Supporting Scotland’s Culture Sector
- Submitted by: Neil Bibby, West Scotland, Scottish Labour.
- Date lodged: Monday, 23 October 2023
- Motion reference: S6M-10917
- Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, 25 October 2023
Motions as amended
That the Parliament values greatly the enormous contribution of the arts and culture sector to Scotland’s national life and economy, noting that the creative industry is estimated to be worth nearly £4.5 billion and 80,000 jobs; understands that, in common with other sectors, arts and culture organisations are experiencing significant pressure due to increases in the cost of living as a consequence of Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the actions of the UK Government; welcomes that Creative Scotland has confirmed that it has used its reserves to ensure that funding for regularly funded organisations has been maintained in 2023-24; notes that, over the last five years, the Scottish Government has provided over £33 million to Creative Scotland to compensate for a shortfall in National Lottery funding; supports the Scottish Government’s plan to more than double arts and culture funding by £100 million over the next five years; endorses the Scottish Government’s aim of working with the culture sector to implement the refreshed culture strategy action plan, and believes that the UK Government should match this stated ambition and at least double its investment in arts and culture over the same period.
Supported by:
Paul Sweeney
Vote
Result 65 for, 52 against, 0 abstained, 12 did not vote Vote Passed
Scottish National Party
- 59 for
- 0 against
- 0 abstained
- 5 did not vote
- + Show details + Hide details
For
- Alasdair Allan
- Angela Constance
- Angus Robertson
- Annabelle Ewing
- Ash Regan
- Audrey Nicoll
- Ben Macpherson
- Bill Kidd
- Bob Doris
- Christina McKelvie
- Christine Grahame
- Clare Haughey
- Colin Beattie
- Collette Stevenson
- David Torrance
- Elena Whitham
- Emma Harper
- Emma Roddick
- Evelyn Tweed
- Fergus Ewing
- Fiona Hyslop
- Fulton MacGregor
- George Adam
- Gillian Martin
- Gordon MacDonald
- Graeme Dey
- Ivan McKee
- Jackie Dunbar
- James Dornan
- Jamie Hepburn
- Jenni Minto
- Jenny Gilruth
- Jim Fairlie
- Joe FitzPatrick
- John Mason
- John Swinney
- Karen Adam
- Kate Forbes
- Kaukab Stewart
- Keith Brown
- Kenneth Gibson
- Kevin Stewart
- Màiri McAllan
- Maree Todd
- Marie McNair
- Michelle Thomson
- Natalie Don
- Nicola Sturgeon
- Paul McLennan
- Richard Lochhead
- Rona Mackay
- Ruth Maguire
- Shirley-Anne Somerville
- Shona Robison
- Siobhian Brown
- Stephanie Callaghan
- Stuart McMillan
- Tom Arthur
- Willie Coffey
Against
0Abstained
0Did not vote
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- 0 for
- 29 against
- 0 abstained
- 2 did not vote
- + Show details + Hide details
For
0Against
- Alexander Burnett
- Alexander Stewart
- Annie Wells
- Brian Whittle
- Craig Hoy
- Douglas Lumsden
- Douglas Ross
- Dr. Sandesh Gulhane
- Edward Mountain
- Finlay Carson
- Graham Simpson
- Jackson Carlaw
- Jamie Greene
- Jamie Halcro Johnston
- Jeremy Balfour
- Liam Kerr
- Liz Smith
- Maurice Golden
- Meghan Gallacher
- Miles Briggs
- Murdo Fraser
- Oliver Mundell
- Pam Gosal
- Rachael Hamilton
- Roz McCall
- Russell Findlay
- Sharon Dowey
- Sue Webber
- Tess White
Abstained
0Did not vote
Scottish Labour
- 0 for
- 19 against
- 0 abstained
- 3 did not vote
- + Show details + Hide details
For
0Against
- Alex Rowley
- Anas Sarwar
- Carol Mochan
- Colin Smyth
- Daniel Johnson
- Foysol Choudhury
- Jackie Baillie
- Katy Clark
- Martin Whitfield
- Mercedes Villalba
- Monica Lennon
- Neil Bibby
- Pam Duncan-Glancy
- Paul O'Kane
- Paul Sweeney
- Pauline McNeill
- Rhoda Grant
- Richard Leonard
- Sarah Boyack
Abstained
0Did not vote
Scottish Green Party
- 6 for
- 0 against
- 0 abstained
- 1 did not vote
- + Show details + Hide details
For
Against
0Abstained
0Did not vote
Scottish Liberal Democrats
- 0 for
- 4 against
- 0 abstained
- 0 did not vote
- + Show details + Hide details
For
0Against
Abstained
0Did not vote
0No Party Affiliation
- 0 for
- 0 against
- 0 abstained
- 1 did not vote
- + Show details + Hide details
Original motion text
That the Parliament values greatly the enormous contribution of the arts and culture sector to Scotland’s national life and economy, noting that the creative industry is estimated to be worth nearly £4.5 billion and 80,000 jobs; recognises what many in the sector have described as a “perfect storm” of crisis in the sector, resulting from years of underfunding as well as the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the cost of living crisis; condemns the Scottish Government’s decision to break its promise to the sector not to cut Creative Scotland’s budget by 10%, and notes the furious reaction in response; notes the commitment from the Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture that Creative Scotland’s funding will be restored in 2024-25, but recognises with concern that Creative Scotland has stated that up to a third of its regularly funded organisations are at serious risk of insolvency in the short term, and over half are financially weak, which will require redundancies or other cost savings, and therefore considers that there is an urgent need for funding now; further notes the announcement made by the First Minister on 17 October 2023 to more than double arts and culture funding over the next five years, but believes that, in the current context, financial certainty for the sector is crucial; calls, therefore, on the Scottish Government to reverse the 10% budget cut to Creative Scotland with immediate effect; further calls on the Scottish Government to set out full details for its proposed increase in the arts and culture budget, including timescales for funding increases, and believes that it is essential that this is clarified ahead of the publication of a refreshed Scottish Government Culture Strategy.
Accepted amendments
Supporting Scotland’s Culture Sector - Amendment - Amendment
Submitted by: Angus Robertson, Edinburgh Central, Scottish National Party, Date lodged: Tuesday, October 24, 2023
Supported by: Christina McKelvie
Current status: Taken in the chamber on Wednesday, October 25, 2023
Result 65 for, 51 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote Vote Passed
Defeated amendments
Supporting Scotland’s Culture Sector - Amendment - Amendment
Submitted by: Alexander Stewart, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date lodged: Tuesday, October 24, 2023
Current status: Taken in the chamber on Wednesday, October 25, 2023
Result 33 for, 65 against, 19 abstained, 12 did not vote Vote Defeated