DOUGLAS Ross clashed with Scotland’s Culture Secretary as he grilled the minister on a row after public funds were awarded to an explicit sex film.
Speaking at the Scottish Affairs Committee, Angus Robertson refused to be drawn on the controversy on Monday morning saying it fell outwith the terms of the committee’s inquiry into relations between Holyrood and Westminster.
It comes after Creative Scotland said it was reviewing a decision to fund a film called Rein, which was promoted as featuring unsimulated sex, saying the project was “considerably more explicit” than first thought.
READ MORE: Scottish arts body to review funding award to 'explicit' sex show
Ross said: “What is your view on the £85,000 of National Lottery funding that was given by Creative Scotland to this project, which has been rightly, widely criticised. I wonder what involvement have you had since […] about the oversight of Creative Scotland?”
Roberston said Ross’s question did not relate to the terms of the committee’s inquiry, which is focused on examining relationships between the UK and Scottish governments.
But Ross interjected, saying: “This is quite a serious issue.”
Committee chair Pete Wishart (below) expressed concern it had “not that much to do” with the focus of the session, to which Robertson replied: “Well it’s got nothing to do with intergovernmental relations, whatsoever.
“But I’m trying to answer the question within the context of my invitation to this committee.
“I think both England and Scotland operate systems where they have independent funding bodies that fund applications for financial support and if there are any lessons that need to be drawn from independent arms-length organisations I would be happy to share that with colleagues elsewhere in the UK, or anywhere else.”
Ross then asked for the Cabinet Secretary’s “immediate reaction” to the story when it emerged in the press at the weekend.
Robertson said: “Answering the question in relation to the intergovernmental space, which is the reason that I am before this committee, is I have had no interest shared whatsoever in terms of how Scotland’s creative and cultural sector is funded and if they wish to do so I’d be happy to do that at the interministerial group, which the UK Government has never, ever allowed to be formed.”
READ MORE: Douglas Ross accuses BBC Scotland of 'ultimatum' after he cancelled interview
Elsewhere in the session, Robertson lay the blame for the breakdown in relations between the Scottish Government and Westminster entirely with the UK Government – a position he said was mirrored by the devolved government in Wales.
He said: “I underscore this and I will underscore this repeatedly, it is exactly the same position as the Welsh Labour government and to the point, it’s not about the fact that my party in Government supports independence – the Welsh Labour Party doesn’t support Welsh independence.
“But it shares our position as the legion of quotes that you will have had from [Welsh First Minister] Mark Drakeford downwards in relation to this UK Government’s approach to devolution in general but specifically on the workings of the Internal Market Act should put to bed any sense that there’s an issue of equidistance in this.
“It’s a matter that is shared equally strongly by the Welsh and Scottish governments and unfortunately the blame lies fullsquare and entirely with the UK Government.”
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