The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all communities in Scotland feel safe, valued and respected. Cultural venues are responsible for their own bookings and programming decisions, and neither the Scottish Government nor Creative Scotland has a role in that. We fully support individuals’ right to freedom of expression, and we are clear that there is no place for any form of discrimination or prejudice in Scotland.

As Mr Fraser knows, I have spoken out loudly in favour of freedom of speech. I thank him for the opportunity to do so again today.

He will also be well aware of my defence of the arm’s-length relationship between ministers and individual funding decisions for culture and the arts, which really matters for anyone who appreciates the importance of artistic freedom. I acknowledge that such an approach will occasionally be tested, but I value principles and proportionality, given that everybody operates subject to the law.

I gently point out to Mr Fraser that there is a tension between standing up and avowing freedom of speech while, at the same time, asking Government ministers to micromanage culture. That is not the cabinet secretary for culture’s job. However, I am not walking away from my responsibility to use my voice and say that we want to support a culture of free speech.

I know about the venue that Mr Fraser talked about, because it is in my constituency. I observe that Summerhall management has publicly asserted that Kate Forbes is free to attend the venue.

On the general issue, it is absolutely right that we stand up for freedom of speech, but we also want to protect the arm’s-length nature of management in culture and the arts. It is not for Government ministers to get involved in micromanaging individual circumstances, but the general point holds true: freedom of speech matters.

Building on the greater financial freedoms that are provided in the revised framework agreement, Historic Environment Scotland’s corporate plan for 2025 to 2028 will result in the organisation contributing to the achievement of key national outcomes and delivering for Scotland. By 2028, Historic Environment Scotland aims to have increased direct expenditure on its assets by 15 per cent; increased the number of people whom it has trained by 10 per cent; increased its contribution to Scotland’s gross domestic product by 10 per cent, from £1 billion to £1.1 billion; invested at least £40 million in local communities; and increased the additional funding that it generates from non-Government sources by at least 20 per cent, from £73.5 million to £87 million.

I am well aware of the issues relating to Cumbernauld theatre, given the meetings that I have had in the past, the impending meetings and the excellent representation that it has had from my Cumbernauld and Kilsyth Scottish National Party colleague Jamie Hepburn. I look forward to meeting Cumbernauld theatre shortly to better understand its funding concerns and plans to secure funding, given the decision by Creative Scotland on multiyear funding.

I am sure that Mr Griffin will be interested to know that the theatre has been the subject of conversation between me and the civil servants who are responsible in this policy area, and I will be taking it up directly with Cumbernauld theatre and Creative Scotland.

The Scottish Government has a proud tradition of supporting our performing arts organisations. When we prepare for the next budget, we will assess their contribution through cultural, educational, economic and international lenses.

Our national performing companies, which are now in their 19th year of direct funding, deliver against clear objectives covering excellence, reach, leadership and collaboration. I recently met all five NPCs and was inspired by their work to ensure that Scotland is celebrated globally as a creative nation. That evidence will guide our investment decisions to sustain a vibrant and inclusive cultural sector.

I have found it very helpful—as have members from all parties, I am sure—to have an understanding of the GVA impact of certain parts of the cultural sector. A report was recently published in relation to the screen sector, which pointed out that the industry is heading towards being worth more than £1 billion by 2030, which is a remarkable success.

In assessing applications to its multiyear funding programme, Creative Scotland used six criteria for those organisations whose proposals involved international activity: quality and ambition; engagement; equalities, diversity and inclusion; environmental sustainability; fair work; and international. In addition, an assessment was made of the financial health of applicant organisations. Spending decisions are scrutinised by parliamentary committees, in line with their own processes and chosen areas of focus.

A number of cultural organisations are in the process of commissioning economic impact assessments and assessments of their GVA contribution to the Scottish economy. I encourage those who have not yet made a decision in that area to follow the advice of Michelle Thomson on this question.

The creative industries leadership group works to articulate the needs and realise the potential of Scotland’s creative industries, providing advice to ministers. I co-chaired a meeting of the group on 4 September 2025, the note of which will be published on the Scottish Government website in due course. It was an opportunity for shared intelligence gathering and understanding where the sector considers that it is underdeveloped and where there are opportunities for the Scottish Government to continue to support the growth of that key sector.

The appointment process for a new chair of Historic Environment Scotland has been under way since May and an appointment will be announced in due course.

As one of our public bodies, HES is expected to regularly review its policies and priorities to ensure it delivers maximum impact for public investment. As part of public service reform work, we have given greater flexibility to HES to allow increased investment into our most nationally significant historic places.

Neil Bibby knows that I am seized of the importance of the matter, because I have spoken to him and other members of the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee about it. I wish to give him confidence that changes are taking place in Historic Environment Scotland, and I will be happy to update him on them in due course.

A new chair of HES will be announced, but I cannot say more than that at the moment, because a number of administrative hoops need to be gone through. I have a very high level of confidence in the incoming chair’s ability to deal with any issues that need to be considered and to take any follow-up interventions that are needed. I encourage the new chair and anybody else who takes a role in Historic Environment Scotland to understand that the organisation has delivered significantly, as I outlined to Mr Kidd. I look forward to being able to make an announcement shortly, and I hope that the news will give Mr Bibby the confidence that it has already given me.