Alexander Stewart
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party · Scotland
“Housing for older people is a key priority that is driven by an ageing population. Does the Scottish Government recognise that prioritising the right type of housing can improve quality of life and reduce the need for public services, particularly in health and social care? Màiri McAllan: I agree with that.”
“Suicide in young people has reached a crisis point. The breaking the silence suicide prevention project that has been piloted in schools in my region is a step in the right direction.”
“To ask the Scottish Government for what reason, despite an increase in the number of businesses pledging to pay the real living wage, the percentage of people actually being paid the real living wage or more has been decreasing for three consecutive years. (S6O-05654)”
“I thank the cabinet secretary for early sight of the statement. The Scottish National Party talks a good game on child poverty, but it has failed to back up those words with actions; it has failed to close the attainment gap, one in five children lives in poverty, and it has failed to make work a viable route out of poverty.”
“I spoke about not just the £90 million—now with a multiyear commitment—for our employability service, but also the £19 million that is going into the transport to employment offer, and the £15 million for childcare for priority families that need that support to enter employment.”
“The cabinet secretary is committed to increasing all benefits with inflation, but how much will that add to the already blooming benefit bill?”
The complete record
Every one of 374 lines we hold for Alexander Stewart, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 7 of 8.
“We understand that, but urgent action needs to be taken to address the scourge of sexual violence in Scotland’s hospitals. It is time for the denial to stop and for information to be clarified. My party will continue to display the leadership and the drive to ensure that public sector organisations and health boards have some direction on this issue. Directives should require them to prepare single-sex spaces for biological women and girls. That should be the minimum that we are looking at. In most cases, that would simply remind organisations of their legal obligation—something that even the First Minister has accepted is crystal clear. Women and girls deserve nothing less than a clear, commonsense approach when it comes to hospital safety. I urge the Scottish Government to seek the data and ensure that it is provided.”
“The report concludes that there is no evidence of a coherent data-keeping system and that the recording of data on sexual assaults has to improve. That should be the case—it has to improve. We need to ensure that there is robust transparency when it comes to that issue in our hospitals, and the report rightly calls for measures in that regard to be introduced. However, several reports from the Care Quality Commission have already made the same recommendations, only to be ignored. How many more incidents will it take to force the Scottish Government to take the issue seriously and take action? As well as improving records, we must ensure that safeguarding measures are put in place and that they are transparent for patients in hospitals. Regardless of the law surrounding the issue, the proven track record is complex.”
“We will continue to highlight that issue in the chamber, even if the Government would rather not debate and discuss it. One of my biggest issues with sexual violence in hospitals is the lack of reporting. The Women’s Rights Network report reveals that data on sexual assault is not routinely kept by NHS boards or Police Scotland. The report sets out that 67 per cent of hospitals simply did not collect the data and that a further 4 per cent refused to reveal the data on the grounds of privacy. That means that many of those situations are not known about. What is the true extent of the issue in our health boards across Scotland? What procedures and guidance are in place for Police Scotland to deal with those incidents?”
“I am pleased to contribute to this evening’s debate, and I thank my colleague Tess White for bringing this important issue to the chamber. I also congratulate Mary Howden and Carolyn Brown on publishing the report. The stark point is that, as we have heard, between 2019 and 2024, 276 sexual assaults and 23 rapes took place in 57 hospitals in Scotland. Those incidents included 11 cases of sexual assault in NHS Forth Valley, 34 in NHS Fife and 17 in NHS Tayside, all of which fall within my region. However, the Women’s Rights Network report points out that those incidents are just the ones that we know about and that there are many that we do not know about. When we debate the threat to single-sex spaces and the need to protect those spaces in settings such as hospitals, we must take into account the wider context.”
“The review also spoke about a failure of cultures, whereby people saw “Additional Support for Learning... as ‘Somebody else’s problem’ and ‘not their responsibility’.” The review spoke about the countless parents and carers who feel so badly let down on the issue. Many of these individuals felt that their concerns about their young people were “ignored or dismissed”, and they felt hurt as a result. Teachers and support assistants said that they felt “under siege” and undervalued. Back in 2020, more than 30 per cent of children needed support. ASN was a big issue five years ago, but it is an even bigger issue today. Audit Scotland points out that the Government has made very little progress against several of the recommendations from the 2020 report. In December’s budget, the Government finally committed to funding a £29 million ASN plan.”
“Their performance in literacy and numeracy is much lower, and they have less of an opportunity to reach those positive destinations that we hear so much about from the Scottish Government. Without that opportunity, they cannot get to a positive destination. The report is a truly damning assessment, but the Scottish Government should have known about those issues for many years, because this is not the first time that we have heard about the situation. Back in 2020, the report of the Morgan review of additional support for learning, “Support for Learning: All our Children and All their Potential”, highlighted that the issue was simply not a priority for the Scottish Government’s education system. It also highlighted the problems with the 2004 ASN act and its implementation, which it described as “fragmented” and “inconsistent”.”
“We should also acknowledge that the issue is complex, as ASN pupils can include those who have motor or sensory impairments or learning difficulties and issues such as dyslexia, as well as those who experience emotional or social difficulties. The fact remains, however, that every one of those ASN pupils is a young person who needs extra help to reach their full potential, and the Government is failing catastrophically on that. Audit Scotland’s report highlights that young people who are receiving ASL are at a disadvantage. Their rate of attendance at school is lower than average, and individuals with ASN are “five times more likely to be excluded from school”.”
“The number of young people who are recorded as receiving additional support for learning is now higher than 284,000. Why is that? It is because we have much better diagnosis, but diagnosis requires support and assistance. That figure not only represents 40 per cent of all pupils in Scotland; it is an eightfold increase from where we were when the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 was passed. The number of those who are being supported is already high, but councils expect it to rise even further, and that means that funding is needed. The Audit Scotland report highlights the poor situation with data, which means that the scale of the problem is not fully understood.”
“I am pleased to be able to bring this important issue to the chamber, and I thank those members who supported my motion. When it comes to Scotland’s education system, many of the Scottish National Party’s failures are well known. Those include a decline in international rankings, a widening attainment gap and falling teacher numbers, all of which have been discussed in the chamber many times. However, the Government’s failure on the issue of additional support needs deserves far more parliamentary time. My motion lays bare the crisis that is developing in Scottish schools for children and young people who have ASN. Last month’s report from Audit Scotland, entitled “Additional support for learning”, painted a truly grim picture.”
“Police officers in my region and across Scotland are suffering from burnout and low morale and are working in desperate conditions, according to a report that was published this week. The report showed that 68,000 rest days were cancelled in just six months. The pressure that is being put on police officers to meet the demands that are placed on them is clearly unsustainable. What measures will the Scottish Government put in place to ensure that hard-pressed and pressured officers are given the support that they rightly deserve?”
“First, we have provided a record level of funding—£15 billion—for local government, as has been recognised by COSLA, which is a cross-party organisation. Secondly, we have given as much funding for employer national insurance contributions as we are able to, given the funding that we are likely to receive from the Treasury. Finally, I note that, if we had listened to Alexander Stewart, we would have had £1 billion of unfunded tax cuts to the budget, which would have meant less, not more, money for local government. The Tories have no credibility on this issue. “The IFS Scottish Budget Report—2025-26” 3.”
“Labour’s increase in employer national insurance contributions is not only damaging to the private and public sector, but a shameful and direct violation of an explicit manifesto promise. The Scottish National Party Government has tried to tout its budget this year as some sort of salvation for councils—it is not. The high council tax increases to which councils are having to resort proves that. Cabinet secretary, are you at least willing to recognise the reality that the financial position that Scotland’s councils have been put in for 2025-26 is extremely challenging? The Deputy Presiding Officer: I will not be recognising anything—speak through the chair, Mr Stewart. Shona Robison: I will say two things to Alexander Stewart.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to incentivise businesses to seek opportunities for scaling up. (S6O-04378)”
“We have heard this evening about some of the problems that individuals in Scotland are having accessing services. We need to ensure that those who are suffering are given a support mechanism. I join members in asking the Scottish Government to consider an evidence-based solution, because that is what we need. Scotland’s shocking history of drug deaths is a national shame and a national scandal. We cannot allow alcohol-related brain damage to go down the same route. We have heard tonight how many individuals have lost their lives because of the alcohol culture in our country. That has to stop, and the only way that it can stop is with an evidence-based solution across the country. 18:18”
“As the condition can affect each individual differently, specialist care centres are often the best approach. In my region, there is the NHS Forth Valley substance use service in Stirling and Clackmannanshire and, in Fife, there is the alcohol and drug partnership. Those vital services support individuals and social care partnerships, but many of them are struggling. They do not have the funding and budgets that are required to offer support to individuals. It is disappointing that alcohol-related brain damage does not receive the coverage or attention that it needs. I hope that the debate gives us an opportunity to address that issue. Failure to tackle the condition will put a significant burden on health and social care across the country, and I hope that the minister will talk about that when she sums up.”
“Part of the solution must be to challenge common perceptions about alcohol-related brain damage, and alcohol use disorder more generally. As the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland highlighted, there is often a perception that assessing and helping people with alcohol problems is a difficult and lengthy process. Early detection is another important issue. As it stands, many cases of alcohol-related brain damage go undetected for years, with some clinicians misdiagnosing the condition as a mental health issue or dementia. Although improving awareness of the condition among clinicians is important, we have to be aware of the public’s ability to recognise the signs and symptoms of alcohol-related brain damage in friends, family members or even themselves, so that there are opportunities for diagnosis.”
“I am pleased to contribute to the debate and thank Carol Mochan for bringing it to the chamber. This is an important opportunity to highlight an issue that does not receive the attention that it deserves. As we know, alcohol-related brain damage can have a devastating impact on individuals and their families. Despite that, the condition is still not well understood and is sometimes missed by health professionals. Alcohol Change UK has highlighted that the condition can lead to the double stigma of brain impairment and alcohol addiction, and the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland has said that alcohol-related brain damage often affects groups that are already marginalised in society. The motion is therefore right to speak about an holistic approach to tackling the issue.”
“That means introducing commonsense policies that will attract investment and send a message that Scotland is somewhere that truly values success and talent. That success and talent will lead to the economic growth, investment and prosperity that we want. However, the SNP Government does little about that. I support the amendment in the name of Murdo Fraser. 16:30”
“The chief executive of SFE, Sandy Begbie, has highlighted that cutting taxes to at least the same rates as those in the rest of the UK could lead to greater investment and greater certainty in the Scottish economy. As Conservative members have said often in recent years, high tax does not support business or the economy. If the Scottish Government was serious about increasing investment in public services, it would be willing to listen to the proposals that are being made. Scotland has the potential to lead the United Kingdom in many sectors, but it will be able to do that only if the SNP Government is willing to unlock that potential. It talks about Scotland being a leading destination for investment, but it is time that it backed up that rhetoric with actions.”
“Although the fintech sector has enjoyed impressive growth in recent years, we are now seeing warnings that policies such as higher income tax are making it difficult for the sector to see sustained growth. Scottish Financial Enterprise has said that its members are finding it harder and harder to attract and retain senior workers. In an SFE survey that received responses from 40 organisations that together employ more than 50,000 people in the financial services sector, 66 per cent of respondents knew of examples where Scotland’s business and tax environment was harming and having a negative impact on business decisions. At the same time, leading headhunting companies have reported difficulties in attracting top talent to Scotland, particularly since the introduction of the advanced rate of income tax.”
“The Government talks about investment in housing but, as we have heard, its rent cap policy harmed investment in that sector to the tune of £3 billion, and it will make many of the same mistakes with the Housing (Scotland) Bill. The Government talks about investment in net zero. However, although it is willing to invest in alternative energy sources such as offshore wind, it has turned its back on nuclear energy—a decision that will cost Scotland billions in long-term investment. In reality, the SNP’s insistence on ignoring nuclear power will not only cost Scotland investment opportunities but make net zero harder and much more expensive to achieve. The Scottish Government is right to talk about the importance of technology in financial services, yet its policies undermine that sector in Scotland.”
“I am pleased to be able to contribute to this afternoon’s debate. I will support the amendment in the name of Murdo Fraser. The motion mentions the importance of increasing investment in Scotland’s economy and it says that that investment is vital to improve public services, support a thriving economy and create jobs. There is no doubt that those are all worthy points, but the Scottish public should be surprised to find them at the beginning of a motion that was lodged by the high-tax, anti-business SNP Government. Although it wants to shout about the importance of investment in Scotland, it is hard to believe that it really means it.”
“I trust that, if the minister has engaged with councils throughout the budget process, he will be fully aware of all that. As the weeks roll by, councils will finalise and set their budgets for the coming year. Some of them have agreed council tax increases that are higher than 10 per cent. In my region, there will be an increase of 9 per cent in Stirling and of 9.5 per cent in Perth and Kinross; the increase is as much as 13 per cent in”
“Councils are also facing pressure from the increase in employer national insurance contributions as a result of the UK Government’s tax grab. We welcome the additional £144 million of funding to address that, which was announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government earlier this month. However, COSLA has warned that that still leaves a gap of £96 million, which councils will have to find from their own budgets. Discussions with the UK Government on that issue continue, and the Scottish Government should stand ready to pass on any additional funding that the UK Government at Westminster makes available. More generally, it is clear from engagement with local government that many councils have difficult decisions to make. In many cases, those will involve reducing or cutting important local services.”
“I am pleased to speak on behalf of the Scottish Conservatives in the debate on this year’s local government finance order. The motion before us today is necessary in order to allocate funding to each of Scotland’s 32 councils. The Scottish Conservatives will not oppose the motion. However, it is important that this parliamentary time is used to highlight the current state of local government finances and the fact that councils are experiencing pressures from several different directions. A recent report from the Accounts Commission made for concerning reading. More than a third of councils made unplanned use of their reserves in 2023-24 to manage budget pressures, and more than half of councils do not have in place a long-term financial plan.”
“That is why I visited the site and why Screen Scotland is intimately involved in supporting the development of the site. I have very high hopes that it will be but the latest good news story in the general direction of travel for the screen sector in Scotland, which we should do everything to support.”
“The proposed development in Stirling would create one of the largest film studio campuses in Scotland, which would be a game changer for film and television productions. What is the Scottish Government doing to ensure that the project becomes a reality and has the potential to filter down to the wider supply chain, paving the way for a major economic benefit throughout the region? Angus Robertson: I again commend the questioner for the tone and content of the question. Alexander Stewart has hit on some of the latest good news that we have in the screen sector. Over recent years, we have gone from having very limited studio capacity in Scotland to having significant studios right across the country. The project in Stirling is, indeed, a game changer.”
“Not only can eating disorders affect anyone, but it is often the case that they affect those individuals whom we would not expect to be affected. We are currently seeing many younger people being affected, as a result of portrayals and images of what they should or might look like. We know that, at present, around 1.25 million people in the UK are living with an eating disorder, which equates to more than one in 50 people in Scotland. However, the real number is probably much higher, because many cases go unreported.”
“I am pleased to contribute to this members’ business debate, and I thank Emma Harper for bringing it to the chamber. As we know from the motion, this year’s eating disorders awareness week, which runs until 2 March, is already under way. The theme this year is that eating disorders can affect anybody. I welcome that theme. I feel that it is vital that the great many misconceptions about eating disorders are challenged as vigorously as possible, especially as public misunderstanding and stigma can often prevent people from reaching out for help. Help is available, but we need to make sure that it is provided across all areas and that there is not a postcode lottery, which does happen from time to time.”
“I hope that, in tackling the issue, the Scottish Government will follow the advice and evidence from other areas on how to manage it. The justice system needs to be equipped to support hard- working staff with the tools that they need to do their job effectively, to support themselves and to support those going through the justice system. 13:04”
“The Scottish Government is in the process of creating a national service specification for alcohol and drugs services, following the publication of UK-wide alcohol treatment guidelines. That could provide an opportunity to ensure that effective standards are in place in the justice system as a whole. I hope that, in summing up, the cabinet secretary will give an update on the Scottish Government’s progress on that, because it is a complex issue that requires bold solutions. We have heard about the number of individuals—men, in particular—who were drunk during their offending, about the number of women who have suffered as a result of alcohol-related domestic abuse and violence and about the number of individuals in our custody and our systems who are suffering. That should have an impact on what we do.”
“The Scottish prison healthcare network previously published guidance on the misuse of drugs in prisons and in custody settings; unfortunately, that guidance is no longer in use, and our prisons are often worse off as result. As members from across the chamber will agree, further action is needed to tackle the attitude to alcohol in the wider justice system. Today’s motion mentions the solutions that are being created to support individuals who require treatment in the justice system, but it is disappointing that some approaches are not being considered. More guidance might need to be ascertained from the cabinet secretary in that respect, and I look forward to hearing about that in her summing up.”
“It is clear that the current approach to alcohol and drug use is not working in prison settings. At His Majesty’s Prison Glenochil in Clackmannanshire in my region, 35 inmates were found to be under the influence of drugs on Christmas day. Although prison staff reportedly seized the articles that were causing the problem, the indication is that the issue is far reaching, so it is only fair that drugs and alcohol be considered when we are dealing with situations in our prisons. The Scottish Prison Service was forced to introduce a policy to deal with influences on individuals as a result of that incident, but it is only one example of the disruption that can be caused in prisons and to the wider system.”
“I am pleased to be able to contribute to this afternoon’s important debate, and I thank Elena Whitham for bringing it to the chamber. How alcohol use disorders interact with the Scottish justice system is still not very well understood. Elena Whitham’s motion lays out the key statistics, including the fact that nearly two thirds of people in prison have an alcohol use disorder. However, this issue goes beyond mere numbers. Far too much of the current legislation on the problem focuses entirely on alcohol use in prisons. In reality, alcohol use disorders affect individuals who are at all stages of the justice system. That includes during initial police contact, in custody centres and court settings and during liaison and diversion and throughcare.”
“Having spoken to the university research sector in Scotland, as I regularly do, I know that one of the biggest barriers is immigration regulations and the bureaucracy involved in getting academics and appropriate staff into the country. We should also be conscious of that. The budget includes more than £1.1 billion of investment in teaching and research at Scottish universities.”
“Investment in higher education and business is critical to attracting and retaining the best talent, which is needed to help to deliver economic growth. However, the Institute for Fiscal Studies has reported a large-scale real-terms decrease in the funding that is provided to Scottish universities, and there are real concerns that that investment has not been prioritised. How realistic are plans to establish a stand-alone business school? Richard Lochhead: As I said, there are currently no plans to establish a stand-alone business school, albeit that I am very happy to explore whether that is an option for Scotland.”
“We talk about the Verity house agreement, but we are still looking for the warm aspects of this Government. It is high time that the SNP Government recognised the value of the role that councils play in our communities across Scotland. It is also time for it to deliver a commonsense budget that shows councils the respect that they deserve in looking after communities. It is time for individuals to stand up. The SNP is failing individuals and communities, and Scottish people are having to pay the price. The SNP has failed business, communities and councils. Those are among the many reasons why I will not support the budget bill at stage 1. 16:18”
“I suggest that the cabinet secretary and the Government continue to work on the issue. Over the past 18 years, the SNP Government has demonstrated that it does not see local government as one of its priorities, that it does not see businesses as one of its priorities and that it does not see communities as one of its priorities. Despite talking a big game, it has never been the case that the SNP has put its money where its mouth is. This is the Government that announced a brand-new relationship with local government and promised that there would be better engagement and better budgetary processes. That has not happened. We have seen a squeeze on local government, and every council across Scotland will have to put up council tax in the next few weeks.”
“Key services have been stripped back over the past few years. Funding for local halls and libraries has been slashed, and funding for opportunities in relation to leisure is under huge strain. We have been talking about the uncertainty in relation to employer national insurance contributions. The cabinet secretary has indicated that there will be a 60 per cent uplift, but that is still not enough. Percentages will still be added on to council taxes, because the gap has not been filled. There will be additional costs for the partner organisations that deliver services, as well as for the councils themselves. At the beginning of the year, COSLA and the Scottish Government talked directly to the UK chancellor about support. However, months on, we have still not got the full package.”
“None of that paints a picture of a Scottish Government that has the interests of local government at its heart. As it stands, councils across Scotland are sceptical about what the budget means for long- term council funding. Indeed, COSLA has made it abundantly clear that budgets will not receive the impact that is required to improve services. Stuart McMillan: Will the member take an intervention? Alexander Stewart: No, thank you, Mr McMillan. We all know what is happening across our constituencies and regions. Members will no doubt be well aware of examples of funding being squeezed from their constituencies and regions. In my region, Perth and Kinross, Stirling and Clackmannanshire councils have all been forced to cut numerous services to deal with the increasing pressures on budgets in recent years.”
“I will take the cabinet secretary’s intervention. Shona Robison: The budget for this year— 2025-26—includes a real-terms increase for local government. How does Alexander Stewart reconcile that with the £1 billion of tax cuts that his party wants to deliver? What impact would that have on the local government settlement? Alexander Stewart: Grow the economy, cabinet secretary. You cannot say— The Deputy Presiding Officer: Speak through the chair, Mr Stewart. Alexander Stewart: Over the past 10 years, you have systematically— The Deputy Presiding Officer: Mr Stewart, I ask you to speak through the chair, please. Alexander Stewart: Cabinet secretary, you have systematically— The Deputy Presiding Officer: Through the chair, Mr Stewart. Alexander Stewart: —removed millions and billions of pounds from local government.”
“Last year’s Local Government Information Unit survey asked senior council representatives whether they thought that the current level of local government finances was sustainable. Not one respondent said yes. That was unprecedented. On top of that, respondents from 23 councils indicated that, given the balances that they had, they would find it really difficult to pass a balanced budget in at least one of the next five financial years. This year’s reports by Audit Scotland and the Accounts Commission paint an even more concerning picture. They make it clear that the situation is unprecedented—councils face uncertain futures and are uncertain about where the opportunities are to enable them to balance their budgets. The scale of the uncertainty means that only around half of councils have long-term financial plans in place.”
“After the low-growth, anti-job autumn budget from the UK Labour Government, many stakeholders hoped that the Scottish Government and the Scottish budget would deliver the support that public services are crying out for right now— none more so than councils, which have spent the past decade having to deal with a long series of real-terms cuts, while being asked to deliver ever more services. Reports by SPICe show that, over the past 10 years, total local government funding has fallen as a percentage of the Scottish Government’s budget. The consequences of that are clear to see. Shona Robison: Will Alexander Stewart give way on that point? Alexander Stewart: I will, once I have made some progress.”
“As a member of the committee, the member also has the opportunity to ask Creative Scotland directly about that, which I am sure that he will do, and that he will satisfy himself, as I have, that the likes of the project that he referenced will not be repeated in future.”
“It is commendable and to be welcomed that Creative Scotland has been awarded the multiyear funding, which will provide more stability for future planning for the arts and creative sector. However, what safeguards have been put in place to ensure that funding is correctly allocated going forward, and that is it is never again distributed to inappropriate projects such as the infamous Rein project? Angus Robertson: I welcome the fact that the development is commendable. The member sits on the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee, which has heard evidence from Creative Scotland about the safeguards that it has introduced.”
“Extremists on all sides continue to exploit the situation in order to stir up anti-Muslim and antisemitic hatred in the UK. As a result, many communities across the UK are feeling vulnerable, with hostility and suspicion of others continuing to grow. We should all be concerned about that. We must also never forget the well-documented genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and”
“I am happy to speak in support of this important motion, and I congratulate my colleague Jackson Carlaw on bringing the debate to the chamber. As the motion rightly says, 2025 marks 80 years since Auschwitz-Birkenau was liberated, as well as the 30th anniversary of the genocide in Bosnia. This year’s Holocaust memorial day theme, “For a better future”, is highly appropriate, and never more have we needed it. As the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust points out, antisemitism has increased significantly in the United Kingdom and globally. That is especially the case following the 7 October 2023 attacks in Israel, when about 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 hostages were seized, with the war in Gaza taking place thereafter. I note that many of the hostages have still not been released.”
“As we fund, and launch multi-annual funding for, so much of the creative arts sector, that raises knock-on questions about the way in which the rest of our cultural ecosystem is supported. That is one reason why the review is being undertaken. We have all been asked to contribute to the review. Dame Sue Bruce has asked for submissions to be made, and I encourage Alexander Stewart to contribute. In looking at this issue closely, the member is definitely asking the right question, and I would be interested to read his submission. I commend taking part in the review to MSPs of all parties who have views on the culture and arts sector, so that we can chart the next stage in supporting and promoting Scotland’s culture and arts. Heritage Assets (Community Ownership) 6.”
“Funding supports Creative Scotland to enable it to progress multiyear deals with performing arts organisations. However, there is still no equivalent for the museums and galleries sector. Therefore, museums and galleries continue to operate on a year-to-year basis. That adds to the uncertainty across the sector and in the local economies in which they operate. What are the Scottish Government’s intentions to rectify that situation? Angus Robertson: No doubt, that will form part of Alexander Stewart’s submission to the review that is being undertaken of Creative Scotland and considerations for the wider creative sector. He identifies an important question.”
“I asked the cabinet secretary how much the Scottish Government “plans to spend in 2025-26 on work related to Scottish independence.” In response, Angus Robertson said that, next year, there is “budget provision for a range of activity related to the constitution which will be deployed across Ministerial priorities and commitments in this area.”—[Written Answers, 24 January 2025; S6W-33286.] It is clear that the budget contains spending—”