Chamber and committees

Mr Leonard knows that the First Minister has put the position of the Scottish Government on a number of those questions on the record.

I add that it is important at the present time to appreciate the sanctions regime that is supported by the international community against Vladimir Putin’s Russia, which is using trade in oil to fuel its conflict against Ukraine. We support the United Kingdom Government’s position and the international position in supporting Ukraine and in supporting sanctions.

On some of Mr Leonard’s other questions, he will be aware that the First Minister is giving a statement later today, and I encourage Mr Leonard to be present in the chamber to hear what the First Minister has to say.

Creative Scotland supports nine organisations with an outdoor arts, circus and spectacle background through its multiyear funding programme, with funding that will total almost £4 million over the three-year period of the awards. Six of those organisations had not received core funding from Creative Scotland previously. That result has been made possible by record levels of funding being provided by the Scottish Government for multiyear funding. The Scottish Government support increased the multiyear funding budget by £20 million in 2025-26, and a further £20 million increase is planned in the draft budget for 2026-27, taking the total to £74 million.

Scottish Government ministers and officials have regular meetings with the US consul general and US consulate staff as part of our on-going bilateral engagement with the United States. I most recently spoke with Kathryn Porter at a parliamentary event to mark the US semiquincentennial. We have not had any specific meetings to discuss the Scottish Government’s international strategy, which was published in January 2024; however, ministerial and senior official-level engagements with United States partners often include discussions on Scotland’s approach to international issues.

I am genuinely surprised that Tess White is not aware that the increase in the external affairs advice and policy budget reflects the inward transfer of budgets from areas outwith the portfolio for teams working on population and migration and international climate change.

Scotland’s international network does a lot of work to promote Scotland’s culture internationally. I am sorry that there is an ever-growing number of voices among Tess White’s party that seek to reduce that work. Her predecessor on the front bench used to call for an increase in Scotland’s international network. It is a sad day when the Conservative Party, which set up Scotland’s first international office, chooses to downgrade that network.

Brexit has been an unmitigated economic and social disaster. Its red tape has increased costs to businesses and hit Scotland’s trade with our largest international export market, which is the European Union. Recent research estimates that, in 2023, the United Kingdom suffered a 2.5 per cent hit to gross domestic product as a result of Brexit, which is forecast to increase to 5.7 per cent by 2035. In Scotland, it equates to a cut in public revenues of around £2.3 billion in 2023 alone. I will take no lessons from the Tories on external affairs.

Sport and physical activity are among the most powerful ways to support physical, mental and social wellbeing. Our summer of sport programme in 2026 will provide opportunities for every child and young person in Scotland to take part in free, accessible sporting activity. The programme aims to inspire lifelong participation and help Scotland to become a healthier, more connected nation.

I recognise the important role that the national performing companies play in the cultural infrastructure of Scotland. We will continue to fund the internationally acclaimed work of our national performing companies in 2026-27, with a view to providing them with additional funding in future financial years as part of the commitment towards an additional £100 million. That funding builds on the uplift of £1 million in funding across our five national performing companies in 2025-26, and an additional £700,000 of funding in 2024-25. That investment takes their core funding to the highest level since 2011-12.

The budget that is before the Parliament sets out that there will be further increases to our national performing companies over the period of the spending review. Last year, they shared an uplift of £1 million, which followed an uplift of £700,000 in the previous year. That is a 9.4 per cent uplift since 2023-24. That takes their funding to almost £25 million, which is shared across the five national performing companies. Scottish Opera will receive £8.65 million in this year’s budget, Scottish Ballet will receive £4.7 million, and the National Theatre of Scotland will receive £4.5 million.

For context, Creative Scotland’s multiyear funding for 2026-27 is £74 million, which is shared among 263 organisations. The largest amount of the funding that goes to performing arts companies through that route is allocated to Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre, which receive £2.86 million, while the Royal Lyceum Theatre receives £1.7 million and the Citizens Theatre receives £1.6 million.

I can give Mr Harvie that assurance. Those conversations have already been had with the national performing companies. We are in the process of delivering the biggest uplift in culture and arts funding in the history of devolution, outwith the Covid period. I am trying to do that as quickly as possible, and we are 70 per cent of the way there. The national performing companies understand that my thinking in terms of the last 30 per cent is very much focused on them in the years ahead. I agree that they would wish to have as much clarity about that as possible, and that is what I want to give them.

The constitution, external affairs and culture portfolio received £415.8 million in the Scottish Government draft budget for 2026-27. That represents a £36.1 million increase in funding compared with the current financial year. Funding is allocated based on principles of best value and is allocated to existing, recurring and new projects. Decisions on draft budget allocations are made by the Scottish ministers, based on advice provided by policy officials and in discussion with special advisers.