On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My apologies—I could not connect to the voting app. I would have voted no.

One area where I have high hopes is the potential for a Scottish cultural export office working together with the Scottish Government offices internationally, the SDI network and the global Scots right around the world. Scotland has a tremendous cultural offering, but one lesson of the Covid experience and Brexit is that there has been a significant challenge for younger performers who wish to tour more and have more international experience. We can do more in that area, which is why funding is being allocated to look into the opportunities for a cultural export office. I know that that has been warmly welcomed by the likes of the Scottish Music Industry Association and others as a significant intervention that will boost the Scottish cultural sector internationally.

I very much welcome the question and the tone of it from Alexander Stewart. The issue is about corporate sponsorship, but it is also about philanthropy. There are a range of campaigning organisations on the concerns of the day, some of which are on particular subjects on which I would have sympathy with them. However, if, by intervening in the way that they do, they undermine the potential for corporate or philanthropic giving, that is a matter of concern. I have spoken about that with a range of organisations to try to better understand what can be done to build resilience in the culture sector. I draw people’s attention to an excellent article written by Ian Rankin on that subject.

The Government can do more, and there is a role for us all, across the political spectrum, to take the opportunity to acknowledge how important it is that corporate sponsorship is protected and kept in place, because its loss can have unintended consequences. To give one example, the loss of funding for the Edinburgh International Book Festival meant that children from deprived backgrounds might have been deprived of the opportunity to go to that fantastic, world-class festival if it was not for the Scottish Government, which plugged the gap after the funding was withdrawn.

I reiterate the point that I made a moment ago, which is very significant. Changes are taking place in the management of Historic Environment Scotland, and I am happy to update Roz McCall and colleagues in due course.

As she will appreciate, I cannot currently comment on the matters that she raised, but I want to give her confidence that I am seized of the matters at Historic Environment Scotland. It is really important that HES’s excellent work across Scotland can continue with a new chair, and I look forward to being able to confirm progress on that shortly.

We recognise that women remain underrepresented in the creative industries and are disproportionately in lower-level positions. The sector is known for unpredictable freelance work, which makes it difficult for women with caring responsibilities, health conditions or disabilities. Although employment law remains reserved to the United Kingdom Parliament, the Scottish Government is committed to its fair work first policy, including taking action to tackle the gender pay gap across all sectors. Most recently, in June 2025, we set out actions towards gender equality across all portfolios in the Scottish Government’s annual statement on gender policy coherence.

First, I join Mr Kerr in praising the RSNO. He is absolutely right, and it is doing what it is doing in not only film soundtracks, but gaming soundtracks. It is a huge business. To know how many of those world-class productions it has made—be they for the screen or for gamers—is very impressive. I would like to give Mr Kerr confidence that our national performing companies, which work really closely with one another, are very keen to emulate one another with the enterprise attitude that he encourages us to take.

He has also encouraged us to ensure that the money is in place. I am happy to say to him that I am very sympathetic to that. It is only a disappointment that Mr Kerr did not vote for that in the budget.

Presiding Officer, with your indulgence, I begin by welcoming to our proceedings Dr Christopher Kalila, who is the chair of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. Dr Kalila is from Zambia, which is one of Scotland’s partner countries. We are honoured that he is following these proceedings. [Applause.]

Since publishing its recommendations in 2022, the empire, slavery and Scotland’s museums steering group has inspired significant action. Through the delivering change programme, Museums Galleries Scotland is supporting 17 museums and 97 sector professionals, and it has awarded £200,000 to seven community partners. More than 300 people have received training.

The Scottish Government has committed £100,000 to establish a new organisation, with its inaugural exhibition being scheduled for 1 October. Museums Galleries Scotland also supports repatriation guidance, sector events and research, directly addressing the call for systemic change and inclusive practice.

Work towards the creation of a dedicated space will be a matter for the leadership of the new organisation, and that includes determining its location.

The Scottish Government encourages all organisations and individuals with historical links to colonialism and slavery, including those who were involved in sugar processing and refining, to engage meaningfully with their past. That is essential to ensure that any future representation of Scotland’s role in the transatlantic slave trade and colonialism reflects the most accurate and inclusive picture that is possible.

Answering Foysol Choudhury’s question gives me an opportunity to pay tribute to Professor Sir Geoff Palmer, who I know was a close friend of his. Professor Palmer played an outstanding role in the recent history of Scotland coming to terms with its past.

It is really important that we learn the lessons of Scotland’s history, that it is made relevant in our schools and that we embrace the challenge, as we have done in my tenure. For example, among other things, we have seen the return of a commemorative community pole to the Nisga’a people in British Columbia in western Canada. That very much fits in with my sense of embracing and understanding our past. I would be happy to write to Mr Choudhury with some more details.

Again, I take this opportunity to put on the record my appreciation to Professor Palmer, Mr Choudhury’s friend, who, incidentally, also served on the steering group.

I am very much in favour of meeting more regularly, and I made that clear to the creative sector. One area where the Government can be helpful is the ambition of internationalising Scotland’s creative sector. At our meeting, we talked at some length about the network of Scottish Government offices internationally, the more than 30 locations where Scottish Development International is sited and the more than 1,400 global Scots around the world who can help to promote the creative sector and the rest of Scotland’s economy. There is also the brand Scotland initiative, which I chair and which brings together Scotland’s public sector organisations that promote sectors such as the creative industries.

I have committed to the creative sector that we will make sure that we use all those different routes to promote the sector internationally, as well as everything else that is being done domestically.