Angus Robertson
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“As Ukraine works to consolidate recent gains and secure further political and financial backing, the Scottish Government continues to respond to urgent Ukrainian requests for support by working closely with the International Committee of the Red Cross.”
“Those are acts of terrorism by the Russians, and they need to be described as such. He said that there should be no slackening of our commitments and that we should encourage the United Kingdom and other countries to provide everything that Ukraine requires to defend itself and to liberate the occupied territories.”
“He has served as a member of the Scottish Parliament representing the city of Aberdeen and as a Government minister in a number of portfolios, during which time he discharged his duties with tremendous engagement and professionalism—and we must not forget his local government background in Aberdeen.”
“Never forget what was agreed with Nazi Germany in relation to the Sudetenland in 1938 and what followed from that. Murdo Fraser paid tribute to Scottish volunteers and charities, and he was absolutely right to say that we need to do more.”
“I thank colleagues for their thoughtful contributions to this debate. The Scottish Parliament speaks with one voice in solidarity with Ukraine. If one was watching proceedings, one would not be able to guess which party any of us represented. We are speaking with one voice.”
“Stephen Kerr: Does the cabinet secretary agree that the seized assets that belong to Russian oligarchs and other friends of Putin should be put immediately at the disposal of Ukraine’s defence? Angus Robertson: The simple answer is yes, and we should be getting on with it.”
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“While other G7 countries saw an average 5 per cent increase in goods being exported in 2023 compared to 2019, the UK experienced a 10 per cent decline. We should add to that the Office for Budget Responsibility’s view that UK trade intensity with the European Union will be 15 per cent lower in the long run. Later this week, the Scottish Government will publish fresh analysis of the trade impact of the Tory Brexit deal—which is, sadly, being continued by Labour—compared with European Union membership. The evidence is now legion and it is undeniable. The economic impact of Brexit is nothing short of an egregious act of self-harm by the United Kingdom, and a deeply damaging imposition on Scotland, without counting the cost of what we have lost in social and cultural terms.”
“By population, it is seven times the size of the United Kingdom. It is small wonder, in that case, that despite our having not voted in favour of such folly, we have suffered the dire consequences that colleagues have eloquently attested to in today’s debate. Let us consider the facts. The National Institute of Economic and Social Research estimates that, in 2023, there was a 2.5 per cent hit to UK gross domestic product because of Brexit, and that it will increase to 5.7 per cent by 2035. In Scotland, that equated to a cut in public revenues of about £2.3 billion in 2023. This month, the Institute for Public Policy Research think tank reported that UK goods exports to the European Union were 27 per cent lower between 2021 and 2023 than they would have been had we remained in the European Union.”
“I thank colleagues for their contributions to today’s debate. It is crystal clear that, in the five years since Brexit, the time that we have spent outside the European Union has damaged our economy, weakened civic society, degraded opportunities for our young people and worsened the cost of living crisis for us all. It has been five long years of pain. Although the proposed reset that is being sought by the UK Government could offer progress in some areas—we will, of course, engage positively with that—in reality, any gains that the process can make will do little to redress the fundamental challenges that we face while we remain outside the single market and the customs union. The single European market numbers 447 million consumers and 23 million companies, and is the largest free-trading area on earth.”
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“Again, I thank David Torrance for securing the debate and other members for their support in ensuring a sustainable and prosperous future for showmanship. I thank the Scottish Showmen’s Guild for its dedicated approach and commitment to supporting its members in ensuring that travelling shows continue to provide entertainment across Scotland and that they are run safely for workers and visitors alike. I also thank the members of the European Showmen’s Union who are in the public gallery. I hope that they will continue to make significant contributions to their and our societies for generations to come, and I wish them all a successful congress and an enjoyable time in Edinburgh. Haste ye back. Meeting closed at 17:53. This is the final edition of the Official Report for this meeting.”
“That is why the Government remains committed to supporting our communities in ensuring that intangible cultural heritage is accessible to everyone across Scotland. Following the United Kingdom Government’s ratification, finally, of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, work is being undertaken to plan for a new Scottish inventory, which will sit alongside the new lists for Northern Ireland, Wales and England to form a wider UK database of intangible cultural heritage. I look forward to continuing work with the UK Government and other devolved nations to ensure that the importance of intangible cultural heritage is recognised, cherished and allowed to flourish.”
“We must continue to support showpeople communities as they build on the cultural traditions of bringing entertainment and other services to rural, coastal and urban communities across Scotland. Foysol Choudhury underlined the point about intangible cultural heritage, and the Scottish Showmen’s Guild understandably has a strong interest in that issue, which I welcome. There is incredible potential from the inclusivity that intangible cultural heritage provides. By valuing one another’s traditions, cultures, stories and songs, we all have much to gain. We can also benefit from the international nature of intangible cultural heritage and the prospects that it highlights for Scotland on the world stage, so it is important that Scotland joins global networks to promote and safeguard local cultural practices.”
“The union is one of the oldest European professional organisations, and I recognise the rich cultural heritage that showpeople have brought to societies across Europe. That heritage is rooted in centuries of tradition, with showpeople having contributed significantly to the historical landscape of entertainment during that time. That is why I am pleased to welcome the European Showmen’s Union to Edinburgh this year for its first international meeting in this country. That provides the opportunity not only to showcase some of our rich heritage but to spotlight the contribution that Scotland’s showpeople community has made locally and internationally.”
“I will take this opportunity to briefly reflect on, celebrate and welcome the notion of different cultures, which ran through the debate. The Scottish Government is committed to improving circumstances for people who travel as part of their occupation, lifestyle and culture. Scotland should be welcoming and inclusive to all people who live, work and visit here, and we are determined to play our part in building a better and fairer world. Looking further afield from Scotland, I will reflect on the work of the European Showmen’s Union. As members have been made aware, it has been built on solid traditions since it was founded, in 1954, and the fact that it is holding its 43rd national congress demonstrates the legacy and resilience of the showpeople community.”
“Paul Sweeney could not miss the opportunity to underline Glasgow’s pedigree, reminding our friends from Europe that we might be a small country but, boy, do we have a rivalry between our two biggest cities. It was worth putting on the record Glasgow’s pedigree in this important year for the city. Foysol Choudhury, John Mason, Meghan Gallacher and Christine Grahame all underlined the main point that we are in agreement across the parties about the importance of what we have been discussing today. Richard Lyle did not take part in the debate, as he is no longer an MSP, but it is great to see him and to put on the record the Scottish Government’s appreciation for all the work that he did as an MSP and that he continues to do today.”
“It is nice to see friends from across Europe coming to Scotland, a country that is, of course, also European. When Jackson Carlaw spoke of his amusing memories, I was struck by the notion of him arriving here with a big red baseball cap saying “Make Showmen Great Again”. I look forward to seeing that. I am also interested in his notion that I should adopt the practices of the new President of the United States of America by simply signing executive orders. That is not the way that we do things here, but, having said that, there are ways to fix problems. We are often told by colleagues across the Parliament that we must respect local democracy, but maybe there is more that we can do in conjunction with local authority colleagues to ensure consistency across local authorities in Scotland.”
“I commend David Torrance for his work on the cross-party group. As John Mason mentioned, the cross-party groups are very important. David Torrance has established, through his good offices, a working relationship among the guild, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Scottish Government on a variety of issues. Points have been raised about local government charging, which I will come to in a second. No doubt, progress can be made there, and I would be very supportive of that. We also heard from Clare Adamson, another member of the cross-party group as well as the convener of the parliamentary committee that covers culture and external affairs, which are in my area of governmental responsibility. Quite rightly, she stressed the connections with and traditions of European showmen.”
“That has been echoed by members across the chamber. For the benefit of our visitors today, I say that it is not often that we agree across all the parties in the Parliament, and it is good that our visitors have been able to hear that today. To start off, I have a confession to make to David Torrance. My first memory of attending a show was one in Burntisland, in his constituency, and it remains with me to this day. I was able to experience that joy again over the Christmas break with my five-year-old and three-year-old daughters—I am a late father. They loved going to the funfair rides in central Edinburgh. I have to confess that it became quite expensive by the end of the visit, but that speaks to the impact that funfairs have on us all. I thank the showmen and their colleagues for all the events that we have attended over the years.”
“I thank David Torrance for providing the opportunity to welcome the European Showmen’s Union to Scotland for this year’s congress and to thank it personally for choosing to meet in my Edinburgh Central constituency—it is very welcome. As we have heard, we all have fond memories of going to the fair, or the shows, with our families and friends when we were young—or, indeed, not so young. That is a testament to how travelling shows and fairs have consistently, throughout the years, brought people together to have fun and share enjoyable experiences. We acknowledge the strong and valuable tradition of family and community—we have heard about the importance of family during the debate— that showpeople foster and the great contribution that they make to local economies and the wellbeing of people in the areas to which they travel.”
“He wrote: “Culture and art is the space in which accidents happen for the better, where things collide into each other to form something new and unexpected, where we take all that we have learnt from the past and use it to fail again, fail better—in previously unimagined ways—and in so doing make a space in which other people too can think about the world afresh.” I thank Peter for expressing in an impactful way the unique power and vital nature of culture as a force that is essential to our development as human beings, communities and a nation on the world stage. The Scottish Government’s culture strategy for Scotland recognises how central culture is to our country’s future prosperity and sets out a vision of a Scotland where everyone is able to live a cultural life of their choosing.”
“I am delighted to open today’s debate on how the Scottish Government and members across the chamber can best support Scotland’s culture sector, so that it can continue to develop, innovate and, ultimately, thrive. I have spoken to Parliament before about the intrinsic value and transformational potential of culture but, if members permit me, I will begin today by borrowing some words about the value of culture, which were crafted by our nation’s new makar—the accomplished and highly regarded multilingual poet, Peter Mackay.”
“I will look very closely at any proposals that are made to protect and preserve the Bernat Klein studio, and I will be happy to do that together with Rachael Hamilton. The Deputy Presiding Officer: That concludes portfolio questions on constitution, external affairs and culture, and parliamentary business. There will be a short pause before we move on to the next portfolio, to enable front-bench teams to change position, should they so wish. Justice and Home Affairs The Deputy Presiding Officer: The next portfolio is justice and home affairs. I ask members to be succinct in their questioning, and ministers in their responding, in order to allow as many members as possible to have an opportunity to ask questions. As Mark Griffin is not here to ask question 1, I call question 2. Operation Branchform 2.”
“Despite being on the buildings at risk register since 2002, it has now fallen into dereliction and disrepair and looks very sad and unloved. Does the minister recognise the value in preserving culturally significant buildings, and will he be prepared to meet local groups, the Preserving Womersley group, Historic Environment Scotland and others who wish to save the building and want to use it as a hub for the local community? Angus Robertson: I commend Rachael Hamilton for standing up for a beacon of progressiveness in the Borders and for drawing attention to the Bernat Klein studio and its architectural, cultural and historical importance. It is absolutely right to note that it is the most celebrated work of Peter Womersley and was the workplace of the world-class textile designer Bernat Klein.”
“The Scottish Government delivers support for the historic environment through sponsorship of Historic Environment Scotland, the lead public body for the protection and preservation of historic sites in Scotland. The Bernat Klein studio in Selkirk is in private ownership and, as such, responsibility for the property’s care and maintenance lies with its owner. However, it is worth noting that Historic Environment Scotland delivers around £14 million of grant funding each year to individuals, groups and organisations for projects that benefit the historic environment. Information on how to apply for funding can be found on its website.f Rachael Hamilton: The Bernat Klein studio near Selkirk was designed by one of Scotland’s greatest modernist architects—Womersley—and has been described as “a beacon of progressiveness for the Borders”.”
“Our digital strategy for Scotland, which was published in 2021, highlights the need for a strong digital economy to help all businesses to become digital businesses, in Scotland’s pursuit of becoming a vibrant, inclusive and outward-looking digital nation. Bernat Klein Studio 8.”
“In the absence of any credible UK alternative, how can Scotland keep pace with and benefit from the EU’s approach to digital services and innovation, so that Scotland can reap the economic rewards of closer involvement with the EU’s direction of travel on digital matters in particular? Angus Robertson: Missing the opportunities of access to the digital single market is just another example of the damage that has been caused by a Brexit that Scotland did not vote for. The European Parliament estimates that the potential gains of a digital single market could be in the region of €0.5 trillion per year, which would translate into potentially billions of pounds for our economy.”
“The Scottish Government laid its latest comprehensive reports on its policy of alignment with the European Union on 31 October, and I provided evidence on the topic to the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee on 21 November. The reports detailed that Scotland continues to align with the European Union where that is possible and meaningful in protecting and advancing high standards, and they set out our priorities for working with the EU across the full range of devolved policy areas, including the digital economy. Willie Coffey: It is now nearly five years since the United Kingdom formally removed itself—and Scotland—from the European Union and therefore from the EU’s digital single market, which is estimated to be worth more than €400 billion per year.”
“I have heard concerns about the complex nature of the application process, and I expect that to form part of the review of Creative Scotland that was announced in the programme for government in September. Next week, we will launch a survey that will help to inform the scope of the review of Creative Scotland and the wider work on how the culture sector is supported. If Collette Stevenson or other colleagues have feedback from within the culture and arts community on the application processes or any other reflections on Creative Scotland, I encourage them to take part in the forthcoming review. Alignment with European Union 7.”
“Collette Stevenson: In East Kilbride, there are many talented individuals and groups, some of whom have expressed concern to me about the fact that funding application processes can inadvertently exclude some artists due to the complexity of the process. What consideration has been given to harnessing creativity by improving access to funding for groups that consider themselves to be excluded or disadvantaged by what they consider to be a complex application process? Angus Robertson: I appreciate—as, I suspect, do MSPs across the chamber—the importance of the Creative Scotland multiyear funding process, and I look forward to Creative Scotland announcing the outcome of that process later this month.”
“Through the budget, we will provide an increase of £20 million for Creative Scotland’s multiyear funding programme, as well as further increases for the national collections and the national performing companies. In addition, we will ring fence new funding to support festivals across Scotland; to improve digital access to our public libraries; to restart and extend community-led arts and creativity programmes; and to develop a culture and heritage capacity fund. We will also carry out a review of how the culture sector is supported, which will include a review of Creative Scotland, to ensure that Government funding achieves the greatest possible impact.”
“I support the speediest restoration that is possible. Arts and Culture Funding 6.”
“That project is currently being stymied by the on- going litigation and dispute with the insurers and the Glasgow School of Art. The project is simply too big and complex to be left to the Glasgow School of Art alone. It is a national project and should be treated as such. Angus Robertson: I share Paul Sweeney’s admiration for the restoration of Notre-Dame de Paris and the speed with which that was completed. The people of Paris and of France can be very proud of that restoration project. As I have already outlined, proposals on the Glasgow School of Art are expected to be completed and published early this year, and I would be content to convene a meeting to discuss what emerges from those proposals. I know that Paul Sweeney does not want any further unnecessary delays, and I do not want any either.”
“Paul Sweeney: I am sure that the cabinet secretary will share my admiration of the achievement of the French people in the successful restoration of Notre-Dame de Paris that was completed last month, little over five years after the fire. However, more than seven years on from the fire here, there has still been very little progress on the restoration of Glasgow School of Art, Scotland’s greatest architectural achievement. This year, in the 850th anniversary of the granting of Glasgow’s borough charter, will the cabinet secretary agree to convene a cross- Government summit with the architectural sector in Scotland to bring together a special-purpose vehicle or a special sponsor body to take forward the Glasgow School of Art restoration project?”
“The Mackintosh building is owned by the Glasgow School of Art, which has responsibility for its own strategic and operational decision making. The Scottish Government understands that work by external architects is in progress on the Mackintosh building project. According to the Glasgow School of Art, this work aims to ensure that the delivery of the Mackintosh project continues to be evidence based and that the building is successfully rebuilt as a working school of art to support the regeneration of Sauchiehall Street and Glasgow city centre. Proposals are expected to be completed and published early this year. The Scottish Government and the Scottish Funding Council will continue to engage closely with the Glasgow School of Art as it progresses its plans for the Mackintosh building.”
“We have national performing companies and national organisations, such as galleries, libraries and museums, and the structure of the funding needs to be thought about right across the piece. That also involves the likes of our enterprise agencies. If the member has specific suggestions, I would be very keen to see them—as, I am sure, the incoming chair of the review would be.”
“The discussions that I have had with the creative sector have been about not just the quantum but the structure of the funding. What discussions has the cabinet secretary had with Scottish Enterprise, South of Scotland Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, along with the Scottish National Investment Bank, about how culture spending can be implemented in a way that is compatible with wider enterprise and investment strategies across public policy areas? Angus Robertson: That is a thoughtful question from Daniel Johnson. He raises points that will be reflected in the forthcoming review of the operation of Creative Scotland. He is right to point out that it is not just about the main vehicle of public funding to support creative and artistic organisations.”
“The Scottish Government has committed a further £34 million to the culture sector for the next financial year. That will result in the biggest increase in culture funding in the history of the Parliament, after Covid recovery support, and it takes the total uplift to date to £50 million. That is a huge vote of confidence in our culture sector, and it will help to protect this treasured sector and the impact that it makes on people’s lives. I hope that Daniel Johnson will vote for that. Daniel Johnson: The cabinet secretary might have seen an article that was published in the past couple of days on the BBC website that was titled “How did Scotland become a Hollywood hotspot?” The point is that culture is not just about spend—it can be big business, with big investments and big sums of money being spent in Scotland.”
“Although the Scottish Government is committed to investing a further £34 million in culture, which will be transformational for the sector, the UK Labour Government is undermining that good work with its plan to increase national insurance contribution costs. That will impact through increased NI contributions for cultural venues, including Eden Court, and it might erode the benefits of the significant culture funding increase. That is why the First Minister and the president of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, supported by 48 public and voluntary sector organisations, wrote to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 3 January to raise concerns about the impact of the increase to employer national insurance contributions and to seek clarity on funding. I hope that we will get a positive response.”
“However, I also heard concerns from those organisations that they are going to have little choice but to spend the bulk of that additional funding on mitigating the impact of Labour’s national insurance changes. For Eden Court, the impact is estimated to be about £100,000 a year. In the light of that, what consideration is the cabinet secretary giving to ensuring that culture organisations in Scotland, including all those that are waiting for grant decisions from Creative Scotland later this month, can still make the most of that increased funding from the Scottish Government to create and innovate? Angus Robertson: Emma Roddick makes a good point.”
“The First Minister and the president of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities wrote to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 3 January, supported by 48 public and voluntary sector organisations, to raise concerns about the impact of the increase in employer national insurance contributions and to seek clarity on funding. The estimated impact of the UK Government’s decision on the five culture public bodies is as follows: £1.046 million for the three national collections, £1.7 million for Historic Environment Scotland and £150,000 for Creative Scotland. Early estimates suggest an additional liability of £250,000 for National Records of Scotland’s core staffing costs. Emma Roddick: I know that many culture organisations in the Highlands, such as Eden Court theatre, warmly welcomed the suggested £34 million increase to culture spending.”
“Since the cinema’s closure in 2022, Screen Scotland has provided £320,000 in funding to support reopening of the Belmont. The budget for 2025-26 includes a further £20 million for Creative Scotland for its multiyear funding programme, which will enable Creative Scotland to roll out that programme, thereby ensuring that the highest-ever number of artists and organisations receive regular funding. The Scottish Government will continue to liaise with Screen Scotland to explore all viable options to deliver sustainable cultural cinema for our communities right across”
“Audrey Nicoll: Since 2023, the Scottish Government, through Screen Scotland, has supported the campaign to reopen the Belmont cinema in Aberdeen through distribution of operational expenditure, which has allowed the charity Belmont Community Cinema Ltd to hire several staff who are working tirelessly to reopen that iconic venue in the granite city. Can the cabinet secretary provide further detail on any funding in the proposed Scottish budget that could help to ensure the reopening of that cornerstone of Aberdeen’s cultural ecosystem? Angus Robertson: I very much recognise the huge value that the Belmont and cultural cinema as a whole bring to Scotland’s creative landscape. Cinemas such as the Belmont are a vital source of cultural experience, community connection, learning and wellbeing.”
“The Scottish Government recognises the value of independent cinemas to our communities, and we continue to work closely with Screen Scotland and partners to support the development of such cinemas for Scotland’s audiences today and in the long term. Screen Scotland’s strategy and its funding, which will increase by £2 million in 2025-26, support inclusive and sustainable growth of our screen sector, with a focus on ensuring wide access to cinema and a diverse range of screen content. That includes support for cultural cinema venues, organisations, touring programmes, independent film exhibitors and the distribution of Scottish titles across Scotland.”
“That relief will reduce overheads and support the wider cultural ecosystem and the night-time economy. However, if Murdo Fraser has any proposals to widen, deepen and broaden support for the culture sector, I will be happy to look closely at them.”
“That means that one third of venues that are associated with the Music Venue Trust are not eligible for support, including the likes of NiceNSleazy in Glasgow, the Voodoo Rooms in Edinburgh and Hootananny in Inverness, which are getting no support. How will the cabinet secretary, through the budget, secure the future of the venues that are currently feeling the pinch? Angus Robertson: The Scottish Government recognises the role that grass-roots music venues play in supporting the talent pipeline. We will introduce a 40 per cent relief for mainland hospitality premises, including grass-roots music venues with a capacity of up to 1,500 and those with a rateable value of up to and including £51,000, and that relief will be capped at £110,000 per business. Further detail will be set out in secondary legislation in due course.”
“The Scottish Government values the importance of the music industry to Scotland’s culture. We have demonstrated our commitment to the culture sector through an increase of more than £34 million in funding for 2025-26 and by introducing new tax relief for hospitality premises, which will benefit smaller music venues. I urge members of the Scottish Parliament of all parties to vote for the budget in February to ensure that that transformational funding for Scotland’s culture sector is secured. Murdo Fraser: Notwithstanding what the cabinet secretary says about the budget, there are very real concerns in the sector about the viability of music venues. The budget gives 40 per cent rates relief but, unlike in England, that is capped at £51,000 of rateable value.”