Elaine Murray
Labour
4. To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made on establishing a film studio complex. (S4O-03734)
Fiona Hyslop
Scottish National Party
We are committed, together with our partners Scottish Enterprise and Creative Scotland, to securing a permanent film studio for Scotland, and we will make an announcement as soon as possible.
Elaine Murray
Labour
The Cabinet secretary will know that a film studio has been an aspiration in Scotland for many years and it has been suggested that the film studio complex could be opened as early as 2017. In that favourable circumstance, how can the Government and its partners ensure that the benefits will be realised at locations throughout Scotland, including the many fine locations in Dumfries and Galloway?
Fiona Hyslop
Scottish National Party
The member is right to identify that this is not just about the availability of a film studio. We have the development in Cumbernauld where “Outlander” is being filmed, but we are also talking about production, development and the promotion of our fantastic scenery. A number of productions have been made in the south of Scotland, but we have to promote all Scotland. The wonderful light in the member’s Constituency is attractive not only to artists and has been used in a number of productions, such as “Two Thousand Acres of Sky”, which was filmed in the member’s area. I am conscious of that and of the wonderful scenery that is available in Scotland, and I reflect on the wonderful talent and skills that we want to be able to deploy in Scotland. When we have the opportunity to develop our proposals further, I will announce them to Parliament.
The cabinet is the group of twenty or so (and no more than 22) senior government ministers who are responsible for running the departments of state and deciding government policy.
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In a general election, each Constituency chooses an MP to represent them. MPs have a responsibility to represnt the views of the Constituency in the House of Commons. There are 650 Constituencies, and thus 650 MPs. A citizen of a Constituency is known as a Constituent
