Mr Brocklebank is right to talk about the exciting work that is done by the RSNO. I thoroughly enjoyed the orchestra's final concert at this year's festival and I am looking forward to the next one, which will feature one of my favourite pieces, the Firebird suite.

We are absolutely committed to ensuring that the national companies—which came into the Government's remit, rather than that of the Scottish Arts Council, earlier this year—are supported for the promotion of their arts both within Scotland and overseas. As Mr Brocklebank knows, we are currently awaiting the Westminster settlement, which will allow us to formulate our spending plans for the next three years. When we have that settlement, I will have no hesitation in returning to Parliament to detail all such issues.