Culture, Creative Industries and Tourism (European Union Referendum)

– in the Scottish Parliament at on 29 November 2016.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Kenneth Macintosh Kenneth Macintosh Labour

The next item of business is a debate on motion S5M-02795, in the name of Fiona Hyslop, on the implications for culture, the creative industries and tourism following the European Union referendum.

Photo of Fiona Hyslop Fiona Hyslop Scottish National Party

I am pleased to have secured this debate to discuss the critical issues within my wider portfolio following the EU referendum.

The shock and dismay that have been expressed by our cultural and creative industries and our tourism sector were immediate, heartfelt and emphatic. We have overwhelming support from those sectors for our place in the EU. The Creative Industries Federation, for example, has stated that 96 per cent of respondents in a survey of its membership are in favour of remaining within the EU. In the five months since the referendum, I have been incredibly encouraged by how the sectors have mobilised and have harnessed their collective resources to initiate key pieces of work, including reports by the Creative Industries Federation and the Scottish Tourism Alliance, which have provided invaluable feedback on areas of concern.

Brexit has not yet happened, but the referendum result had immediate effects. Devaluation of the pound resulted in performers at the Edinburgh international festival in August needing to be paid in their own currencies rather than in sterling, which increased costs to the EIF. We know that parts of our tourism industry have seen some short-term benefits through the initial devaluation of sterling, but there have also been increases in operating costs—in particular, in fuel and food prices.

We have also seen the inevitable loss of United Kingdom Government influence in the EU and some ostracising of the UK from decision-making processes. However, our voice must continue to be heard in decision making and our interests must be represented in, for example, digital single market negotiations, because they will affect our creative industries’ long-term development.

Although we have already seen the immediate impacts of the vote to leave the EU, the longer-term effects are far less certain and of far greater concern. The Scottish Government is exploring all options to avoid a hard Brexit and to preserve the benefits that we know our sectors gain from our relationship with the EU.

The leaked memo that was seen outside Downing Street points again—if it is in any way true—to the UK Government pursuing a hard Brexit. A hard Brexit must be resisted not just for Scotland but for the whole UK.

We know that our sectors are resilient, not least because of our exceptional offer in terms of our landscapes, history, heritage, and culture and because of our events and festivals. However, we must ensure that no limitations are placed on our labour supply so that the skills that are required by our cultural, creative and tourism businesses remain accessible, and the future of those industries is not put at risk.

More than 21,000 staff from the EU are employed in Scotland’s tourism industry. That is almost 17 per cent of those who work in the sector, so a hard Brexit with no protection for existing EU employees could have catastrophic consequences for the industry.

There are also concerns about future infrastructure investment in the hotel sector and about our ability to attract and support new direct air routes, as well as about protecting the UK more generally as an aviation hub.

We know that Scotland already attracts many European visitors who contribute substantially to our economy. In 2015, visitors from Germany made 323,000 trips to Scotland and spent £175 million. There were 196,000 trips from France, during which our French visitors spent £118 million. We must continue not only to sustain but to grow that contribution, in order to support a vital industry and to strengthen its place as one of our key growth sectors.

Our doing so will rely on Scotland’s maintaining a warm and welcoming outlook, so we must ensure that our European neighbours are in no doubt that Scotland wants to maintain a close relationship with them. We cannot allow the UK Government’s efforts to change those relationships to tarnish and diminish Scotland’s positive international reputation. Scotland enjoys a worldwide reputation for the warmth of its welcome. That reputation has been crystallised in recent months through the success of VisitScotland’s spirit of Scotland campaign, which was launched by the First Minister in February. That launch fundamentally changed the way in which Scotland is marketed around the world: it is one global brand with one global welcome. That welcome is now particularly important for our visitors from the EU. Although other parts of the UK may be seeing their reputations suffer and may be viewed as being less-than-welcoming places to visit, Scotland’s doors remain open and that welcome is still there.

Our most recent Anholt-GfK nation brands index score was 61.8. That score ranked us in 17th place and showed that our reputation abroad is still strong. It is at least similar to, and sometimes ahead of, competitors’ reputations. We must remember that seven of our top 10 visitor markets are in Europe, so we need to make sure that they know that Scotland has that welcome.

Our existing relationships with our European neighbours encapsulate who we want to be as citizens of an outward-facing nation. No matter what happens, those relationships will not suddenly cease to be. Scotland is, and has been throughout our history, an open and outward-looking country; our contemporary culture and place as a world-class destination reflect that. The Edinburgh international festival’s slogan this summer—“Welcome, World”—was a fitting and timely focus for a festival that has become the largest of its kind in the world and which is the model for international co-operation through culture and the arts. Founded in 1947, it was rooted in the idea that culture must be a positive force for reconstructing a shattered post-war Europe.

As the Edinburgh festivals develop plans to celebrate their 70th anniversary in 2017, they have deep concerns about the impact that leaving the EU could have on their globally respected work, which brings the world to Scotland each year. I note that the Labour amendment stresses the importance of that anniversary.

Fergus Linehan, director of Edinburgh International Festival, told

The Herald on 18 November about the dramatic negative impact that the referendum result was already having on its budget through the fall in sterling. Donald Shaw, who is the artistic director of Celtic Connections, suggested that the issue has already caused that festival to cut back on the number of American artists who will come to the 2017 festival. Those are significant concerns in terms of the position of our festivals and their international outlook.

The European capital of culture programme demonstrates the tangible benefits of cultural exchange through the EU. Places that hold the title can expect to achieve cultural, regenerative and economic benefits. I have today written to the UK Secretary of State for Culture, Karen Bradley, urgently seeking clarity on her intentions for UK participation in the capital of culture programme. Dundee is aiming to hold the title in 2023 and a significant amount of time, energy and funding has already been invested in the bid. It must not now have the rug pulled from under it.

The EU enriches Scotland’s culture by bringing the culture of other countries to us both for business and pleasure, and by supporting Scottish artists, tourism and hospitality organisations to develop their international networks, and create perspective and influence. That interpersonal connection is very valuable in those sectors.

We know that artists and performers from outside the EU can already experience difficulties in bringing their work to the UK because of administrative burdens and the costs that are associated with obtaining visas. European artists currently do not face the same difficulties. We will oppose any changes that could negatively impact on them and the significant value that they add to Scotland’s culture and to our experience of the wider world.

Access to a labour market of 500 million people is vital to our sectors in both economic and cultural terms. Our national performing companies have significant numbers of artists from other EU countries helping them to deliver the excellent performances that they produce; for example, almost 40 per cent of the performers at Scottish Ballet come from the EU.

Our tourism sector also depends on the numbers of EU nationals who work in it. I reiterate that 21,000 EU nationals work in Scotland’s tourism industry, which is 17 per cent of the total workforce. That sector is already experiencing difficulties in recruiting chefs and staff with certain language skills. Reducing the ease with which those skills can be accessed from around the EU will only exacerbate those difficulties and seriously harm the sector.

We need our sectors to have unrestricted access to as wide a pool of talent as possible in the EU in order that they can fill skills gaps and ensure that companies have the right people to deliver their services.

EU membership has provided a framework for our sectors to grow. I have mentioned proposals for the EU digital single market, which could add €415 million to the EU’s gross domestic product. Access to an EU-wide single market for digital goods and services would have huge benefits for Scotland’s creative industries and their development.

We must also ensure that the proposals meet the needs of our stakeholders. I have spoken twice at the EU culture and audiovisual council on digital single market issues, and I will continue to use all the channels that are available to me to represent the interests of our stakeholders as those proposals develop. However, it is unclear how strongly the UK Government can now influence the shape of those proposals and realise their potential for our sectors. Indeed, it is unclear whether we can even participate in them.

That is vital in both an economic sense and a cultural sense, because the EU currently constitutes a market for our cultural and creative offer, and EU regulation supports artistic creation. Rebecca O’Brien of Sixteen Films, who is the producer of Ken Loach’s Palme d’Or winning film “I, Daniel Blake”, has stated that all the company’s films in recent decades have been European co-productions. Leaving the EU will not necessarily stop that type of artistic and creative collaboration, but it is likely to make it significantly more difficult and will potentially impact on funding.

EU funding for culture and tourism provides important financial resources to our sectors. However, equally important are the development opportunities that the EU’s funding programmes provide for our cultural and creative sectors.

For the 2015 to 2018 European regional development programme, VisitScotland will draw down £11.7 million, which will help our small and medium-sized tourism enterprises to internationalise their business. That £11.7 million of support could be lost if that funding ends, and it is only a small part of our European funding. That could be felt hardest among our young people. Some 34 per cent of the tourism industry workforce in the UK is under the age of 25, which is three times the proportion across the economy as a whole. The loss of the current considerable EU funding would be detrimental to youth employment.

Since the launch of the creative Europe programme in 2014, 33 grants have been made to projects involving Scottish organisations. Those grants have a total value of €11.5 million, but the networking and learning opportunities that the projects provide are equal in importance to their monetary value. That interconnectedness and the free movement of people engender creative ideas and connections—in particular, in our creative industries and our culture sector. They are really important and have great value in and of themselves. EU funding is important to our sectors, but those relationships and the knowledge that European collaboration can help us to develop are also critical parts of our relationship.

The importance of protecting Scotland’s relationship with the European Union is clear for the sectors. For culture, the creative industries and tourism, that relationship is particularly relevant for the workforce and freedom of movement. We rely on our strong networks to maintain our position as a modern and progressive nation with a global outlook. Our ties with Europe are historical, and we need to protect them if we are to continue to reap economic benefits and protect our commitment to cultural and intellectual collaboration.

Scotland’s culture is one of the many cultures that make up Europe’s rich and diverse shared heritage. Scotland is not separate from Europe: European culture is our culture, and we are determined to protect all that our close relationships with our neighbours add to the lives of each and every one of us in this country.

I move,

That the Parliament believes that the interests of Scotland’s culture, creative and tourism sectors are best served by protecting the country's existing relationship with Europe, and in particular maintaining freedom of movement and access to EU funding and collaboration mechanisms; recognises the potentially severe negative impact that any hard Brexit proposed by the UK Government could have on the sectors’ ability to compete in terms of cultural exports, staffing, skills and talent recruitment and retention, research and knowledge exchange, ability to influence key cultural policy, such as copyright law, and access to key EU markets; acknowledges the importance of EU-funded projects to the culture, creative industries and tourism sectors for networking and developing partnerships, including over €11.5 million of Creative Europe grants to projects involving Scottish partners since 2014, and supports the Scottish Government’s position that the UK Government needs to find ways to maintain its influence as proposals develop for the digital single market.

Photo of Jackson Carlaw Jackson Carlaw Conservative

Mrs Carlaw has given me strict instructions that I am to keep my blood pressure in check during this debate.

Here we are again.

Mercifully, at least in the 12th debate on Brexit the magnificent confection of Scottish National Party smears, scaremongering and grievance is set to detain us for only a couple of hours.

I welcome the contributions that will be made by John Lamont and Rachael Hamilton, who will focus on tourism; Jamie Greene, who will focus on the digital economy; and Douglas Ross, who will draw the threads together at the conclusion.

Let us begin, then, with “Scotland: A European Nation”, in which Nicola Sturgeon, like Pauline in the silent movie era, tells us that she is “in peril”. Who is that pamphlet aimed at? What thesaurus of Scottish cultural history was thumbed through, and by whom, to equate the significance of our vote in June with that of Dolly the sheep? What did this nonsense cost the taxpayer?

Let me start with a quote from chapter 5, the “Conclusion”, in which, with all the bounty of the richest fountain of largesse, Mr Russell and Ms Hyslop state:

“Whilst we accept that the formal EU negotiating role belongs constitutionally to the UK”— gee, thanks—

“it is also clear that Scotland’s political history and current constitutional framework make it imperative that our distinctive voice and view are heard loud and clear in London and throughout Europe.”

There is a difference between representing “our distinctive voice” and the vacuous parade of European capitals that Mr Russell and Scotland’s own Evita, the First Minister, have indulged themselves in since June with seemingly no tangible benefit of any material kind.

As the actor Tom Hanks reportedly admonished serial whingers after the US presidential election, it is time to

“put on your big boy pants” and get on with making a success of the country as it is and not as they would have it. Well, it is time for both Mr Russell and Ms Hyslop to put on their big-boy pants and stop the ceaseless whingeing across Europe and the wider world, culminating in the Government’s Armageddon motion for the culture and tourism sector on the decision that none of us three voted for in June, but which gained 17 million votes and a majority across the UK.

Brexit means—

Photo of Jackson Carlaw Jackson Carlaw Conservative

In a moment.

Brexit means that Alex Neil was on the winning side of that vote, we three were on the wrong side and Scotland and the UK will be leaving the European Union.

Photo of Michael Russell Michael Russell Scottish National Party

Assuming that the opinions of Mr Carlaw’s constituents have not changed, when will he have the courage of his constituents’ convictions and start to speak up for what they believe about this?

Photo of Jackson Carlaw Jackson Carlaw Conservative

They voted, along with me, for the United Kingdom to remain in the European Union. They certainly did not vote for the Scottish Government to hijack their representation in the European referendum as an excuse for independence to be trailed out all over again.

What benefit is it to culture, tourism or our creative industries to be called the “Scottish shambles” by the Government of China; to campaign naively like some political ingénue on US polling day against the President-elect of the United States, a country with massive influence on our business and creative arts and artists; to be slapped down by the Government of Spain after waffling on about discussions; to be snubbed by Chancellor Merkel; to be told by Denmark that it will not intervene in the UK discussions; to be dismissed by the Czech Republic and be told that it is

“premature to address the question of an independent Scotland and its relation to the EU”; to be slapped down by the President of France, who made it clear that

“The negotiations will be conducted with the United Kingdom, not with a part of the United Kingdom”; and, finally, to be told by Norway that, despite the former First Minister blunderbussing around the globe, Scottish membership of the European Free Trade Association is not possible, with the FM being urged to engage in a constructive dialogue with the UK Government on the matter?

This overreaching, fuelled by the messianic subservience of the First Minister’s party, is leading Scotland up a blind alley. At this rate, it may become necessary for the First Minister and Mr Russell to voluntarily surrender their passports before they do any further damage. Their six-month mission has failed to deliver. Their approach is distancing Scotland from the real discussion and debate and undermining Scotland’s voice in the negotiation that is soon to come.

Contrast the tweets, statements and behaviour of Mr Russell and the First Minister with those of Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London and no supporter of the UK Government, who, last week, tweeted about the positive discussions that he was having with the UK Government to ensure that the world knows that London—which also voted to remain—is “open for business” and that he is working to ensure the best deal for London and the UK.

Enough, then, of sashaying across the tarmac at number 10, sweeping past the Scottish news teams to grandstand for the benefit of the UK media. Scotland needs its Eva Perón to get on with the day job and to ensure that the subtle variables that can be negotiated in this process are achieved and not squandered.

Photo of Fiona Hyslop Fiona Hyslop Scottish National Party

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport estimates that 15 per cent of all multichannel broadcasting jobs in the UK rely on the audiovisual directive. If the UK no longer has full membership of the EU single market, it is highly likely that such regulations would continue to apply and would pose a significant threat to broadcasters and jobs in Scotland. Can we get to the motion in hand? Mr Carlaw should answer that question.

Photo of Jackson Carlaw Jackson Carlaw Conservative

The motion is just a vacuous list of potential scaremongering, none of which is validated in substance at all.

I remember that, when ITV stopped showing “Miss Marple” and “Poirot” in Scotland, the voter reigned supreme; I very much doubt that the rest of Europe is suddenly going to switch off the opportunity for Scottish programmes, Scottish broadcasting and Scottish participation any more than Britain is going to stop screening Scandinavian or other European television programmes. What the Government is suggesting is complete nonsense.

Scotland’s creative artists have thrived without the EU. As Lewis Macdonald points out in his amendment, it was a Jewish immigrant who founded the Edinburgh festival, the 70th anniversary of which we are set to celebrate. All the talent that Fiona Hyslop mentioned thrived before we were in the EU. Did Jack Buchanan need to be in the EU to become a major global star? Absolutely not. Our acting and musical talent and our directors and artists are the toast of the creative arts the world over.

Are there challenges ahead? Of course. We are set to unpick a framework that has evolved over 40 years, but we are not doomed to fail, as Michael Russell and Fiona Hyslop lamentably insist we are. Will EU nations no longer wish to see our productions? Of course not. The creative industries are worth some £84.1 billion annually to the UK and some £3.7 billion to Scotland, and some 71,800 people are employed in the sector. Perhaps we will even be able to reverse the savage 11 per cent cut in funding for Scottish culture that the Scottish Government has imposed in the past year.

As I observed in the recent debate on the BBC charter, the Scottish Government needs to do far more than whinge about Brexit. We need studio capacity. The Pentland Studios proposal, on which the reporter was expected to rule back in June, remains moribund. Scottish Enterprise lags behind its Northern Irish counterpart in appreciating its role in investing in and securing new business for Scotland.

Brexit is a challenge, not a brick wall and, by working together with the UK Government, we can secure a flourishing future for the arts and tourism. I commend my amendment to the chamber.

I move amendment S5M-02795.1, to leave out from “the country’s existing” to end and insert:

“Scotland’s position within the UK and ensuring that Scotland retains unfettered access to the UK single market and leaves the EU on the same terms as the rest of the UK; recognises the potentially severe negative impact that any future Scottish independence referendum would have on the economic growth of Scotland’s culture, creative industries and tourism sectors, in particular, because Scotland exports more in creative industries to the rest of the UK than it does to its EU and other international partners; acknowledges that it is in Scotland’s interests to maintain a strong relationship with its European and other international partners, and recognises the benefits that Brexit may bring to these industries through the UK Government concluding free-trade agreements with the EU and other countries around the globe.”

Photo of Lewis Macdonald Lewis Macdonald Labour

Much of the focus of debate since 23 June has been on the economic impact of leaving the European Union and how to maintain the benefits that we have derived from being in the EU. Unfettered access to the single market and membership of the customs union have been critical to jobs, business and growth in Scotland and across the United Kingdom for more than 40 years, but our place in Europe is not just about trade and investment. It is also about culture, our interaction with the rest of the continent, and our shared values and aspirations for the future.

The Government’s motion talks about

“Scotland’s culture, creative industries and tourism sectors”, and much of its focus is on economic aspects of those, such as

“EU funding and collaboration mechanisms ... access to key EU markets” and

“proposals ... for the digital single market.”

We agree that all of those industrial, sectoral issues are important, and so are

Creative Europe grants to projects involving Scottish partners”, and access to “skills and talent” and “research and knowledge exchange”.

However, the cultural implications of Brexit go wider and deeper than simply the economic impacts and the institutional relationships between Scotland and the EU. The choice between engagement and isolation is an economic and a political choice, but it is also a cultural choice. That is why I lodged my amendment, and it is also why we on this side reject the Conservative amendment.

We have just heard a very good example of how, with every passing week, the Tories’ embrace of Brexit appears to be becoming closer and warmer. To talk of the benefits that Brexit “may bring” to Scotland’s culture, creative industries and tourism sectors at the same time as denouncing the “potentially severe negative impact” of jeopardising Scotland’s

“unfettered access to the UK single market” through more referendums makes no more rational sense than it does to reject Brexit and embrace independence. It is simply fantasy to claim that such benefits might come from

“the UK Government concluding free-trade agreements with the EU and other countries around the globe.”

What we are actually contemplating is the UK withdrawing from agreements with 30 of our friends and neighbours that go far beyond free-trade agreements and give access to a single market of 500 million people. Saying that you favour free trade while embracing the prospect of tariffs and visas does not disguise the reality of what Britain walking away from Europe could mean.

Culture counts, the campaign to highlight the value of culture in Scotland, which has 46 national, umbrella and membership bodies across the arts, heritage, screen and creative industries, gave evidence on the implications of Brexit to the Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Relations Committee. Its description of the nature of culture is one that everyone would endorse. It said:

“Our cultural life is an expression of who we are, who we want to be, and how others see us. This is as much true of our collective national identity, at home and abroad, as it is of the many and diverse artistic expressions we exercise as individuals.”

Donald Dewar spoke in similar terms at the opening of the Scottish Parliament in 1999:

“This is about more than our politics and our laws. This is about who we are, how we carry ourselves.”

Culture is more than an aggregation of economic benefits. It is cultural life that makes us human and we must seek to protect Scotland’s open and welcoming culture in the difficult and dangerous times that lie ahead. Our amendment highlights the inclusive and outward-looking character of that culture, because those characteristics are more important today than they have been in many years.

As the cabinet secretary mentioned, the Edinburgh International Festival will celebrate its 70th anniversary in 2017. That is more than two generations of welcoming the world. In 1947, Europe was only beginning to recover from the devastating impact of the second world war. The idea that this country should host a festival of arts and culture as a beacon of hope for Europe began with Rudolf Bing, who fled from Austria to Britain in the 1930s. It was endorsed by Herbert Morrison, leader of the House of Commons in the post-war Labour Government. Edinburgh overtook Oxford as the host city of choice on the initiative of Henry Harvey Wood, who worked in Edinburgh for the British Council.

The Edinburgh festival is in Scotland and of Scotland but it is not just for Scotland or by Scotland. Its artists, its audiences and its purpose are, and always have been, for and by the rest of Britain and the rest of the world, and it grew as a symbol of hope out of the darkest times in the modern history of Europe. In our time, we cannot fail to see the risk of dark times ahead. There are people who want Britain to turn its back on Europe, just as there are people who want America to turn its back on the world. The need to look outwards, not inwards, has never been greater, and it is as urgent a need in Scotland as it is anywhere else.

Labour’s vision is of a Scotland in the 2020s that has not turned its back on the rest of Britain or on the rest of Europe. That is the vision that we propose and for which we will vote.

I move amendment S5M-02795.2, to insert after “mechanisms”:

“; believes that, with the approach of the 70th anniversary of the Edinburgh International Festival in 2017, it is more important than ever to promote the inclusive and outward-looking character of Scotland’s culture and its welcome to the world”.

The Presiding Officer:

We now move to the open debate. I remind members that we have plenty of time in hand so they should feel free to make and take interventions.

Photo of Ash Denham Ash Denham Scottish National Party

Our creative industries are one of Scotland’s success stories. If members are asked to think of a book that has been adapted as a series—for Amazon and featuring sweeping Scottish scenery and historic castles—they might think of “Outlander”. If they are asked to think of a top video game, they might think of Grand Theft Auto. If they are asked to think of an arts festival, they will almost certainly think of Edinburgh. The success of the few that I have mentioned is that they are just as famous outside Scotland as they are in it. That is because Scotland’s creative industries have an impact, showcase Scotland and our home-grown talent and bring people here in their millions.

The sector contributes much to the country in many different ways, but its contribution to the economy is significant. Data published by Scottish Development International in June this year showed that Scotland’s creative industries contribute £3.7 billion in gross value added to the Scottish economy each year, employ nearly 80,000 people and have a total turnover of £5.2 billion.

I am an Edinburgh MSP and Edinburgh is home to the international festival, the fringe and other programmes that make it the largest arts festival in the world. There are now 12 major festivals in Edinburgh—the festival city. The theme of the 2016 Edinburgh festival was “Welcome world” to demonstrate the international outlook of Scotland’s festivals.

The international festival in August is a state-of-the-art, world-class cultural event that projects Edinburgh on to a world stage. The festivals, combined, attract 4.5 million people and generate £280 million for Edinburgh and £313 million for Scotland per year. A survey reported in

The Herald recently stated that 94 per cent of tourists say that the festivals are part of what makes Edinburgh a special place to visit. Festivals are integral to the city, but they could be under threat.

A change to immigration rules or to funding streams due to Brexit will pose a serious risk to them.

Fergus Linehan, the director of EIF, said that the current political culture of battening down the hatches was the opposite of the movement that inspired the creation of the festival in 1947—as an example of international cultural exchange and to unite people—and that we should seek to maintain that. Festivals Edinburgh stated that it was detecting

“increased caution in international partners in committing to medium to long term collaborations because of the uncertainty” due to Brexit.

According to the Brexit report that the Creative Industries Federation recently published, access to international talent is a pivotal issue for the city. With thousands of international performers programmed every year, changes to UK visa requirements for non-EU performers have already made booking acts far more difficult, and festival organisers are concerned about the impact of extending tougher visa conditions to European performers as well. European visitors constitute their largest international market, so changes to ease of entry if visas are required could damage visitor numbers. It makes no sense to make it more difficult for visitors to visit.

The Edinburgh international festival is among the festivals that have reported an immediate impact on their business planning from the fluctuation in sterling. Given lead times, traditionally the international festival negotiates contracts with acts in pounds sterling in order to protect against fluctuation in international markets. Since the referendum, artists are insisting on payment in their own currency, which leaves budgets and profits more vulnerable to the changing performance of currencies.

Video games are another Scottish success story. With the right conditions, video games could be a growth market for Scotland, attracting large amounts of investment money. Scotland is developing a reputation as a place where creative companies can be built and can grow and flourish. However, in order to grow, companies must be able to access the best talent from around the world. Chris Van der Kuyl of 4J Studios, which develops Minecraft—a particular favourite of my sons—believes that the UK Government needs to adopt a more “enlightened immigration policy” as skills shortages in the technology sector are constraining growth. He says that foreign students who come to study video games development are

“fairly heavily leant on to get out of the country after graduating”, which he said was “disastrous”. He said:

“In our immigration policy we’re very well structured to invite people in who have already proven themselves, but they’re already settled.

We need to attract talent that is very early-career, that doesn’t quite fit the Home Office boxes that are there at the moment, but which is exactly what we need in our companies.”

Creative industries are, by their very nature, collaborative. They engage across borders, bringing ideas and people together. A hard Brexit would challenge those principles, which underpin the success of these sectors. That is why a hard Brexit is not in Scotland’s best interests and must be challenged.

Photo of John Lamont John Lamont Conservative

This is the 12th debate that we have had on the EU referendum result—the 12th opportunity for the SNP to stand up and talk about how great the EU is and how everyone in Scotland wants to remain a member. What, I ask, has been achieved so far? There is little in the way of clarity on the Scottish Government’s position, but much in the way of grievance; and we have spent less than half the time debating education, a topic that is supposedly the SNP’s number 1 priority.

Nevertheless, I am happy to speak today on the implications for culture and tourism of the UK’s decision to leave the EU, and I will focus my remarks on tourism, which is one of the most important sectors for the Borders economy.

The Borders is and will remain a fantastic tourist destination that attracts visitors from all parts of the world. It has fiercely proud towns, each with something to offer, and it benefits from a lot of hard work by organisations such as the Scottish Borders tourism partnership.

Let us not overemphasise the impact that Brexit will have on tourism. The UK is not part of the eurozone, the Schengen area or other features of the EU that impact most on that sector, so withdrawal from the EU will not result in major change. Tourism was not a major consideration in the run-up to the referendum and since June there has not been an influx of warnings from tourism leaders about the consequences of Brexit.

Photo of John Lamont John Lamont Conservative

I want to make some progress, if I may.

The Scottish National Party-chaired Scottish Affairs Committee opened an inquiry into Scotland’s place in Europe shortly after the vote, and not a single Scottish tourism organisation responded. This is not the major issue for our tourism sector that the Scottish Government is trying to claim it is.

The Government’s motion speaks about the need to maintain freedom of movement. The First Minister has said that she wants the deal to maintain membership of the single market. We have repeatedly heard from the SNP that one of the benefits of Scottish independence would be our ability to operate a totally different immigration system. However, in the same breath, it claims that it will not have a hard border with the rest of the United Kingdom. That is complete nonsense.

The First Minister is in Ireland at the moment. There, she will see that the Irish quietly align their immigration system with that of the United Kingdom in order to make the common travel area work. The Scottish Government will also be well aware of the fact that Northern Ireland is treated as a special case because of its recent troubled history. A similar soft border with the rest of the United Kingdom would be possible only if, like Ireland, Scotland was not part of the Schengen area and if, like Ireland, we aligned our immigration policy with that of the rest of the United Kingdom.

Therefore, perhaps SNP members or, indeed, the minister could clarify why it would be in the interests of the tourism sector to put up a hard border with the rest of the UK, which is our nearest neighbour and largest market—silence.

Presiding Officer—

Photo of Fiona Hyslop Fiona Hyslop Scottish National Party

Would the member agree with Willie Macleod, the executive director of the British Hospitality Association, that

“Predicted industry growth will be threatened as the demand for staff cannot be met from the domestic job market—any curbs on access to the European workforce will constrain the industry, impacting on the way we all now live”?

This is about freedom of movement as part of the single market. Does the member understand that the leaders of our tourism industry are seriously concerned about access to skilled staff unless we have access to the single market, including freedom of movement? Is he against a hard Brexit—yes or no?

Photo of John Lamont John Lamont Conservative

The minister has failed to answer the point that I made about the impact of a hard border with the rest of the United Kingdom. Scotland cannot have a separate immigration policy from the rest of the United Kingdom without having a hard border. That is a point that the minister has singularly failed to answer.

Leaving the EU presents us with a

“major opportunity” to “boost ... tourism”—those are not my words but those of Alex Neil—and, according to the Scottish Tourism Alliance, since the EU referendum result, 57 per cent of businesses have felt confident about the next 12 months compared with only 21 per cent that feel concerned. Businesses responding to the STA survey realise that there are real opportunities to remove red tape—which is a common complaint about many aspects of the EU—improve efficiency and raise Scotland’s profile internationally. The fall in the pound has produced a short-term boost, but Brexit can also provide the opportunity for Scotland to explore new and emerging markets outside the EU.

Photo of Lewis Macdonald Lewis Macdonald Labour

I am curious to know whether Mr Lamont agrees with Alex Neil.

Photo of John Lamont John Lamont Conservative

I agree that we need to accept the democratic wishes of the United Kingdom electorate—despite the fact that I voted to remain part of the EU, I respect the result—and move to the best deal for my constituents in the Borders, for Scotland and for the United Kingdom.

Photo of John Lamont John Lamont Conservative

SNP members are shouting, “What is that?” but I am no clearer about the SNP’s position on that either.

What was of the greatest concern among the businesses who responded to the

Scottish Tourism Alliance survey on Brexit? One of the most common concerns expressed by businesses in the tourism sector was the threat of a second independence referendum. The SNP says that it wants what is best for Scotland and that constitutional uncertainty and leaving markets is bad for business. What the tourism sector wants is for the threat of a second independence referendum to be taken off the table.

Tourism in the Scottish Borders has a very bright future with the right support and the right marketing. There are a host of opportunities to promote the Borders as a great destination. There is fishing on the Tweed, the Berwickshire coastline to explore, our abbeys to visit and our many common ridings and festivals to attend—I am sure that the Deputy Presiding Officer would agree.

One very positive idea is the borderlands initiative, which seeks to promote the south of Scotland and north of England as a tourist destination. A constituent of mine, Brian Moffat, is a champion of the idea and has written extensively about the shared history and potential of the borderlands. I last raised the idea with the cabinet secretary at the beginning of October and I wonder whether she has managed to give it further consideration.

It certainly is in Scotland’s interests to maintain a strong relationship with its European and other international partners. The Scottish Government needs to work with the UK Government to ensure that that happens and that tourism in the Borders and elsewhere in Scotland is given a bright future.

Photo of Stuart McMillan Stuart McMillan Scottish National Party

John Lamont spoke about clarity from the Scottish Government. I will give him the opportunity to provide some clarity on his party’s position on the deal that the UK will get from Europe when it leaves the EU. What do the Conservative Party and the UK Government want from any deal?

Photo of John Lamont John Lamont Conservative

I am happy to continue my speech. It is clear that the UK Government wants to achieve the best deal for my constituents in the Borders, the best deal for Scotland and the best deal for the United Kingdom, recognising that there were 17 million votes to leave the EU. I suggest to Stuart McMillan that the SNP needs to remove from the table the prospect of a second independence vote, to allow tourism and other sectors of the Scottish economy to move forward without that threat hanging over them.

Photo of Stuart McMillan Stuart McMillan Scottish National Party

Once again, there is an utter lack of clarity from the Conservatives. I provided John Lamont with a genuine opportunity to say something on the record. Unfortunately, once again the Conservatives are lacking in clarity and detail, in any way, shape or form, in terms of going forward with the European question.

I want to talk about two personal experiences that I had some years ago. Two of Scotland’s cultural worldwide brands are the kilt and bagpipes—or so I thought. As every member knows, I take my responsibility as parliamentary piper seriously and enjoy playing our national instrument. We all have to start somewhere, and my first attempt at busking internationally was in West Berlin in 1988, outside the Kaiser Wilhelm church. I was taking part in a German exchange trip through school and, being a 16-year-old boy, I was a bit self-conscious about wearing a kilt. Prior to playing, I changed into the kilt in a nearby bar. When I was leaving to go and play, the barman shouted, “Ah, Engländer!”

In 2001, I was best man and piper at a friend’s wedding in a small village in France. The local mayor was delighted to have such an international gathering: my friend Tom was Polish-French and members of his family had travelled from Poland and Germany to be there. Then there was me, standing there with my pipes and kilt—the whole lot. The mayor referred to me as “anglais”.

The fact that I was born in England meant that both those people were factually correct, although they were not to know that. The thing that got me was this: how and when did the kilt and bagpipes become symbols of England?

Those two events taught me a few lessons and awakened me to a few points, one of which was that, no matter how far the Scots have travelled, we still have an educational and cultural job to undertake when highlighting our country. The 2014 referendum will have helped with that, so possibly my two anecdotes are now redundant. However, when we stop telling people about our culture, our history and our tourism offering, we lose out economically.

A number of years ago, a debate took place in the chamber when Jamie McGrigor was taking forward his member’s bill. He gave the example of the number of people internationally who do not realise that golf is a Scottish sport—but that is because we have stopped telling people that golf is a Scottish sport.

I accept that tartan and the pipes might not be to everyone’s taste—I do not know why—but they are just two small cogs in our culture and tourism wheel that help not only to attract people to Scotland but to promote our country globally. That is why leaving the single market and the EU will provide a huge challenge for Scotland and for the UK.

I have piped at a few festivals across Europe, and I know that leaving the EU and the single market will certainly increase red tape for performers—both those who are leaving Scotland and those who are coming here. What effect will that have on the many festivals that take place in Scotland annually? Every year, Glasgow hosts the world pipe band championships. Bringing a pipe band to Scotland from elsewhere in the world is not cheap, and the added burden of the cost of a visa might prevent some bands from travelling, which will also prevent them from performing and competing, and ultimately from visiting our country at all.

Janet Archer, the chief executive of Creative Scotland, said:

“Arts and culture transcend borders and bring people together from across the globe.”

I could not agree more. The cultural sector has major concerns that include the loss of EU funding; restrictions on freedom of movement for artists, performers and companies; rising costs; and an inward focus. One fifth of the staff of the National Galleries of Scotland and Scottish Ballet come from Europe, and fears have been expressed about the loss of international talent from Scotland as a result of leaving the EU and the single market.

Today’s debate is about culture and tourism. We have had a number of debates about other sectors, and I am sure that some of the arguments and reasons—both for and against—that we are hearing today can be applied to all other sectors, including sport and football. We could go through the Scottish Professional Football League teams and highlight all the players from EU nations. Over the years, many of those players have had a huge and positive impact on our game.

Two weeks ago, in my capacity as chair of the cross-party group on recreational boating and marine tourism—which meets tonight at 6 pm in committee room 5—I attended the cruise summit that was hosted by Fergus Ewing MSP, the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Connectivity. We have made progress in bringing the marine tourism sector together, and last year Scotland’s first ever marine tourism strategy—which emanated from the work of the cross-party group—was published.

In the past two years, Greenock ocean terminal has received more than 200,000 visitors from cruise tourism generating wealth and business opportunities for the area. The figures can be doubled when we consider the staff on the ships, too. Inverclyde has a huge amount to gain from exploiting an even greater share of the growing tourism market, and its location lends itself to even greater marine tourism opportunities. Inverclyde is a partner in the city deal scheme, and one of the scheme’s plans is to expand the cruise liner sector.

Cruise tourism is the fastest-growing segment of the travel industry. There has been a 17 per cent growth in the economic impact of the European cruise industry in the past five years. The shipbuilding order book has orders for 73 ships that are worth billions of pounds—17 will have more than 5,000 berths. Those figures highlight a sector that is moving forward and will continue to do so, thereby helping Scotland’s economy and my constituency.

I have one final point to make with regard to John Lamont’s comments on tourism. Last week, the Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Relations Committee took evidence from Tim Reardon of the UK Chamber of Shipping. He said:

“The right of free movement underpins our business, whether it involves tourist travel by ferry or cruise ships coming in from western Europe. Because of where Scotland is geographically, it is part of a north-west European itinerary, so it is predominantly Europeans who are on board the vessels that come into ports in Scotland. Their ability to do so without needing a visa in advance is critical to the success of that business”.—[

Official Report, Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Relations Committee,

24 November 2016; c 35.]

Brexit and leaving the single market pose a fresh economic challenge for Scotland and the UK. My own constituency could be adversely affected, which is why I will back the motion in the name of the cabinet secretary at decision time.

Photo of Christine Grahame Christine Grahame Scottish National Party

As members can see, we have time in hand, so I am being generous with members’ speeches.

Photo of Claire Baker Claire Baker Labour

I am pleased to contribute to the debate. The process of leaving the EU is complex and we are still in the early stages. In previous debates, members have stressed the great uncertainty that surrounds our future in many significant areas, and the desire for us to retain as many of the benefits of membership as possible. The arts, the creative industries and tourism are no different.

In modern economies, there are huge opportunities for our creative industries. In recognition of that, the EU established the creative Europe fund to support the cultural, creative and audiovisual sectors. The EU has pledged to invest nearly €1.5 billion in the creative industries between 2014 and 2020.

During its first two years, the fund supported 230 UK cultural organisations and audiovisual companies, as well as the cinema distribution of 84 UK films in other European countries with grants of up to €40 million. It is early days for the fund, but it has already supported projects in Scotland and throughout the UK.

The UK financial situation remains challenging, so arts funding and culture are under significant pressure. Although I recognise that the Scottish Government has sought to protect cultural spend, that spend is largely focused on the national offerings. Meanwhile, there is huge pressure on local authorities, which support a lot of cultural activity and enable communities to participate in the arts. That is one reason why we will argue for a different tax policy in the upcoming budget.

Alongside the pressures that we see in Scotland sits the approach taken by the Tory Government. I was astonished by John Lamont’s claims that the arts are flourishing under the UK Government, because we are seeing drastic cuts to local arts provision across the UK regions. As we leave the EU, the support that is offered and the exchanges that are available will be further reduced. That will all have an impact on people’s engagement with the arts and their ability to create and participate in the arts in Scotland.

The UK Government is struggling to come up with any answers to the questions about our future. The focus of the debate remains on the single market, trade and security, and we hear reports of concerns about the capacity of civil servants to deal with all those issues. Therefore, it is legitimate to be concerned about the future of our creative industries and tourism and whether they will get the scrutiny that they need and deserve.

Alongside the work that is being done by Scottish Parliament committees, I am pleased to see that the UK Parliament’s Culture, Media and Sport Committee is conducting an inquiry into the impact of Brexit on the creative industries, tourism and the digital single market. It will start to take evidence in the new year, but some of the evidence that it has already received shows that there are clear complexities that need to be addressed. Broadcasting is facing unique pressures. For example, the British Screen Advisory Council has highlighted the importance of UK content continuing, post-Brexit, to meet the qualifying requirements for European work by remaining a signatory to the European Convention on Transfrontier Television.

The single digital market has transformed the way that we buy, sell and communicate across the UK. The UK digital market is worth €118 billion a year, and 43 per cent of UK digital exports go to the EU. Although that is dominated by the single trade market, it is also about innovation, shared content, research, knowledge transfer and a consistent and fair copyrighting system that recognises new technologies. My colleague, Catherine Stihler MEP, has been doing a lot of work in that area, particularly in campaigning for comprehensive digital access for public libraries. All that work and influence is being put at risk by the UK leaving the EU.

Tourism faces huge challenges in so many areas, such as the future workforce, currency fluctuation, the ending of European development funding, which is important for the viability of rural tourism, and potential restrictions on visitors and visas for travel.

I spoke to Fife Chamber of Commerce on Friday. Although people recognise that Brexit is causing great uncertainty and that the immediate impact of rising costs is cancelling out any benefits from exports, there was a suggestion that inward tourism could benefit from the weakening of the currency, and that at this point in time we have a promotional opportunity that should not be missed. However, we cannot forget the outward tourism sector and the tour operators in the UK who will face significant challenges with their products. There might be a short-term advantage for tourism, but the long term is much more uncertain. It will be interesting to hear the cabinet secretary’s views on that.

The culture community was one of the most vocal in supporting membership of the EU. Polling suggests that a huge majority of them voted to remain. The arts no know boundaries; they are internationalist and inclusive. As other members have said, next year we celebrate 70 years of the Edinburgh international festival, which was started in the wake of the second world war in 1947. The festival’s remit was to

“provide a platform for the flowering of the human spirit”.

It is internationalist, celebratory and challenging, and it is increasingly focused on inclusivity by staging more public performances. It brings together cultures from all over the world.

As yet unknown changes to the freedom of movement of people across the EU creates uncertainty and worry. Removing the free movement of EU nationals will restrict cultural exchange and collaboration. It will also potentially impact on festival audiences. I recognise that many of the performers and visitors come from further afield than the EU. There is a system of visas and permits, but to apply that to all non-UK performers will add to the complexity, the bureaucracy and the cost of staging the Edinburgh international festival and the fringe—and the same applies to many other festivals in Scotland. That stands to have a negative impact on the breadth, the depth and the quality of our festivals.

It is also about the message that the result sends. For those of us who value a diverse society, welcome people who choose to make their lives here in the UK, believe that a good balance can be found between encouraging immigration and supporting our values and communities, the result of the referendum has been worrying, and some of the reasons for it are troubling.

Culture is about who we are. It is not uniform or homogeneous; it tells and interprets many stories. Expression will not end with Brexit; it will respond. We need to listen—it can offer as a way through these difficult times.

Photo of Maree Todd Maree Todd Scottish National Party

Mòran taing—many thanks—Presiding Officer.

It is Gaelic week in the Scottish Parliament, so I want to take the opportunity to highlight the contribution that Gaelic language makes to our culture, creative industries and tourism.

Our Gaelic language is central to our culture, and the EU recognises the language formally and supports and protects it under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.

As well as Gaelic’s cultural and community benefits, the economic benefit is now well known and is worth nearly £150 million a year to our economy. Using bilingual branding and signage adds value and authenticity to products and services and improves customers’ perceptions of provenance. Gaelic can also be viewed and used as an asset in a range of fields, particularly in the creative industries, food and drink, education and learning, heritage and tourism.

As I prepared my speech and thought about what to say, I was struck by the idea that a sense of egalitarianism is central to the European project. The EU does not disadvantage those on the periphery, it does not disadvantage minority languages and it does not disadvantage those living in rural areas. That has translated into massive support for infrastructure projects all around the Highlands and Islands, ensuring that those of us in rural areas have the same opportunity to participate as those people in cities have.

LEADER funding, which, of course, comes from the EU, has made a real difference to people who live and work in rural areas. The bottom-up methodology has harnessed people’s vison, energy and commitment, and some rural communities have come alive again.

The tourism industry is absolutely crucial to the economy of the Highlands and Islands—proportionally, much more crucial than it is to the economy in the rest of Scotland. When we consider tourism, a couple of phrases spring to mind: “ceud mìle fàilte”, or “a hundred thousand welcomes”; and “fàilte gu Alba”, or “welcome to Scotland”. Even those of us who do not speak Gaelic, like myself, know those phrases. In a way, those words are reflective of why our place in the EU is so important. We are a welcoming country, known for our hospitality, and we are keen to share our culture with our friends and neighbours in the world.

We have many world-class attractions that attract visitors from across the globe. Each year, nearly 350,000 people come to my constituency to visit Urquhart castle, and 140,000 visit the Orkney Italian chapel. More than a million visitors come annually, supplementing local expenditure.

A strong tourism sector in the Highlands and Islands can help to create much more resilient communities. If we get it right, tourism helps to support a vibrant regional identity and attracts people to live, work and invest in and visit our region.

Globally, tourism is one of the world’s largest industries in terms of outputs. It creates some eight per cent of jobs worldwide, expanding annually at the rate of four to five per cent.

The Highland region is home to some of the world’s finest food and drink producers. Famous for fine malt whisky, outstanding seafood and world-class meat and game, the industry in the Highlands is a huge employer and generates a turnover of more than £1 billion a year. The last thing that we need is to put up barriers to trade or to people coming to visit us. We need to remain open to that market of nearly 500 million people.

Many of my constituents are worried about restrictions on the four fundamental freedoms of the EU, but in particular we are worried about restrictions on the freedom of movement, which we think will be damaging to tourism and will affect visitors and the people who work in tourism. If people visit the Highlands and Islands, they will meet plenty of new Scots working in the tourism industry. I have just been up in Shetland, where I heard of several businesses where more than half the workforce are citizens of other EU countries. If those people do not or are unable to stay, there are no Shetlanders to take over from them. Those businesses have serious concerns about future staffing.

Last week, I spoke about the positive changes that the Scottish Government has made on travel to the islands, such as road-equivalent tariff, which has made the Western Isles much more accessible, and the price freeze on ferry routes to Orkney and Shetland. For my constituents on the islands, it is one step forward thanks to the Scottish Government and two steps back thanks to Brexit, as the islands become more accessible and the UK less. Let us keep the door open and ensure that visitors are welcome at our tables.

EU membership supports culture, tourism and the creative industries, all of which are absolutely vital to the Highlands and Islands. Why should the people of the Highlands and Islands suffer the consequences of a Brexit that they did not vote for? Why should our economy be weakened because of a Brexit that we did not vote for? Why? We did not vote to become poorer. In fact, why should any part of Scotland lose out on the benefits of EU membership when every single part of Scotland voted to remain a member? It is not fair to my constituents or to the rest of the people of Scotland to be taken out of the EU against our will. I believe that all members, as representatives of the people of Scotland, must do everything in their power to ensure that our current relationship with the EU is not lost.

Mòran taing.

The Deputy Presiding Officer:

Tapadh leibh, Ms Todd—I hope that I have got that correct.

Photo of Tavish Scott Tavish Scott Liberal Democrat

It is another Tuesday afternoon and we indeed have the 12th debate on the issue, but the Tory position gets harder every week. In many ways, we are grateful to the Tories, because their approach certainly livens up proceedings. Last week, I heard nothing but Rees-Mogg and Iain Duncan Smith; today, we had Jackson Carlaw taking the same position. If anybody dares to mention the facts—and there are facts—or to say that leaving the European Union with a hard Brexit will damage the UK and the economy, we get the Rees-Mogg or Duncan Smith treatment, which is to say, “How dare you even suggest such a thing? The only way is up.” That shows breathtaking naivety. We need only read any decent account of what is going on to question the Tory position.

In fairness to Douglas Ross, who we have heard will wind up for the Tories, I suppose that he is the only one who would welcome staying in the European Union. He will be the only Tory in Europe after we have left, because he will still be refereeing on Wednesday nights across in Madrid, and good luck to him with that.

For Jackson Carlaw to accuse others of blunderbussing, when Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, goes round the world in the way that he does, takes the breath away. That was breathtaking from the Conservatives.

Stuart McMillan was right about clarity. It is no good John Lamont lecturing any Government in any other part of the United Kingdom on clarity. The clarity that this country needs is on the negotiating position on Brexit. It now appears to be, “Eat your cake,” or, “Have some cake,” or whatever is going on with cake. That seems to be the only game in town. That is a true indictment of a Government that does not have a clue as to what its position is. That is the case not least because the infighting is not between the Labour Party, the Scottish National Party, the Liberal Democrats and others and the Tories but within the Conservative Party, as it has been from day 1. As far as I can remember, that has been going on for about 40 years, and it continues.

Photo of Tavish Scott Tavish Scott Liberal Democrat

If John Lamont wants to explain to me 40 years of Conservative splits on Europe, he can take all afternoon.

Photo of John Lamont John Lamont Conservative

When Menzies Campbell was the leader of the Lib Dems, he proposed a referendum on leaving the EU. What would his position have been had the British people delivered the verdict that they have now delivered?

Photo of Tavish Scott Tavish Scott Liberal Democrat

I do not know what that has to do with 40 years of Tory splits on Europe. I will give way again if John Lamont wants to tell us what the latest Conservative position is.

We are not dealing with Ming Campbell’s leadership, which was some years ago; we are dealing with the position of the Conservative Government of our country now. It would help if the Tories addressed that. We will wait for Douglas Ross to wind up and tell us what the Conservative position will be today or tomorrow and goodness knows what else.

An upside to the debate is that it has reawakened many people’s interest in European politics. The interest this week is in the Italian referendum on Sunday, as what happens to the Prime Minister of Italy has profound implications for the European Union, as does the decision by the centre right in French politics—I am not sure that I understand this in any sense—to select as its candidate Monsieur Fillon, who I presume will take on the clever nationalism of Marine Le Pen next spring.

Last week, Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, announced that she will run again. All that I can say to that is thank goodness. She is about the most stable and sensible politician in the whole of European politics. An endorsement from me will not make a blind bit of difference—thank goodness—but I darn well hope that she wins, because the European Union will be a stronger place if she does.

The cabinet secretary, Claire Baker, Ash Denham and others talked about the importance of cultural tourism and other sectors, and I cannot better their arguments. The Erasmus scheme seems to be quite important to the numbers, but there are plenty of statistics out there and we can trade them all day. The Conservatives will disagree with those figures, because they support the argument that the European Union is unimportant, while the rest of us—thankfully—take a different view.

What cannot be argued with is the point that, last week, the Conservatives’ own chancellor blew a hole in their Brexit strategy when he told his party, as well as the rest of the House of Commons, the reality of the public finances. Those finances underpin spending on the arts, as Claire Baker pointed out, and they are being cut not just in Scotland but in every part of England—that point was made to me by some cousins in the west country just the other day.

What the chancellor pointed out, on the basis of his own analysis and, more to the point, the analysis that is provided by independent experts—yes, they are experts and therefore should be listened to rather than dismissed, which is the standard position now—was that there will be a £59 billion hole in the public finances over the next five years. It does not matter whether we think that the Government is right or wrong on Scotland, on health or on education; the fact is that there will be less public money to spend on the arts, tourism, culture and other public services according to the figures that the Conservative Government has produced. The Conservatives have come here today and given us all a lecture about spending on this and that when their chancellor has illustrated the dramatic impact that Brexit will have on the UK economy over the next five years. If we get one thing from the Tories in winding up the debate, maybe it will be an acceptance that their chancellor has laid out the dire financial position and how difficult that will be for every Government across the United Kingdom.

Not only that, but the Institute for Fiscal Studies has backed up the chancellor by pointing to the fact that the falling pound is driving up inflation and the fact that Brexit is causing the biggest squeeze on take-home pay in 70 years for the people we represent in Edinburgh and the people MPs represent in the House of Commons. To ignore those facts and brush them under the table is not to accept the facts that the Conservatives’ chancellor presented to the House of Commons just last week.

I will conclude with two points. Mark Carney’s intervention on Sunday seems to be the most important one to be knocking around in the Brexit debate. He said that transitional relief is needed, that it needs to be provided for two years longer and that we need to work really hard to make sure that that happens. Thankfully, the Tories cannot sack him, because there would be a run on the pound if they did. He is immovable in that sense, which is a great relief to the rest of us.

The other telling remark of the past few days came from Brian Kerr, who must be one of the UK’s most experienced EU negotiators. He said that there is less than a 50 per cent chance of securing an orderly Brexit within two years and that a “decade of uncertainty” is possible. That is Mark Carney’s point—the longer it takes to negotiate a transitional plan, the more likely it is that the Government will be able to retain single market access and that, therefore, the public finances—which are dire—will have some semblance of structure underneath them. That would complete the circle by allowing us to invest in the arts, culture and the other areas that we have addressed this afternoon.

Lewis Macdonald quoted Donald Dewar, who said:

“This is about who we are, how we carry ourselves.”

I think that Donald would have been pretty depressed by what we have heard today from the Tories.

Photo of Tom Arthur Tom Arthur Scottish National Party

As I rise to speak, I am conscious that it is six months since I first spoke in the Parliament. In those six months, we have witnessed greater political turbulence around the globe than at any point in the Parliament’s history and certainly since the fall of the Berlin wall.

In my first speech, I argued that the European Union is more than the sum of various treaties and trade agreements. I stated my belief that our European citizenship gives expression to our ancient sense of European identity. At the heart of that shared identity is a shared set of values and, crucially, a shared culture.

I am therefore grateful to have the opportunity to contribute to the debate, which, in its consideration of culture, permits a discussion of the great anchors of our European civilisation and of what constitutes our European identity. However, before considering the cultural dimension of our relationship with Europe and the European Union, I will briefly comment on the nature of the Brexit debate over the past few months.

When considering the implications of Brexit, it has become all too easy to be ensnared in a debate that is exclusively about trade. Although retaining full membership of the single market must be the Scottish Government’s prime objective, the fundamental reasons for wishing to retain membership transcend the obvious benefits of the four fundamental freedoms. Simply put, the idea and realisation of the single market have been the scaffolding that has supported peace, stability and democracy in post-war Europe. The foundations of that shared peace and prosperity have been our shared culture, identity and values.

It has been said in the chamber by some that leaving the EU does not mean leaving Europe. Unfortunately, that applies only in a strictly geographic sense. The manner in which the leave campaign was conducted and the attitude of many prominent Brexiteers imply a rejection not only of the EU but of the very idea of Europe.

At least since Roman times, Britain has had an on-going relationship with our neighbours on the continent. That relationship has been defined and influenced by a range of institutions and treaties. The Roman empire, the Catholic church, the Hanseatic league, the concert of Europe and the political-familial connections of royal households are perhaps a few of the most prominent. Although none of those august bodies achieved permanence as a political force or enjoyed parity of influence across the continent, their existence and history demonstrate a long-standing willingness to employ not just force but discourse in fostering inter-European engagement.

The many endeavours of European co-operation that predated the European Union grew in the fertile soil of a shared cultural identity and heritage, and themselves facilitated the exchange of new ideas. Although there are many aspects to and manifestations of that shared identity and culture—such as the linguistic, the literary and the religious—I will turn to the one that I think is most relevant to this afternoon’s debate and the current state of affairs, and that is the values of the enlightenment.

The values of the enlightenment—democracy, liberty, secularism, rationality, freedom of expression and the belief that the human condition can be improved—are embodied in the project of European unity. We know that to truly realise such ambitions is our greatest challenge, but we know equally that they are what defines us as Europeans. They are our heritage and they have been our gift to the world. They have informed the constitutions and the cultures of countless republics and democracies around the globe.

The campaign to leave Europe was a repudiation of those values—a rejection of the idea of Europe. It was a campaign that dismissed fact, denigrated experts and trafficked in the politics of division and xenophobia.

The 1 million Scots who voted to leave did so for a variety of reasons. I spoke to many in my constituency of Renfrewshire South who felt neglected and alienated by the political process and who saw the EU as an irrelevancy. We must listen to and engage with those people.

While I regret not persuading more of my fellow Scots of the case for the EU, I feel nothing but contempt for many of the principal architects of the deceitful and xenophobic leave campaign. We need only consider those who so loudly promoted and preached for the diplomatic disaster of a leave vote—a dismal ensemble of the unthinking bien pensant right and the isolationist left, in a ghastly embrace with those vultures of the counter-enlightenment, Farage and Johnson.

When the result of the EU referendum became apparent, I felt that something fundamental had been stripped away—not just from me but from future generations. For me as a new and young member of the Parliament, it has been a sobering and disillusioning experience to witness how glibly and superficially some other members in this place have treated what is a tragedy.

The consequences of that tragedy are incalculable. The liberal world order is buckling. The centre is struggling to hold. The far right menaces our great democracies.

We are approaching a period of great danger as the global order continues to destabilise. Our influence in this place is limited but, where we can bring it to bear, we must. Brexit bromides are no substitute for a coherent plan from the UK Government. Britain cannot have its cake and eat it. A hard Brexit will not only undermine our own economy; it could, in its disavowal of European culture and values, act as a fillip to fascism on the continent.

The Westminster Government faces a choice. It can recognise our shared culture and values and reaffirm our commitment to European partnership by committing the UK to full membership of the single market, with freedom of movement, or it can heed the siren calls of British exceptionalism, undermine our European partners, reject our shared culture and values, and sleepwalk us into catastrophe. Should the latter seem likely to prevail, Scotland must reaffirm its European values independently.

Photo of Rachael Hamilton Rachael Hamilton Conservative

I refer members to my entry in the register of members’ interests and the fact that I own a hotel.

Tom Arthur is suffering from Brexitphobia, I think; the Scottish Government is gripped by it almost to the point of forgetting what our day job is. The fear of Scotland exiting Europe has become the subtitle to every motion that we find ourselves debating.

Scottish businesses, on the other hand, are preparing the ground for the change ahead. Tourism is vital to Scotland and I thank those who work day in, day out in the tourism industry to help to drive the Scottish economy. It is business as usual for us and for them; after all, people’s livelihoods depend on offering high-quality, creative and innovative attractions and ensuring that visitors receive a warm welcome.

We must congratulate the South Scotland businesses Born in the Borders visitor centre and Galloway Activity Centre on being regional winners of awards for innovation in tourism at the latest Thistle awards ceremony.

The Deputy Presiding Officer:

I think that you could find a nicer way of saying that, Ms Hamilton.

Photo of Stuart McMillan Stuart McMillan Scottish National Party

I appreciate Rachael Hamilton taking a brief intervention.

On the subject of welcoming visitors to the country, does Rachael Hamilton agree with the UK Government’s proposal to have face-to-face passport control checks on cruise liners when they enter UK waters?

Photo of Rachael Hamilton Rachael Hamilton Conservative

We do not have many cruise liners in South Scotland but, to refer to my own business and what we offer our European friends, our business has increased because we are welcoming and we offer a really good service in Scotland.

Our Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Relations Committee work programme has seen us taking evidence from Scottish businesses in different sectors. Their key message is that the worst risk to business is uncertainty. As I said, I am a business owner in the hospitality industry and I can back up that statement. Businesses want to hear that Governments are supportive and are prepared to pull fiscal levers if necessary—for example, cutting interest rates made borrowing a little cheaper in the first week after the EU referendum. Last week’s announcement that Scotland will receive an extra £800 million for infrastructure and innovation projects to boost productivity and long-term economic growth is the type of message that gives the tourism industry confidence.

Let us examine the depreciation of sterling after the EU referendum. In the short term, the low value of the pound has been an incentive to overseas travellers. It has been viewed by the tourism industry as a boost. Tourism spending in Scotland recorded the highest second-quarter figures, with international tourist spending breaking through the £500 million barrier. That increase in expenditure benefits the whole economy, including retail and more widely. Furthermore, both Glasgow and Edinburgh airports have seen significant increases in passenger numbers, with international visitors up 9.4 per cent at Glasgow airport in July this year.

Scotland is seen as a safe place following terrorist incidents in traditional European short-break destinations. People are concerned about security and safety and are avoiding a number of European cities, choosing to travel to Scotland or the rest of the UK, for example. Equally, Brits are opting for safer destinations, many trying a staycation for the first time.

We must not forget that tourism is performing well because Scotland is a world-class destination. Members may have found themselves caught, like Jackson Carlaw, in the mystical and spell-binding “Outlander” saga, which is enjoyed by millions of viewers and is a worldwide success. Scotland has shown that it can offer the perfect backdrop for authors and television producers to work their magic, from the ancient and mysterious standing stones in Dumfries and Galloway to dramatic castles, magnificent stately homes such as Gosford house in East Lothian and breathtaking landscapes. So-called screen tourism is now worth millions to the Scottish economy. Tourism bosses believe that the benefits from the long-running success of “Outlander” could outstrip those from mainstream blockbuster movies.

I recently visited Thirlestane castle near Lauder, one of the oldest and most impressive castles in Scotland. I saw first-hand the great work done there. Historic buildings such as those have helped to welcome nearly 15 million overnight tourism trips in Scotland in 2015, for which visitor expenditure totalled over £5 billion. There were 124 million day visits in Scotland in 2015, with a total spend of £3.9 billion. However, we understand that preserving historic attractions to ensure that they remain prominent tourist attractions is a huge challenge. Preserving them must be on the Brexit wish list.

Fiona Hyslop said it herself. Brexit has not happened, which means that we need to concentrate on the here and now. The tourism industry makes up about 7.7 per cent of Scotland’s workforce. We in the Parliament talk a lot about skills gaps—Fiona Hyslop’s motion talks about the severe negative impact that Brexit could have on staffing and skills. I visited Dumfries and Galloway College last week and we spoke about the flexible and blended learning opportunities that they offer school leavers, from Langholm to Stranraer and from Kirkconnel to Gretna. Brexit was not mentioned once.

Skills Development Scotland has identified a skills gap in the tourism industry and—

Photo of Rachael Hamilton Rachael Hamilton Conservative

Do you want to intervene? Okay.

Photo of Fiona Hyslop Fiona Hyslop Scottish National Party

Does the member agree with the chief executive of the Scottish Tourism Alliance, Marc Crothall? He said today:

“One of the critical issues for industry is the potential changes to the free movement of people, which will directly affect the sector’s ability to attract, employ and retain overseas staff both seasonal and permanent.”

I recognise that there will be a regional variation in demand across the country, but does the member agree with that very important criticism and the concern that has come from the Scottish Tourism Alliance?

Photo of Rachael Hamilton Rachael Hamilton Conservative

I thank the member for her intervention. I do not believe that it was a criticism by Marc Crothall. He is merely pointing out that Scotland needs to bring more people into the country to make it a success. Yes, there are a number of people who work within that industry whom we are not skilling up, unfortunately; we must make sure that we skill people up. We need to get into schools and we need to ensure that hospitality and tourism businesses are communicating their needs, just as SDS is. There is a skills gap and we need to ensure that we narrow that gap with our own people.

The Deputy Presiding Officer:

Excuse me a minute. Could we have a less casual approach to accepting interventions? I realise that the member is under a bit of pressure, but “okay” is too casual. [

Interruption

.] Yes, Mr Carlaw. We could do with some charm, which you have in abundance.

Photo of Maree Todd Maree Todd Scottish National Party

Can I ask what the member’s suggestion would be for those communities, for example the island communities that I mentioned, that do not have people to upskill to work in their tourism sector? They are heavily dependent on EU citizens who come and work in the food and drink sector, which is absolutely vital to the economy that I live in.

Photo of Rachael Hamilton Rachael Hamilton Conservative

I can speak again from experience. We employ 52 people and they are all local.

I discussed with Dumfries and Galloway College connectivity, road and rail transport, data download speeds and wi-fi. The college had to get special derogation from the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council to allow it to use money from its pot to fund buses to ferry pupils to the college. The college’s rural location poses challenges. It has upgraded to the Scottish wide area network—SWAN—broadband system so that pupils have access to fast download speeds. That all falls apart, of course, when they head home and cannot even get a mobile signal.

In summary, it would be helpful for the Scottish Government to stop doom-mongering and give tourism businesses the reassurances that they need. In 2008, tourism businesses either sank or swam. Those that survived the economic crisis have strong and resilient business structures and are able to survive. We also survived the uncertainty of an independence referendum.

The future success of Scotland’s economy depends on growth and competitiveness. The Scottish Government’s tourism strategy should therefore deliver a business environment that supports growth. Perhaps the cabinet secretary would consider that we need to refresh the strategy in light of the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.

Scotland’s tourism and creative industries are growing and should be supported by the Scottish Government to enable each and every business to survive.

Photo of Joan McAlpine Joan McAlpine Scottish National Party

The thrust of Jackson Carlaw’s speech seemed entirely premised on the argument that Scotland should get back in its box and not make its voice heard on the world stage. Although it might be amusing to compare a First Minister with a democratic mandate with the wife of the Argentinian strongman Juan Perón, many will consider that to be insulting. That said, Evita was wildly popular in Argentina in the 1940s and enjoyed the kind of support that the Scottish Conservatives can only dream about. Perhaps that is where Mr Carlaw got the comparison from.

I return to the motion.

Scotland has a long history of cultural cross-fertilisation with Europe. We are all familiar with the Scottish enlightenment in the 18th century, which others have spoken about. There was a great flourishing of intellectual exchange with Europe then. Since as far back as the 13th century, Scots in search of a university education have gone to the continent, especially to Paris. By the 17th century, they were looking to the Netherlands for ideas and education: around 1,500 Scots were enrolled at Leiden University in the 17th century. At that time, 30,000 Scots lived in Poland, particularly in Kraków. Even the Scots language has European roots, with its links to German, Norwegian and Dutch, as well as old English.

Although there are considerable financial and organisational arguments for Scotland to maintain the closest possible ties with Europe, this is also about the type of country that we wish to be. It has already been said that the culture sector wishes to look outward and to cross-fertilise with a myriad of different people and cultural traditions, in the UK and also far beyond it. We are being offered a narrowing and limiting of options to be marooned on the island of Britain with people who still have not got over the decline of the British empire and whose idea of art seems to be painting the atlas red again.

In the wake of the referendum vote, Creative Scotland surveyed cultural organisations on their views on the result and what it meant for them, and 188 responded. Forty per cent had received European Union-linked funding in the past, and a total of €1 million-plus was reported. Partnership working was even more important than the funding to those who responded. They gave details of collaborations with as many as 14 countries, including Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland and countries further afield.

Other members, including the cabinet secretary, have quoted the director of the Edinburgh International Festival, Fergus Linehan, who has expressed fear that the political trend of “battening down the hatches” is antithetical to the internationalism of the festival. That comment almost certainly also refers to the situation in America, where there is a rise of an authoritarian philistinism. Today, the Conservative Party suggested that the American people should just bow down and put up with that by putting on their “big-boy pants”. I realise that the Trump age has resulted in what people call a post-truth era in which facts and expertise must be ignored in favour of crass assertions, but I am disappointed that Jackson Carlaw has adopted that post-truth approach, as I had always considered him to be one of the more thoughtful and less zealous members of the Conservative Party.

How can we consider the dismissal by the Tories of so much expert opinion in the field of culture as anything other than post truth? The submission to the then European and External Relations Committee by the organisation culture counts reflects on the survey that was conducted by Creative Scotland—and indeed on the views of its own members. It will be dismissed by the post-truthers as whingeing, no doubt, but I for one respect the views of experts such as those in culture counts, who engage with the Parliament and who value the parliamentary time that we have devoted to matters that concern their sectors.

In its submission, culture counts clearly outlines five areas where its members are very concerned about the future of the cultural sector. They are particularly concerned about the

“Protection of the right to take part in cultural life as a human right”, which they point out is protected by current EU law. We do not know whether that will continue post Brexit. Will it?

Culture counts is further concerned about the free movement of people. It points out that EU nationals still do not know their status. When will the UK Government tell them?

On free trade, culture counts says:

“The EU is the largest export market for the UK creative industries”.

How will those industries feature in any deal? How will they be affected by tariffs or non-tariff barriers? The UK Government has provided no clarity.

Funding has already been discussed in detail. Creative Europe’s funds affect a myriad of projects, from the Scottish Poetry Library to the Scottish Youth Dance theatre. How will those funds be replaced? Will they be replaced? That is a matter for the UK Government, but answers there are none.

Finally, on international relations, culture counts speaks about the need for

“putting the nation on the map for visitors and investors from across the EU”.

What does Brexit say to them? What does it say about our attitude to our international partners? Another Conservative, Chris Patten, put it best in his article in

The Guardian on 7 June. He asked:

“what is Brexit’s message to the world”?

He answered:

“two fingers”.

He went on to say that it would perhaps be more appropriate to use the terrace chant of the Millwall football crowd:

“No one likes us, we don’t care.”

That is the cultural cry of the Brexiteers, and it is a very ugly sound indeed.

The Deputy Presiding Officer:

Before we come to the next speaker, I can tell the closing speakers that there is time in hand, so they can each add a couple of minutes on to their closing speeches. I know you enjoy that.

I call Jamie Greene, to be followed by Ruth Maguire, who will be the last speaker in the open debate.

Photo of Jamie Greene Jamie Greene Conservative

I hope that my colleagues will excuse my croakiness, which is nothing to do with the fact that this is the 12th debate that we have had on the EU. It is just general man flu. I apologise—I will struggle through.

It is clear that the debate has been called not because the Scottish Government has any real concerns over the impact of Brexit on the Scottish creative and tourism industries, but because instead of debating legislation and addressing the real issues that face our country today, the Scottish Parliament is being forced once again to play the big “Brexit bad” game.

My colleague Tom Arthur declined to take any interventions during his very eloquent speech. I wonder, though, whether his view is that a Scottish leave voter is different from an English leave voter. Do they deserve similar or different outcomes from the vote that we had this year?

Photo of Jamie Greene Jamie Greene Conservative

I will be very happy to give way, if Mr Arthur wishes to clarify his position on that.

Photo of Tom Arthur Tom Arthur Scottish National Party

It comes down, very simply, to democracy. A majority of people in Scotland, as in my constituency, voted to remain. In England, they did not. Perhaps we have different concepts of nationhood.

Photo of Jamie Greene Jamie Greene Conservative

Perhaps we have different ideas of what democracy is. I think that we voted as a United Kingdom, and the leave vote was overwhelmingly in the majority.

Photo of Jamie Greene Jamie Greene Conservative

No. I would like to make some progress.

As is clear from this and our other recent Brexit debates, there is a lot of heated debate and wounds are still fresh. I am genuinely inspired by the enthusiasm that was shown by Tom Arthur in his speech. He is, as a remainer, genuinely very angry that the rest of the country voted to leave. I could see that enthusiasm and anger coming through in his speech. It was apparent. However, we need to be a little bit more optimistic about Scotland’s future, so it is about time that the language coming from Parliament was more optimistic about it.

Much has been said by colleagues about tourism. There is nothing to suggest that tourism will be eternally dented by the UK choosing to leave the European Union. Just as we will always want to visit the continent to climb the Eiffel tower, or to go on holiday to lie on the beaches of southern Spain, our friends in Europe will still want to come here to see our beautiful Highlands and Islands, and they will still want to come and play golf, to cycle round Millport and to shop on the Royal Mile. In fact, the Scottish Tourism Alliance has pointed out that the weaker pound is proving to be a huge incentive for Europeans to come to the UK to shop in numbers that we have not seen in decades.

Photo of Jamie Greene Jamie Greene Conservative

I would like to make some progress.

Far from the doom and gloom that we are hearing from SNP members, the figures from UKinbound show that tourism has been performing extremely well since June. Not surprisingly, it seems that people from around the globe are still keen to come and visit our country.

Photo of Jamie Greene Jamie Greene Conservative

No. I would like to make some progress.

The Government motion says that to protect our cultural and tourism sectors, there must be free movement of people, but freedom to live and work permanently in a country is not the same as freedom to visit and enjoy a country. Either the SNP does not understand that distinction, or it is deliberately fudging the lines.

Photo of Fiona Hyslop Fiona Hyslop Scottish National Party

Throughout my speech, I made it clear that our focus is on freedom of movement to ensure that the tourism sector can be fully and properly staffed. Because 17 per cent of tourism sector staff are EU nationals, that is a real issue. Could Jamie Greene engage with that point, please?

Photo of Jamie Greene Jamie Greene Conservative

I will do that. The cabinet secretary made an important point. We recruit a chunk of the staff for the tourism industry from overseas. I do not think that Conservative members are in any doubt about the importance of those people, nor are we undermining the value of the work that they do. Do I have the answers on what will happen in the future, post-Brexit? No. I do not think that any of us does, which is why we are having the debates. I cannot undermine the outcome of the negotiation before the negotiation has taken place.

We should bear in mind the fact that there are millions of Brits living in Europe, who are just as important in the current discussion. That is often forgotten.

Jackson Carlaw said that I would talk about digital issues. There is a lot that I could say, but I will focus on the digital single market, because it is an area that was, in a previous life—before I was elected to Parliament—very close to my heart. The idea that our creative industries are entirely dependent on political membership of the EU is quite absurd. Along with the UK, Scotland can influence the digital single market because it is a leading player in the industry. We need only look at the EU’s score cards, which repeatedly put the UK at the top when it comes to connectivity, skills and our internet economy. In fact, our internet economy is the highest in the G20. If the Scottish Government has specific requirements on the digital single market, it should work with the UK Government so that those requirements can be included in the negotiations. I would welcome any comments from ministers to the effect that they will work with the UK Government, which is the negotiating partner in the current situation.

However, the digital single market is not all perfect—although that is another speech for another day. I would be happy to discuss the matter with the Scottish Government. There are many concerns about areas of the DSM that do not work for the UK. There are, for example, huge discussions to be had about data protection, intellectual property ownership, the general data protection regulation and geoblocking of free content that has been paid for by UK licence payers, so I do not think that the grass is always greener on the European side. Member states in that market also have concerns.

Photo of Fiona Hyslop Fiona Hyslop Scottish National Party

Those points are particularly well made, and such issues are exactly what the debate should be about. It is vital that we help to shape the digital single market before the UK leaves the EU, and even during the process, because if we do not it will be shaped for us, and that might not happen in a way that the creative industries in Scotland or the UK as a whole would like.

Photo of Jamie Greene Jamie Greene Conservative

I welcome that feedback. If the Scottish Government is willing to accept all ideas and input to that conversation, I will be happy to put forward ideas. We should be presenting our ideas alongside our colleagues at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and putting forward in the discussions a strong case for what will work for us in the digital single market post-Brexit.

I was going to talk about some of the success stories in the digital industries in Scotland. We have had that debate previously and I am sure that we will have many opportunities to have it in the future. Instead, I conclude by saying that we should work together to protect Scotland’s creative, tourism and digital industries. The way to do that is not to undermine or forget the importance of our current single largest trading market: the UK. That is why our amendment is important.

The Deputy Presiding Officer:

Ruth Maguire is the last speaker in the open debate.

Photo of Ruth Maguire Ruth Maguire Scottish National Party

The Scotland to which I hope everyone in the chamber aspires is inclusive, tolerant and outward looking. I strongly believe that we will be best served by protecting our existing relationship with Europe and the freedom of movement within the EU that enriches our lives. If we want that inclusive, tolerant and outward-looking country that welcomes people from all around the world, it is vital that we send a message of welcome and openness. It is vital that Scotland makes it clear that it is not represented in Europe or further afield by a right-wing rabble of Tories who are intent on a hard Brexit and obsessed by restricting immigration, which could have catastrophic consequences for our culture and tourism industries.

We have heard how Scottish cultural and creative organisations have benefited greatly from being able to access the EU’s funding programmes, how important collaboration is and how rising costs and bureaucracy hamper the ability to co-produce and make connections.

We have also heard that key concerns of the sector include fear about loss of funding from EU sources; hindrances to free movement of artists, performers and companies; and rising costs.

However, as important as the loss of funding that would come from a hard Brexit is the isolationist message that it would send to the world—a message that might deter people from coming here in the first place.

Back in October, in the debate on higher and further education and the EU referendum we heard how agencies in China and the far east are already telling students not to go to Scotland or the UK because they are closed, and that they should go somewhere else. “Closed” is not what we want the rest of the world to hear.

Brexit has not even happened yet, but the signals that Westminster is sending to the rest of the world are clear, and they are not helpful to Scotland.

Perhaps now more than ever, I recognise the importance of Scotland speaking with its own voice on the international stage. I am proud of the work that our cabinet secretaries and First Minister are doing.

Members have outlined all the pragmatic and practical reasons why freedom of movement is of key importance to the cultural and creative sectors, but as the cabinet secretary mentioned in her opening speech, we should take a second to consider the personal enrichment and benefits that come from free movement, and the cultural interchange that is provided through exchanges and collaborations. I will illustrate that with a story that relates to my constituency of Cunninghame South.

This weekend, members of Irvine Burns Club will welcome Paul Malgrati. Paul comes from Paris and first came to Scotland three years ago as part of a study-abroad exchange between his university in Paris and the University of St Andrews. During his time in Scotland, as well as studying English literature at the university, Paul met and fell in love with a Dundonian lass, made deep and enduring friendships and developed a passion for the languages, literature and culture of Scotland.

A few months ago, Paul returned to St Andrews to begin a PhD studying the political uses of Robert Burns in the 20th century. He has also recently written a piece for

Bella Caledonia in Scots describing how he came to know and love Scotland, its language, culture and politics. He will travel to Irvine on Saturday to meet our world-famous Irvine Burns Club, share his passion for Burns and learn more about him and his work with like-minded people.

I am sure that we all know similar stories of people who came to Scotland to work or study and stayed as personal relationships and ties developed. Some of us will also know how fearful some of those people are for their future. Culture may well transcend boundaries and borders, but it is arguable that more important than whether somebody has to get a visa is whether they want to go somewhere in the first place—whether they feel welcome. I want people who have chosen to make Scotland their home to hear this loud and clear: you are welcome here and your contribution is valued for all the reasons that have been outlined during the debate and—more important—for the personal richness that a multicultural society brings to all our lives.

The Deputy Presiding Officer:

We move to closing speeches. I note that three members who spoke in the debate are not in the chamber. The Presiding Officers are tired of repeating this, so we will be discussing what the result will be for members who disobey the chair. [

Interruption

.]

Ah, here they come—the sprinters. I say to members rushing into the chamber that I give adequate warning. I give warnings before the penultimate speaker in the open debate and before the last speaker. You are lucky, but I will still name you. The members who were not in the chamber are Maree Todd, Tavish Scott and Tom Arthur. I am glad that you have come back. You heard what I have said: we are not going to continue saying it. It is a discourtesy to the chair and to other members, and it is going to stop.

Photo of Lewis Macdonald Lewis Macdonald Labour

This afternoon’s debate has highlighted some of the risks and costs of Britain leaving the European Union as far as culture, the creative industries and tourism are concerned. On the one hand, we know that any deal on Brexit, including any deal that provides for continuing access to or membership of the single market, on whatever terms, will bring to an end our right to have a say in the future development of EU law and policy. There is no getting away from that simple fact, no matter how hard anyone may work to keep us as close to Europe as possible. No membership of the EU means no vote in the EU.

On the other hand, there are clearly things that can be done to maintain our access to some of the advantages that being part of Europe brings to Scotland’s creative industries, tourism and our cultural life, and Tavish Scott rounded up some of the recent developments that show that this is still very much a live debate.

Jamie Greene raised the issue of the digital single market, which is a new initiative and is, perhaps, a good place to start. It seeks to put Europe at the front edge of the digital age, make cross-border e-commerce easier and address some serious inequalities arising from the free market, such as unfair charges for parcel delivery to rural and island customers. Like most EU initiatives, it also has the potential to get things wrong by applying the same principles in different countries where circumstances are not the same. For example, users of the BBC iPlayer in the UK must now have a television licence, as the rules catch up with technological change. That requirement does not, and cannot, exist across borders, so the British Government should be working right now to reduce the impact on public service broadcasting of some of the new rules that the European Commission will propose, or even seeking to exclude the sector altogether.

The good news is that those rules and policies are still developing and, as the cabinet secretary said, as long as we are a member of the EU, it is possible to seek to shape them to reflect our needs and priorities. However, the bad news is that our ability to have a say in future policy developments will be lost, whether we are in or out of the single market, and our credibility will be sharply reduced the moment that we give formal notice to quit.

Photo of Jamie Greene Jamie Greene Conservative

Is the member suggesting that, upon Brexit, all of those rules and laws would somehow disappear? I do not think that the UK Government would suddenly have to reinvent the wheel from scratch. We will inherit and can keep any good ideas that we make progress on over the next few years.

Photo of Lewis Macdonald Lewis Macdonald Labour

I am not suggesting that. The digital single market will continue to develop—successfully, I hope—when the United Kingdom gives notice to quit. However, the critical point is that, no matter how much we engage with it, when we are no longer at the table with a vote and a say in the development of those policies, they are much less likely to reflect the needs and priorities of the sector in this country.

Claire Baker rightly highlighted the cuts to arts funding under the current UK Government. That is the real context in which those ministers are tasked with representing our broadcasters, our creative industries and our cultural sector in the negotiations that lie ahead. That context is bound to give us cause for concern.

I was intrigued to hear John Lamont quote the views of Alex Neil as evidence of the prospects for our tourism industry. We never learned whether Mr Lamont shared Mr Neil’s view that Brexit is actually good news for the Scottish tourism sector. If he does, it would be good to know. Clearly, though, the majority of people in the chamber are more concerned today with the threats and risks that lie ahead than with the opportunities that may come our way incidentally.

Maree Todd made a strong plea, which I would endorse, for us not to close any doors on Europe. It is even more important for Scottish tourism that no doors should be closed on Britain either. When the Scottish Tourism Alliance surveyed its members this summer, it found that talk of another referendum on independence was the single greatest cause of uncertainty for its members. It is not a subject on which I intend to wax eloquent this afternoon—I am glad that others have not done so either—but it is important, when we are making the case for an open-door policy towards Europe, that we recognise that fundamental and central to that is an open-door policy within these islands.

Rachael Hamilton cited, quite fairly, the short-term benefits to Scottish tourism this summer as the result of a weak pound, but a decline in Britain’s buying power cannot be a long-term plan for the tourism sector or the economy as a whole. We need to hear more from Conservative members about what, in their view, the long term might look like.

As a single market, Europe is tightly defined by rules and regulations but, as a cultural construct and geographical space, it offers more scope for countries outwith the EU. The European cultural convention, for example, has 50 member states, from Iceland to Azerbaijan. The Bologna accord has a similar number and has worked over the years to evolve the European higher education area. Indeed, I represented the Scottish Government of the time at a Bologna process conference in Berlin in 2003 and have seen at first hand just how much those bodies, separate from the EU though they might be, engage in collective European diplomacy on the same model as the European Union.

There are many other such bodies, some of which have been mentioned today. Creative Europe is rightly highlighted as a grant funder of projects in Scotland. Its membership extends not just to Norway and Iceland but to other countries, for example in the Balkans and, from 2017, Israel.

In tourism, the European common aviation area is important; it, too, extends beyond the member states of the EU. The principles of that agreement are worth noting because they so closely reflect some of the principles that we have debated at other times in the past few weeks: free movement of people and cargo; freedom of establishment; equal conditions of competition; and common rules in the areas of safety, security, air traffic management, and social and environmental protection. The point here is that there are a whole raft of agreements of that kind to which other European countries have access without being members of the European Union. It is important for the Scottish Government and the UK Government to reflect on that and set out clearly what their objectives are, not just in terms of the single market or otherwise, but in terms of those other cross-border agreements.

We have seen today a scribbled note made public from conversations in Downing Street. Conservative members and ministers will deny that having your cake and eating it is the sum total of the negotiating strategy to follow. However, it is clear that there is serious work to be done and we need to know what the objectives of the UK Government and the Scottish Government, and the other devolved Administrations engaging with them, will be. Mr Russell has promised to publish the Scottish Government’s plans before Christmas, and perhaps he can say more about that today, but we urgently need to hear from UK ministers as well—not platitudes or wishful thinking, but concrete and specific objectives and some idea of how they intend to achieve them.

Photo of Douglas Ross Douglas Ross Conservative

As we have heard a number of times today, this is the 12th debate that we have had on this subject, but unfortunately it is not the glorious 12th. The Scottish Government has dedicated a dozen debates, out of its own time, to focus on Europe. One would think that, if there was going to be a Scottish Government debate, it would fill its back benches with speakers who were passionate and made substantive points. What did we get? We got Joan McAlpine talking about 17th century education in the Netherlands and Stuart McMillan telling us about his international busking career.

Photo of Douglas Ross Douglas Ross Conservative

If I can finish this point. Mr McMillan made it very well, so I want to repeat it.

Photo of Douglas Ross Douglas Ross Conservative

Hold on—I will come to you both.

We heard that in 1988, Mr McMillan went to a bar to get changed into his kilt. Then we heard that in 2011, his friend Tom and he met a local mayor. If that is the substantive point that the SNP is putting across, this debate should be the 12th and final one, because clearly it does not have enough to say.

I will go to the lady first: Ms McAlpine.

The Deputy Presiding Officer:

It is for me to call Ms McAlpine.

Photo of Joan McAlpine Joan McAlpine Scottish National Party

I assume that Douglas Ross makes a rhetorical point, but I am sure that he would admit that in the substantive part of my speech I quoted from the organisation culture counts, which made an extensive submission about its deep and factual concerns about the impact on the cultural sector of leaving the EU. Does he not agree that we in this chamber have a responsibility to respond to those very serious concerns from expert organisations across Scotland?

Photo of Douglas Ross Douglas Ross Conservative

I agree that we have a duty to respond to those things, but the fact that there was so much filler in the speeches from the SNP back benches shows how much the SNP has to say on the issue. It is vacuous to say the least.

I want to go on to a number of other points—

Photo of Douglas Ross Douglas Ross Conservative

I mentioned Mr McMillan, so I will take his intervention—with your permission, Presiding Officer.

The Deputy Presiding Officer:

It is always with my permission, Mr Ross.

Photo of Stuart McMillan Stuart McMillan Scottish National Party

After hearing the beginning of his speech, I must say that it is a shame that Douglas Ross is here today. We probably would have been better off if he had been out refereeing somewhere. Nonetheless, I raised the points that I did because I was giving some context to why I believe that being in Europe is so important. Douglas Ross was clearly not listening to my point about the mayor. The mayor was doing a wedding—that is what happens in France. The mayor was the person who was marrying Tom and his wife. The point was very clear; unfortunately Mr Ross did not want to listen.

Photo of Douglas Ross Douglas Ross Conservative

I apologise if I had switched off by the point at which Mr McMillan was telling me about mayors and how they conduct weddings.

Mr McMillan went on to mention the world pipe band championships and the threat that they are under. The hint is in the name: the world pipe band championships. Mr McMillan must consider that.

I have used three minutes on the first two speakers, so I will quickly mention some others. We had Ash Denham, who said “if”, “could”, “might”, “maybe”—everything was predicated with uncertainty because everything that the SNP is putting forward is trying to rustle up scare stories about the EU.

Photo of Douglas Ross Douglas Ross Conservative

No. I cannot take an intervention from each SNP member who I criticise for having nothing to say. Ash Denham had her chance over six minutes; I do not have much more time.

When we got some substantive points they were made by my colleague John Lamont, who mentioned the Borders tourism partnership. He made a very telling contribution when he said that not one tourism body had responded to the EU inquiry by the Scottish Affairs Committee, which is chaired by an SNP member.

Claire Baker mentioned the huge challenges that tourism faces and her discussions with Fife Chamber of Commerce about inward tourism and promotional opportunities. I want to discuss those things in relation to my area of Moray as I progress.

Maree Todd spoke about the Gaelic language—I say to her mòran taing for that. She also spoke about how crucial tourism is to the whole of the Highlands and Islands economy. I fully agree with that and, when I give some examples from Moray, I hope that she will agree that some positives, as well as uncertainties, can come out of this. I see that she is nodding, and I appreciate that.

Tavish Scott wanted to know the Conservative position. Our position is that we listened to the democratic will of the people of the United Kingdom.

Photo of Douglas Ross Douglas Ross Conservative

We are not a rump of eight Liberal Democrat MPs who want to re-run the vote until we get the result that we want. I cannot think where Mr Scott got that idea from, but I welcome the comments of his former colleague Vince Cable, who said that such a move would be “disrespectful” to the voters.

Photo of Douglas Ross Douglas Ross Conservative

I am sorry—I have much to get through in my last few minutes.

I could use the word “passionate” to describe Tom Arthur‘s speech—that is what I have written down. He said that leaving the EU does not mean leaving Europe, but he went on to criticise all Brexiteers—all 17 million of them in the United Kingdom and 1.6 million in Scotland. I began to wonder whether any members of the SNP—indeed, any of Mr Arthur’s colleagues—had voted for Brexit. We know that yes, they did. For Mr Arthur to be so disrespectful to the people who took a decision—

Photo of Douglas Ross Douglas Ross Conservative

I am sorry. I have taken enough interventions.

Photo of Douglas Ross Douglas Ross Conservative

To be so disrespectful to the people who took a democratic decision is unfitting for a politician in this chamber. [

Interruption

.]

Photo of Kenneth Macintosh Kenneth Macintosh Labour

Please stand up if you want to intervene, Mr Arthur.

Photo of Ash Denham Ash Denham Scottish National Party

We are trying, Presiding Officer, but the member will not take an intervention.

Photo of Douglas Ross Douglas Ross Conservative

I have taken several interventions, and I have two more minutes to go.

Rachael Hamilton mentioned—quite correctly—the tourism that is associated with historical buildings such as Gosford house in East Lothian. Jamie Greene mentioned the digital single market, which he is well placed to talk about given his previous experience outwith Parliament. It is extremely important to put on record, as he did, the fact that the UK is top in the internet economy. I agreed with Ruth Maguire when she said that we should all take an inclusive, tolerant and outward-looking approach to our multicultural society; I welcome those comments.

Finally, in response to the remarks from Claire Baker and Maree Todd, my colleague from the Highlands and Islands, about the importance of tourism for their regions, I will focus specifically on tourism in Moray, which is where I come from. In 2014, prior to the formation of the Moray Speyside tourism group, tourism contributed £94 million to the Moray economy. Almost three years later, that figure has increased to £106 million. Tourism directly sustains 2,500 jobs or accounts in Moray, and 10 per cent of the area’s economic output comes from tourism. In 2015, 700,000 visitors from around the world visited Moray. There are immediate opportunities, as well as some risks, arising from Brexit and the falling pound. VisitBritain data from earlier this year shows that US and European visitors are generally getting more for their money and are spending more money in our local economies. Prices for those from the US are now 10 to 15 per cent lower than they were prior to the Brexit vote.

Prior to today’s debate, I spoke to the Moray tourism partnership, which gave me some anecdotal feedback from businesses across Moray. Those businesses suggest that 2016 has been their busiest year to date, and visitor numbers are rising year on year. In Aberlour distillery, numbers are up 18 per cent. In the Scottish dolphin centre just outside Spey bay—in my own council ward—numbers are up 6 per cent. In Elgin cathedral, numbers are up 4 per cent, and at Glenlivet distillery numbers are up 13 per cent. We should all welcome those results, and I hope that members all round the chamber are doing so.

The majority of tourists in Moray are not from Europe or the rest of the world—they are our neighbours and friends in the rest of the UK. Places such as Moray comprehensively rejected the separatism that the SNP put forward, and they came within a whisker of voting for Brexit. Those are the people whom we have to listen to and respect. Today’s debate has shown a deficit in that regard, given some of the arguments from SNP members who simply want to foster resentment towards this rather than looking to a positive future.

Photo of Michael Russell Michael Russell Scottish National Party

I wanted to start with something that was positive in Lewis Macdonald’s speech, but first I offer a piece of advice to Douglas Ross. It would perhaps be sensible if he spent a little less time running the line in Lisbon and a little bit more time learning the art of politics in Scotland. That was among the most graceless closing speeches I have ever heard; I am sure that my colleagues will reflect on the insults that were directed at them.

Lewis Macdonald set out the finely made point that culture defines us. He touched on a great speech—one of the greatest speeches to this Parliament—by Donald Dewar on 1 July 1999. I will quote from that speech, because it sets the context for what we should try to do. I regard myself as being privileged to have heard it. In a famous passage, Donald Dewar said:

“In the quiet moments of today ... we might hear some echoes from the past. The shout of the welder in the din of the great Clyde shipyards; the speak of the Mearns, rooted in the land; the discourse of the enlightenment, when Edinburgh and Glasgow were a light held to the intellectual life of Europe; the wild cry of the great pipes; and back to the distant noise of battles from the days of Bruce and Wallace.”

He then went on to point out that that was the foundation for the voice of Scotland and said that, above all, it was a voice for the future. The Scottish Parliament has a duty to be a voice for the future. That was the Rolls-Royce of speeches. What a contrast with the comedy unicycle that we heard from some of the Tories.

Those words are important because the debate is about who we are, how we represent ourselves to the world, and what we regard as valuable in cultural and economic terms. Lewis Macdonald recognised the link between the cultural and the economic, as did Ash Denham and Joan McAlpine. Ash Denham went on to talk about the cultural and the economic in terms of freedom of movement.

The first point to make, therefore, is that underpinning our success in a variety of elements in our national life is freedom of movement—people’s ability to come here to work for a week, a month, a year or for the rest of their lives, and to enrich our culture. Ruth Maguire talked about the passion of one individual from France for the poems of Robert Burns; plenty of Scots go from Scotland to Europe and show their passion for things in other countries. It is about that openness and exchange that we should be talking today—not just about money. So few members did that, and none were Tories, alas.

Stuart McMillan gave the Conservatives the opportunity to say what they want and to define what is important to them, but yet again we heard that “Brexit means Brexit”. There was no mention of priority being given to the single market, the four freedoms, the customs union, a Canada-plus model, the EEA, or EFTA. There was just “the best deal” and “Brexit means Brexit”.

Claire Baker talked about the digital single market very well. Maree Todd talked about Gaelic and our contribution to linguistic diversity. Gaelic is the one thing that cements us into a Europe of languages. I speak as the first minister ever to make a speech in Gaelic at the Council of Ministers. I remember the speech and the excitement that came from other ministers at that meeting. Having spoken in Gaelic at that meeting, I was immediately followed by an Irish minister who spoke Irish and a Welsh minister who spoke Welsh. That is still a unique treble that represents how we were folded into the concerns of Europe.

Tavish Scott talked about the debate reawakening our interest in European politics; he was absolutely right. We are also reawakening our interest in Tavish Scott as a thinking and contributing politician, although that will not help him particularly with the man he is sitting next to. Tavish Scott made a fine speech about how that interest in European politics would sensitise us to the difficulties that exist in the European Union beyond Brexit and the fact that we need a vision of a renewed Europe.

Two weeks ago at a dinner in Berlin I was incredibly fortunate to hear Martin Schulz make one of the finest speeches about Europe that I have ever heard. We should be talking about and debating those values. Tom Arthur talked about the values of the enlightenment, just as Donald Dewar did in 1999. He called Brexit a campaign against enlightenment, which is something that we should think about. Brexit calls on us to turn our backs on the notion of progress; it calls on us to say that we will reject those influences and that we will turn inwards. That is neither necessary nor sensible.

While I was listening to Rachael Hamilton, I wanted to remind her of reality. As many of the Tories did, she accused the Scottish Government of doom-mongering. Well, here are three actual facts from November. The first is the point that Tavish Scott made, which is that the costs of Brexit are now becoming apparent. The £350 million a week bonus has gone. The cost of Brexit is £226 million a week in increased borrowing. That is a fact. The second fact is in a report from Hitachi Capital in November that shows that £6.5 million of investment has been withheld to date. That is a fact. A third fact comes from IHS Markit’s survey on sentiment, which shows that the population’s sentiment has changed. People were asked to take a 10-year-view. The figure in July was -3.5, but it is now -18.4. In Scotland, according to the Tories, we should be jolly and we should be delighted about Brexit. Indeed, it is such good news that we are not reflecting the people of Scotland. What does sentiment tell us about Scotland? The figure for July was -27 and today it is -42. The Tories do not have the courage of their constituents’ convictions, who are not fooled by what has taken place. There is a problem: those are facts and that is reality.

I will finish by reflecting on Jackson Carlaw’s speech. I am going to recommend that people look at that speech on video. I am going to use it when I come to train speakers of any sort, because it was an object lesson for students of politics of what happens when a person knows that they are in desperate trouble: they gabble faster, throw out more insults and threaten and bluster. What is the effect of that? There is no effect, because what people see is exactly what they know is going on. The emperor has no clothes.

If anyone doubts that, they should read Mr Carlaw’s amendment. Mr Carlaw is a man of subtlety; he is a clever man and he does not lodge such amendments unless he is desperate. I have to look at only one or two of the lines in it. It says that Scotland should leave

“the EU on the same terms as the rest of the UK”.

Why would we do that? Differentiation underpins devolution and the whole UK. The Act of Union 1707 is an act of differentiation. It would be unique in constitutional terms in these islands if we did that; indeed, it would be disastrous in constitutional terms if we did that. However, according to Mr Carlaw, that is what we should do.

There is also a reference to the “negative impact” of independence, making this—this is what the Tories want—a choice between the UK and the EU. Why? That is utterly inconsistent with the Tories’ argument. The Tories claim that we can have all the benefits of European membership but not be in it, so why would it be different in Scotland? The amendment is absolutely incoherent. It talks about

“the benefits that Brexit may bring” but when the chance was given to them, none could say what those benefits are. It talks about free-trade agreements, yet none could mention what those are to be. The amendment confirms what is in the scribbled notes that were carried out of Downing Street: the Tories intend the hardest of hard Brexits, they intend isolationism and they are determined to ignore Scottish democracy.

This morning, the leader of the Irish Seanad told Nicola Sturgeon before she spoke—as the first serving leader of a Government to speak to the Seanad—that he understands and respects Scotland’s vote to remain in the European Union. Unfortunately, Jackson Carlaw—a Scottish MSP—does not understand or respect the Scottish vote to remain in the European Union.

The choice for Scotland is either to remain in the EU or to be dragged out of it against our will. There is an equally existential choice for the Scottish Tories: speak for people in Scotland and in their constituencies or speak only for their party in London. They cannot do both.