitor levy will play an important part in that. If he has specific suggestions, I am open to hearing from him and from his colleagues.

With your permission, Presiding Officer, I will begin by mentioning today’s memorial service for Euan MacDonald, who died recently from motor neurone disease. Euan lived with MND for 20 years. In partnership with the University of Edinburgh, he established the Euan MacDonald Centre for motor neurone disease research and the voicebank study, which enables people to preserve their voice if they are at risk of losing it due to illness. Working with his sister, Kiki, he set up Euan’s Guide, which is used by disabled people to review, share and discover accessible places to visit. He was an inspiration, and I am sure that all members will extend their condolences to his family today.

In answer to Mr Stewart’s topical question, I am well aware of the potential impact on individuals of decisions made by Creative Scotland about its open fund. I extend my thanks to the many people in the culture and arts sector in particular who have been in touch to underscore how important that fund is, and I assure them and members of the Scottish Parliament that I am working extremely hard with colleagues across the Government to ensure that the appropriate funding decisions are made to sustain and support the culture and arts sector.

Announcements will follow in the pre-budget fiscal update. The Government remains committed to increasing financial support for culture and the arts.

Concerns have been raised by the creative sector, rather than by Creative Scotland itself, but I am content to meet any members of the culture and arts sector, many of whom have written to me about this very issue.

It is disappointing that Creative Scotland took the decision about the open fund before the Scottish Government could complete due diligence to release funding, as is normal practice. The Scottish Government provides significant funding to Creative Scotland each year and will continue doing so. Members will recognise my oft-stated commitment to increase funding for the culture and arts sector and I look forward to updating colleagues about that shortly.

I again make the point that the Government and I are committed to increasing funding for culture. I think that the member is aware that that stands in contrast with the outgoing United Kingdom Conservative Government and the incoming Labour Government cutting cultural funding through the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and cuts to culture in Wales by the Welsh Government.

I remain committed to securing additional funding for the culture and arts sector, because we acknowledge how important it is. I would welcome colleagues from other parties doing everything that they can to join the culture and arts community, me and my colleagues in the Government, who are doing everything that we can to get the appropriate funding in place as quickly as possible to ensure that the sector is not only safeguarded and sustained but can thrive in the future.

The point about festivals is well made. It is not just about the tremendous festivals that we have in Edinburgh. We have tremendous festivals such as Celtic Connections and others over the length and breadth of Scotland. That is why, at the time of the festivals, the Government has announced a strategic partnership with our festivals across the country, to make sure that they can thrive in the future. I remain absolutely focused on making sure that the appropriate funding is in place and that Creative Scotland has the funds that it requires to do the job that it needs to do. The support and assistance from members across the chamber and the great many people in the arts and culture community who have been in touch in recent weeks to underscore the importance of the open fund are extremely persuasive, and I am doing everything that I can in the Government to make sure that the appropriate funding is in place.

One of the particular projects that I am very supportive of is Culture Collective, which does a lot of good work in the north of Scotland and is supported through funding from the Scottish Government. I am committed to that. I am also committed, more generally, to making sure that arts funds, including the open fund, are open for artists in order to ensure that the cultural sector can thrive. I assure my colleague that everything is being done in the Government at the present time to ensure that the funding is safeguarded and is provided as a priority. I was committed to that more than a year ago and I remain committed to doing it now and into the future.

I will take absolutely no lessons on austerity from the Labour Party when it comes to funding anything. The member’s party in government in the United Kingdom is cutting funding for culture and the arts. That is a fact. This Government is increasing funding. I remain committed to doing so, and I hope that he will welcome the good news to come.

I hope that there is universal understanding across the chamber that Creative Scotland is an arm’s-length organisation that makes decisions. It is not for Government ministers to dispense largesse to parts of the cultural sector that they particularly support.

I agree that it is important that the funding is in place to make sure that culture can be sustained and safeguarded and can thrive. I remain committed to that and continue to argue for that in the Government. My colleagues are very supportive of that, and I hope to update colleagues on that in the near future.