The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.
All Official Reports of meetings in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.
All Official Reports of public meetings of committees.
Displaying 844 contributions
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
Meeting date: 16 September 2021
Jenni Minto
Mr Baker, I was excited to hear about your vision for Dumfries and Galloway, the Borders and the rest of Scotland. I would like to hear a bit more about how you plan that to work and how we can progress to having that across Scotland. I am very sorry that Ms Campbell has just left, because I had a specific question about rural festivals and the impact of all the requirements and the lack of travelling, not only on the performers but on the communities, given that such festivals bring a lot of benefits, including for wellbeing.
I am also interested in the point that Ms Campbell made with regard to the minimum level of funding being set at £50,000. Coming from a rural community, I know that £10,000 goes much further there than it might in the centre of Edinburgh, for example, so any other panel member’s thoughts on that would be useful.
Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Meeting date: 15 September 2021
Jenni Minto
I believe that, under the new legislation, the funding package runs for between two and three years, whereas the European funding package ran for up to seven years. Will that have an impact on the industry?
Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Meeting date: 15 September 2021
Jenni Minto
I thank the witnesses for coming along. Scotland and salmon farming are synonymous—I believe that about 75 per cent of supply chain is in Scotland. I am interested in hearing more about the innovative work that is happening, as well as how that work impacts on the environmental side of things, such as how you are reducing the environmental impact of salmon fishing.
Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Meeting date: 15 September 2021
Jenni Minto
I will keep my question short in order that we hear more from the witnesses. What are your priorities for post-EU-exit fisheries policy, specifically around the national benefit objective and the climate change objective set out in the Fisheries Act 2020? What are your priorities for the development of joint fisheries statements and fisheries management plans?
Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Meeting date: 15 September 2021
Jenni Minto
My question is for Katie Gillham. I asked the previous panel of witnesses about the legislation that was brought in as a result of our leaving the EU. I am interested in your views on the objectives in the Fisheries Act 2020 and the priorities in the development of the joint fisheries statement and fishery management plans under the act.
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
Meeting date: 9 September 2021
Jenni Minto
I have a quick question that follows on from what Steve Carson said about the audience age range target for the BBC Scotland channel. How is BBC Scotland progressing on its diversity targets, both in front of and behind the mic or camera? I am also interested in the other big news story that hit the BBC, which was about equal pay.
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
Meeting date: 9 September 2021
Jenni Minto
Thank you for joining us. The session has been very informative.
To follow on from Dr Allan’s questions, I am interested to hear a bit more about the touring that we will—we hope—be able to start seeing happening in Scotland and about your thoughts on the fund that the Scottish Government introduced through the programme for government to get musicians and theatre companies out to more rural areas. They, too, are crying out for much more culture and creativity to come back to them.
I live on Islay, where the very successful Cantilena festival brings in young musicians. I am interested to hear what the MU is doing to support young musicians again. It is clear that, through lockdown, their education will have been taking place in their own rooms and online. What support structures are needed to ensure that the throughput of emerging artists in Scotland continues?
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
Meeting date: 9 September 2021
Jenni Minto
You have painted a very stark picture, Mr McManus.
I would like to move back to the issue of tours. We have festivals that have musicians coming across from Europe. I would like to hear your thoughts on how the present situation is impacting on the work that our musicians are doing. I have heard from musicians that they are concerned about the creativity that is brought about by their ability to spark off people from other traditions and countries across Europe. Looking at the funding, is there anything that we can do to support them in that regard, following on from what Dr Allan was saying about us losing access to Creative Europe?
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
Meeting date: 9 September 2021
Jenni Minto
I have some anecdotal evidence of that. Friends of mine and my mother were very appreciative of the religious output that the channel provided during lockdown.
You touched on what you have learned through the pandemic. On production, you mentioned quicker commissioning. I would be interested to hear you expand on what you said about that.
The BBC Alba channel started about 10 to 12 years ago—in fact, I think it was longer ago than that. Several times, you have mentioned BBC Alba’s involvement in co-productions. I am interested in looking at the different ways in which BBC Alba commissions. It commissions pasgan agreements for bundles of programmes from producers, followed by top-up commissioning rounds. That allows economies of scale to be achieved for the broadcaster and the programme producers, and it allows them to plan their output. You could argue that it also reduces risk on producer and broadcaster. I would be interested to hear your thoughts on that model for the BBC Scotland channel and more widely across BBC Scotland.
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
Meeting date: 9 September 2021
Jenni Minto
I have a brief final question. I am interested to know whether the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra’s performances have perhaps been impacted by the inability to get performers over from Europe. I appreciate that, with the Covid situation, there will not be many live performances, but what are you doing to alleviate any issues there for the future?