Chamber and committees

First, I wish Alexander Stewart a happy new year. I take the opportunity to say that I know that the interest in the culture and arts sector is a non-party-political issue, and I look to colleagues who are very committed to the sector. I know that any changes that we, as the Scottish Government, will seek to implement, or that Creative Scotland, which has received a lot of recommendations, will seek to implement, will be subject to parliamentary inquiry. The matter will go before committee, and I will be asked questions on that.

We are not yet at the stage of adopting and delivering on the recommendations, but I know that Alexander Stewart and other colleagues will look closely at how Creative Scotland and the Scottish Government deliver them. I will be happy to answer questions when we get to that stage.

Since the publication of the review, on 25 November, I have been considering its recommendations alongside the recommendations of other related reports. Although the majority of the recommendations are for Creative Scotland to take forward, some are for other organisations, including the Scottish Government, or will require partnership work. As we continue to deliver our commitment to increase culture funding by £100 million per year, it remains vital that public sector partners do that partnership work as effectively as possible. The recommendations of the review will be key to that, and I will update the Parliament on progress in due course.

The Irish basic income for the arts pilot demonstrates just one approach across a range of possible approaches to supporting our creative producers. I spoke about that with my Irish culture minister colleague when he attended an event with me at the Edinburgh International Book Festival last year.

Undoubtedly, the Irish scheme has provided benefit to the 2,000 individuals who receive support, but it is not without its challenges with regard to the number of beneficiaries, the number of unsuccessful applicants and the relative sectoral impact.

A final point is that not all of the policy levers and powers that are open to the Irish Government in moving forward with that policy—specifically on tax, social welfare and addressing precarity in the workforce—are currently available to the Scottish Government. I give Evelyn Tweed a commitment that I am looking closely at the scheme and at whether there are learnings for Scotland.

It would be appropriate at this stage to acknowledge that I am, by profession, a journalist and have been a long-standing member of the National Union of Journalists.

Although I recognise that STV, through engagement with Ofcom and as a result of the concerns that have been raised by stakeholders, has now reconsidered some of its proposed changes, the Scottish Government remains concerned that there would be a negative impact on news provision across Scotland if STV’s plans were to go ahead. I have met STV, Ofcom and the National Union of Journalists on the issue, and the Scottish Government will continue to champion a strong and sustainable Scottish broadcasting sector and will also continue, including through the current Ofcom consultation, to urge against any decisions that would result in further reductions in news reporting in Scotland or redundancies of Scotland-based staff.

At this crucial time, Scottish Government funding will support the scaling up of the humanitarian response in Gaza. The United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs—UNOCHA—fund helps to co-ordinate the humanitarian response by international and national organisations to those in the affected areas. The funding will support the delivery of life-saving health services, food and nutrition assistance, emergency shelter, water and sanitation, protection services, education support and cash for families. The Scottish Government takes seriously its responsibilities as a global citizen, and we continue to respond within our powers to provide assistance to those who are most in need.

That is not the first time that the member has raised those questions, and other colleagues have done so, too. Those questions are part of my considerations. We want to make sure that there is assurance on the delivery of humanitarian support in Gaza and through other projects around the world. I am assured by the advice that I have received. If Mr Kerr requires additional assurance, I would be grateful if he could write to me on the subject.

I have a high degree of trust in the United Nations and I hope that he does, too. Providing humanitarian support through the United Nations and its agencies is the right thing to do. If Mr Kerr has specific concerns, he should share them with me, and I will reply in greater detail.

I would be perfectly content to give Tim Eagle that assurance. As a former member of Parliament for Moray, I was involved with the project at the earliest stages when the potential future for Grant Lodge was being discussed. He knows that I know that this is a very important project. I can give him the assurance that, should there be areas in which the Scottish Government could provide potential solutions, I would be happy to take a close look at them.

A very happy new year to you, Presiding Officer.

The Scottish Government is committed to forging and maintaining good relationships with Governments and Parliaments across the United Kingdom, as well as defending and enhancing the current devolution settlement. Any attempts to undermine devolution or to damage relationships between our Parliaments should be resisted robustly.

The public should be very concerned about all political extremists who oppose Scottish self-government, who seek to undermine community cohesion and who want to privatise the national health service. It is important that, no matter the outcome of the Scottish Parliament elections, democracy is respected. That means defending against any attempts to undermine devolution and the powers of the Scottish Parliament.

I would be grateful if the member could send me any suggestions that he has. He knows that Creative Scotland already has a board and he is aware that the Scottish Government has a sponsorship team that works with Creative Scotland.

However, I appreciate and take on board the member’s point about wanting to have maximum assurance. If he has any specific suggestion on how such a mechanism might work, I will look at that with an open mind. It is in the Government’s and parliamentarians’ interests that Creative Scotland is able to deliver, including on the recommendations that were made to it. We will be working jointly and severally to ensure that that is delivered.