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 8 of 8.
“What does the member say to the Lib Dems and Greens, which have announced today that they will support the budget? Craig Hoy: I thank the member for that—it is an open goal. I was perplexed this morning to see that the Liberal Democrats will vote for the budget, not least in the light of previous comments from Alex Cole-Hamilton and a written answer that I received from the cabinet secretary for independence yesterday.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to address the reported rise in cases of human metapneumovirus, or HMPV, and ensure that Scotland is prepared for any pandemic regarding this condition. (S6O-04228)”
“Given the funding pressures that we all acknowledge have existed, it would seem very odd indeed to be arguing, on the one hand, for increased culture funding, but then to go on to vote against that or abstain. This is the time to support the Scottish Government’s approach to culture funding and its increase in culture spending, as well as the other measures that have been announced. I commend the motion that stands in my name. Business Motion 17:00”
“The planned increase in culture funding has received cross-Cabinet approval at a time when the Scottish Government faces tough choices about the funding priorities that will ensure the delivery of the First Minister’s stated priorities of eradicating child poverty, growing the economy, tackling the climate emergency by investing in green energy and infrastructure, and improving Scotland’s public services as an investment in Scotland’s future health, equality and prosperity. I therefore urge all members of the Scottish Parliament to support the Scottish Government’s budget plans for culture in the coming weeks and make the planned increase in funding support for our vital culture sector a reality. This afternoon, we have heard a lot of powerful speeches about why we should support the culture sector.”
“It also includes allocating new funding to support festivals across Scotland, improving digital access to our public libraries, restarting and extending the community- led arts and creativity programmes, and developing a culture and heritage capacity fund. We will also continue to support Scotland’s flagship Sistema and youth music initiatives. We will ensure that all that additional investment has the desired positive impact across the sector, supporting the review of sector support needs, which will include the remit and functions of Creative Scotland.”
“That includes demonstrating this Parliament’s collective support for culture in Scotland and, as part of the parliamentary process in due course, voting in support of the Scottish Government’s proposal for a significant uplift in culture funding for 2025-26. Through this budget, we will deliver on the culture strategy’s central ambition of sustaining and nurturing the conditions and skills for culture to thrive for the benefit of all. That includes providing an increase of £20 million for Creative Scotland’s competitive multiyear funding programme, as well as additional increases for the national collections, the national performing companies and Screen Scotland.”
“It is clear that we are in agreement that, now more than ever, we have to make sure that every pound of public funding for culture is wisely invested for maximum sectoral impact. We also have to make sure that the support available from across the public, private and third sectors is enhanced where possible, so that, together, we can strengthen culture and create the conditions for culture to thrive—which is one of the central ambitions that is set out in our culture strategy for Scotland. To fully harness that potential, it is clear that we need to continue to engage closely with our culture sector and collaborate with strategic decision makers across central and local government, using all the lessons, levers and convening power that we can bring to the table in support of the culture sector.”
“She is absolutely right—I concur with her entirely. We heard from Foysol Choudhury, and from Michelle Thomson, who, as she regularly does, underlined the negative impact of Brexit, which we should never forget. We also heard from Stephen Kerr, Colin Smyth and Clare Adamson, and from Paul Sweeney—I always listen very closely to the points that he makes on the built environment. We heard from Michael Marra, who now has the answer to his question, which he did not have before. I commend to him the use of the internet to find out things that are already in the public realm. We also heard from Alexander Stewart—who, as, a member of the parliamentary choir, has a fine voice, if not the finest of arguments. I encourage him to rebel against his party line and vote for the increase in culture funding, which I think that we all agree is necessary.”
“If there are any parts of the cultural firmament that are not covered by multi- annual funding, it will be a priority to ensure that they are on a firm footing as well. In general, I would like to underscore what I think is the fact, which is that there is cross-party agreement on multiyear funding, and that that announcement is imminent. Alex Cole-Hamilton talked about the importance of culture funding, as did others. To that end, I hope that he and his colleagues will follow the logic of the argument, unlike the other parties, and vote for increasing culture funding in the budget, as well as for the motion that is before us today. We heard from Evelyn Tweed about the culture sector in Stirling, and from Pam Gosal on the importance of the Asian cultural contribution as a part of our national life.”
“Angus Robertson: I am sorry that Michael Marra has not caught up with the news, because I was delighted to meet the convener of Dundee City Council and local parliamentarians last week to talk about the challenges that exist in Dundee. As I have acknowledged in previous question times in the chamber, supporting important cultural organisations and making sure that they do not go to the wall has been one of the big challenges in recent years. We have worked very hard to do that, and I gave a commitment to colleagues in Dundee that I would do the same. I invest a lot of hope in what we are about to hear in relation to the multiyear funding announcement. I have called it foundational, and I believe it to be so.”
“I point to its website, which will tell him that the announcement will be made before the end of this month. We should all look forward to that—I think that there is consensus across the parties that multi-annual funding is really important. Michael Marra: Will the cabinet secretary give way? Angus Robertson: If Michael Marra keeps it brief, I will reply as quickly as I can. Michael Marra: I appreciate the cabinet secretary giving way. Does he not recognise that the institutions in Dundee are in significant financial distress? They await clarity on both his budget and the local government budget. As the cabinet secretary for culture, what is his response to the situation that they find themselves in?”
“That point was raised, correctly, by Keith Brown, when he talked about the total lack of credibility from both the Conservative and Labour parties—given that, on the one hand, colleagues make speech after speech valuing the importance of culture and calling for financial support, but, on the other hand, they vote against that or abstain. In contrast, we heard from Maggie Chapman, who, rightly, underlined the importance of the transformative impact of the arts, through the likes of the Big Noise project. It was good to have that put on the record. In a point that Mark Ruskell also made, she underlined the essential nature of multi- annual funding for cultural organisations. Michael Marra needed to write to me to find out when Creative Scotland is making announcements on multi-annual funding.”
“Angus Robertson: —but he then managed to call for more culture spending while failing to confirm that he will vote against that in the budget vote later this year. From Neil Bibby, we heard a warm welcome for increased culture spending. He called for the Scottish Government to raise spending on culture by £20 million only days before the Scottish Government announced that we intend to raise it by £34 million. He failed to confirm that he is going to abstain when it comes to the vote on increasing culture spending, and failed to acknowledge that Labour in office elsewhere in the UK is cutting revenue funding.”
“Once again, I acknowledge that we are here because we are all passionate supporters of culture—we all value the artists, the creative producers, the cultural workers, the organisations and the volunteers who help to make Scotland the society that it is and who generate so much for our local and national economies as well as our cultural life. That is clear from the vast and varied experiences of culture that we have heard about from colleagues across the chamber. I will try to reflect on as many as I can; I hope that members will forgive me if I am unable to touch on all the points that have been raised. Murdo Fraser began really well by talking about the artistic and economic benefits— Murdo Fraser: I agree with you.”
“Scotland’s culture is steeped in creativity. Our art and music are a credit to us and to the nation. I hope that the Scottish Government can continue to ensure that the culture sector provides and is provided with the support that is deserved and needed. However, as I have said, we have to acknowledge that much more needs to be done to secure the sector’s future. Arts, music and culture matter. Trust and confidence also matter in that sector, and, at the moment, we still have a long way to go to achieve those. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I call the cabinet secretary, Angus Robertson, to wind up the debate on behalf of the Scottish Government. If you take us to decision time, cabinet secretary, that will be great. 16:51 Angus Robertson: I thank members from all parties for their engaging and thoughtful contributions.”
“He was right to acknowledge that the companies have a shadow hanging over them. Pam Gosal talked about the creative side of life—the volunteers and the people who play roles in music, art, dance and theatre, and the impact of the Asian communities in all of that. She talked about their diversity and how they will give their support for the arts to prosper. Festivals such as Diwali and Eid are vitally important. Once again, Stephen Kerr gave a robust speech based on his insight into what is taking place in culture. He talked about the governance and transparency of Creative Scotland, and it has to be acknowledged that there is still a problem with those. Across the piece, we have heard about the pay awards, the reduction in the working week, the increase in national insurance contributions and the need to save music tuition.”
“I look forward to the conclusion of the review of Creative Scotland and to hearing what will happen next. In his opening speech, Murdo Fraser talked about the relationship between local and national Government, which is vital to supporting the sector and giving it what it wants. We all welcome the uplift, but the budget pressures that companies are facing, given the pay awards and the Westminster Government’s increasing of national insurance contributions, are having a massive impact on the sector, and arts venues, libraries and other spaces are facing cuts. Neil Bibby said that the money was too little, too late and talked about the hokey cokey that has taken place, with the budgets going back and forward. Alex Cole-Hamilton said that the sector deserves support, and he talked about the flagship festivals that happen in Edinburgh.”
“In the debate, we have heard about the importance of learning skills and the vital work of the Big Noise programme in Stirling, which is in my region. However, we cannot ignore the difficulties that we have seen over the past 18 years of this SNP Government. It has continued to support the sector, but not enough has been done over that timescale, and what has been done has been too little, too late. The cabinet secretary talked about the value of culture. Of course it has a value, and community culture is vital, but the creative industries require to be supported. They have had a difficult time. The cabinet secretary acknowledged that, but there have been issues with trust and confidence within the sector, which have taken some dents during his time as Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture.”
“I have stood up for that tuition and have challenged individuals in the council on that proposal, and I will continue to do that to make sure that the cut does not happen. We must not see the removal of that funding, because it would mean fewer opportunities for young people to sit music exams and participate in choirs, bands and youth orchestras. That is not the way forward. A petition that has been launched on the matter, which is titled “Save Our Children’s Music”, attracted thousands of signatures in a matter of days. One of its key supporters is the “Downton Abbey” composer John Lunn, who has talked about his life in Bridge of Allan and who credits much of his success to Stirling Council’s music services. We have to listen to such individuals when they tell us what is happening on the ground. I am a proud advocate for music tuition.”
“They are vital links in communities, but there are difficulties and potential closures, including in Perth and Kinross and in Stirling. Innovative measures and initiatives such as the public library improvement fund are welcome, but they do not go far enough in managing the challenges. In the debate, we have heard about the challenges that local government is facing. Councils are still being asked to do more with less, and they are having to make choices. Last week, I raised in the chamber the cuts that are being made to music tuition across Scotland. As a lifelong campaigner for music and the arts, I raise that issue again today. As we have heard, Stirling Council has proposed a cut of £250,000 to its music education budget.”
“I have spoken in previous debates about the closure of many important historic sites across Scotland, and there are still sites that are at risk. Scotland’s buildings tell us important stories about Scotland’s culture, and it is vital that people have opportunities to see them. Their potential should not be wasted through long-term closures. I repeat my party’s calls for buildings that have been closed to be reopened. To that end, I welcome the fact that Historic Environment Scotland began inspection work on Dunfermline abbey last week in order to identify potential problems and safeguard the site. Turning to the challenges that are being faced in other parts of our culture sector, I note members’ comments on libraries.”
“I am pleased to close on behalf of the Scottish Conservatives, and I will support the amendment in the name of Murdo Fraser. Scotland can be proud of the cultural footprint that it leaves on the world stage, and I have no doubt that members on all sides of the chamber agree about the importance of Scotland’s culture sector. In the debate, we have heard about the multibillion-pound value of the sector and the tens of thousands of jobs that it supports. In reality, however, the value of the culture sector is much greater than just the numbers. I therefore welcome the fact that Parliament has had an opportunity to debate the subject today, and I welcome the speeches that we have heard. Scotland’s culture sector should be celebrated, but we know that it is facing a number of on-going challenges.”
“The forthcoming budget provides for additional resources for local government and for record funding for culture and the arts. If Mr Stewart is keen for local government and the sector to have the means to make that provision, I hope that he will vote for that in the budget and not just raise questions at question time. He actually has a vote—he can influence things—and I hope that he will vote for the budget. Glasgow School of Art Mackintosh Building Restoration 5.”
“It is very difficult for the arts, culture and creative sector to continue to thrive when councils across Scotland are proposing devastating cuts that will decimate the funding of music services and affect the sector’s future. What action is the Scottish Government taking to negate these ill- conceived proposals, which will possibly see the removal, after 60 years, of instrumental and vocal teaching from our communities? Angus Robertson: As Alexander Stewart knows, I am a great supporter of music teaching in schools, and I would be greatly concerned if there was any diminution of that, because this Government has a good record of supporting teaching across Scotland. I am content to write to him to give him more detail on that.”