Culture in Parliament - April 2023
Culture Counts monitors the Scottish and UK Parliament for discussions and questions about the Culture Sector. We’ve listed recent committee business and chamber questions in each house below.
The link attached to each item will take you to the Official Report, where you can read the Government response and further discussion around each item.
Scottish Parliament:
First Minister’s Question Time, 30 March 2023
Aberdeen City Council (Library Closures)
Mercedes Villalba (North East Scotland)
In Aberdeen, the Scottish National Party has, for the second time, voted to permanently close six libraries in the city tomorrow. However, Aberdonians know that local government has a statutory requirement to provide adequate library facilities to all residents, and we all heard the First Minister’s predecessor when she said that the Scottish Government is committed to supporting libraries directly. Will the new First Minister reassure my constituents that he will not stand by and allow our library buildings to close?
BBC in Scotland (100 Years) Motion 22 March 2023
Motion in the name of Jenni Minto MSP (Argyll and Bute)
That the Parliament celebrates 100 years of public service broadcasting with the centenary of the BBC in Scotland in 2023; recognises what it sees as the vital contribution of the BBC to the creative economy of the nation; understands that, from the first live radio transmission in Glasgow on the evening of 6 March 1923, the BBC in Scotland has grown from its early days in radio to include the provision of extensive educational resources, Gaelic language content, current affairs, comedy, music and entertainment, reflecting the breadth and depth of Scotland’s culture on TV, radio and online; further understands that the BBC in Scotland directly employs over 1,200 people across 14 bases from Shetland to Dumfries, and supports many more roles via commissions to the independent production sector; notes what it considers the value of the BBC and public service broadcasting in Scotland, and the contribution that it has made, and continues to make, to the Scottish creative sector, and wishes the BBC a successful start to its second century of educating, entertaining and informing the nation. S6M-07482
Portfolio Question Time Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, 22 March 2023
Historic Environment Scotland (Waste and Resources Plan)
Brian Whittle (South Scotland)
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the culture minister has had with Historic Environment Scotland regarding the organisation’s waste and resources plan, including any potential impact of the deposit return scheme on its operations. (S6O-02031)
Cultural Assets and Venues (Regeneration)
Jenni Minto (Argyll and Bute)
To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the regeneration of cultural assets and venues in communities. (S6O-02032)
Culture (Highlands and Islands)
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands)
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to protect the culture of the Highlands and Islands. (S6O-02033)
Culture Policies (Social History)
Bob Doris (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn)
To ask the Scottish Government how its culture policies can help celebrate Scotland’s rich social history. (S6O-02034)