The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.
All Official Reports of meetings in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.
All Official Reports of public meetings of committees.
Displaying 629 contributions
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 16 January 2025
Alexander Stewart
Good morning, cabinet secretary. Much has been made of the welcome funding in the proposed budget, but every organisation and individual that we have heard from has said that it is too little, too late. It will not stop the rot and it will not deal with the fact that confidence and trust in the sector are at an all-time low. Over the past few weeks, we have heard from individuals and organisations that the pay awards, the reduction in the working week, the increase in national insurance contributions and the building maintenance backlog will mean that libraries, venues, theatres and museums will all struggle to survive, let alone thrive, even with the additional funding that is proposed.
The sector is still not managing to progress. This morning, you have provided information about other organisations, many of which are pioneers. They must deal with the reality of having to do less. They might have to close or decrease in size and pay off people. That will happen in the sector in the foreseeable future.
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 16 January 2025
Alexander Stewart
I welcome the fact that Dame Sue Bruce has been appointed to deal with the review. During the past few months and years, we have heard that Creative Scotland has not been fit for purpose in relation to some of the ways in which it has managed the organisation and continues to do so. I hope that the review will be balanced and provide the opportunity to look at that. As you rightly indicate, cabinet secretary, we should all participate in the process and give our views and opinions.
The governance and scrutiny of, and confidence and trust in, Creative Scotland have been diminished because of its deeds and actions in the sector. It has not always taken advice from the professional bodies and the individuals who manage and co-ordinate things, and I hope that that will change as we go through the review. Whether Creative Scotland survives or another arts organisation takes its place, I hope that we can be confident that it will work hand in hand with the organisations and our outstanding performers. In recent times, there has not be much respect for the organisation within the sector, which has been and continues to be a problem.
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 16 January 2025
Alexander Stewart
Good morning. Individuals and organisations have said that the re-election of Donald Trump does not change much of the position that we find ourselves in, but that it does change the outlook and the opportunities that might have existed in the past. That is because Mr Trump is no longer as sympathetic to the UK Government as he might have been in his first term of office. That leaves institutions and individuals in a little bit of a dilemma as to how to manage things.
Moreover, some believe that securing deeper trade relations with the US would jeopardise some of the proposed reset with the EU, because the new UK Government wants to see a reset with the EU and Donald Trump would be against that. That might create some difficulties for the new Westminster Government when it comes to relations.
However, we should consider the fact that Trump will seek to deal with tariffs—we have already had the threat of tariffs being imposed—and, if there was to be any negotiation, we might want to align with the idea of putting more tariffs on China, which could benefit the UK in some ways.
It would be good to hear the views of you learned individuals about that and what it could mean. I do not believe that the reset with Europe will do anything other than turn the American President against the United Kingdom, because of the way that that is perceived in relation to what might happen in the future generally and particularly over the next three or four years. Maybe Peter Holmes could answer first.
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 9 January 2025
Alexander Stewart
Within that envelope, you still have to manage the maintenance and the fabric of the buildings; you still have to meet the costs of the pay awards, which is an issue that I have asked about previously; and then you have to ensure that people attend and support your cultural activities, that they continue to bring in revenue and finances, and that you have the support mechanisms in place to manage all of that. However, when you have to touch on all of those things, huge clouds of potential difficulty can arise with regard to what can be achieved financially in the short to medium term.
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 9 January 2025
Alexander Stewart
Thank you.
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 9 January 2025
Alexander Stewart
Whoever wants to jump in first can do so. Do not be shy.
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 9 January 2025
Alexander Stewart
There is no doubt that a battle has been won in progressing the funding, but perhaps the war continues in relation to culture and the process of what we want to achieve to ensure that we maintain that status and level of participation. As you indicate, many of the 285 applicants who are at the next stage of looking at where funding comes from will breathe a sigh of relief.
Over the past few months, we have heard from individuals and organisations who are looking forward to seeing what you can achieve on their behalf, so that they can be supported by your organisation, because they—and we—want the sector to continue to survive, thrive and progress.
The ability to be pioneering has been inspirational for the sector, and we have talked in the past about Scotland punching above its weight in the area. However, in reality, we are on this journey and we have come so far. What are your strategies? What is Creative Scotland’s next step towards what it wants to achieve? There is a potential review of what the organisation will need to manage for the future, and you have some financial security in the short to medium term, but the long term must be a major issue for you.
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 9 January 2025
Alexander Stewart
I thank the witnesses for their attendance and their comments so far. You have all touched on the challenges for your sector, and you know the opportunities that you are trying to develop. There are probably three main issues that you have to contend with day to day: ensuring that people support you by attending your events and venues; managing the fabric of your buildings, which are very difficult to maintain and sustain at present; and managing staff costs and pay awards to ensure that you retain your staff. It is extremely difficult for you to progress without one or all of those areas having to be reduced in some way, shape or form in order to balance your books.
The sector continues to show real prospects, but it is a case of taking one step forward and then two steps back. I commend you all for what your organisations are trying to do to weather the storm and manage the decline in some locations, but there are real difficulties and you are now at the cliff edge, as we have talked about in reports in the past. The extra money is beneficial, but it will not solve the problem and save some of the institutions and organisations that you support and some of the individuals with whom you work.
I have a question for each of you. In the past, the Parliament, the Government and the committee have attempted to force agendas, because we must ensure that the sector is given the opportunities and status that it needs, but we are still far behind compared with other parts of the world and other locations that benefit through tax regimes and other ways of ensuring that funding is parallel to ambitions. We have ambition in Scotland, but, at times, we are not able to make things happen. How can we change that?
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 17 December 2024
Alexander Stewart
There seems to be a mixed view about the regulator, when it comes to trust. You have given a view this morning, and we have heard evidence from others. How do you deal with the impact, and how do you deal with working relationships for yourselves and for associations and individuals? How do you build and maintain trust if there is an issue? We certainly believe that there is an issue.
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 17 December 2024
Alexander Stewart
My second question was about smaller RSLs being nudged to become larger associations. There seems to be the perception of a merger culture.