Current status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 27 January 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the point of order by Stephen Kerr MSP in the Chamber on 14 January 2026, whether an earlier published version of its draft Budget 2026-27 included a specific allocation of £500,000 for film houses in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen and, if so, (a) for what reason, (b) when and (c) by whom the decision was taken to remove that funding from the budget; what plans it has to reinstate any such allocation and, if it has no plans to do so, what other targeted support for independent cinemas and film houses is available.
The Scottish Government is absolutely clear on the value of cultural cinema, and we are continuing to engage with Screen Scotland and others to ensure that cultural cinema is protected for Scotland's audiences today and in the long term.
I am pleased that Screen Scotland, our dedicated public agency for screen, has supported cultural cinema – including the Edinburgh Filmhouse and the Aberdeen Belmont after the collapse of their previous parent company, CMI – with funding as well as expert advice and support.
The budget for 2026-27 includes £12m funding for Screen Scotland. We have also funded, and continue to fund, Creative Scotland to support their regularly funded organisations, which include a number of cultural cinemas.
Additionally, the budget provisionally allocates up to £500,000 to support cultural cinemas in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Aberdeen. These cinemas have made representations to the Scottish Government in relation to the need for support to allow them to continue, or restart, their vital work as cultural cinemas.
The Level 4 Workbook as initially published contained a range of options for spend against my portfolio. Officials therefore updated the published workbook without Ministerial approval, and I instructed the workbooks to be reinstated as originally published.