Smith: support creative industries (North Tayside Liberal Democrats)

North Tayside Liberal Democrats <info@libdems.org.uk>

Smith: support creative industries

February 13, 2009 12:01 AM
Originally published by Scottish Liberal Democrats

Liberal Democrat Culture spokesperson Iain Smith MSP has written to the new Culture Minister urging him to convene an urgent cross-party meeting to resolve the uncertainty surrounding the future of Creative Scotland and funding for the arts and creative industries.

In his letter, Mr Smith wrote:

"I begin by congratulating you on your appointment as Minister for Culture, External Affairs and the Constitution.

"Further to my correspondence with the previous minister and with the First Minister, I am writing to you to raise concerns about the future of Creative Scotland. On 22nd January the First Ministers confirmed that the Government still believed that the proposed Public Service Reform Bill was the quickest way to establish Creative Scotland.

"You will be aware that this bill has been delayed until at least the end of May. This would mean a further period of confusion and concern regarding the future of Creative Scotland and funding for culture, arts and the creative industries.

"I am very concerned that these delays are causing considerable uncertainty and anxiety within the creative industries. I believe there is a will across the Parliament to resolve these concerns and I asked your predecessor on a number of occasions to convene a cross-party meeting to discuss the best way forward to bring a speedy resolution to this issue. Regrettably she declined each of my requests.

"Can I ask you for your assurance that you will now take speedy action to convene a cross-party meeting to resolve the current uncertainties?"