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Question Time
SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Enterprise, Lifelong Learning and Transport
Glasgow School of Art
To ask the Scottish
Executive what plans it has to help the Glasgow School of Art to develop
and to continue to provide a first-class education for art students.
(S2O-8207)
Mr
Kenneth Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab):
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to help the Glasgow
School of Art to develop and to continue to provide a first-class
education for art students. (S2O-8207)
The Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning (Allan Wilson):
In 2005-06, the Glasgow School of Art's total funding from the Scottish
Higher Education Funding Council rose to more than £9.5 million. That
included capital funding from the learning and teaching infrastructure
fund.
Mr Macintosh:
Is the minister aware of the difficulties that the school is
experiencing in operating from its current campus buildings? Is he aware
of the school's well-thought-out plans to develop on its current site
and of the capital expenditure that that would require? As can be
imagined, the minister's advice on and support for any such development
would be warmly welcomed. As a first step towards offering advice and
support, will he take the opportunity to visit the school and to see why
the investment would be good for our future, our pupils' future and the
institution's international standing?
Allan Wilson:
I will take the last point first. I do not want to incur the wrath of my
good friend and colleague the Minister for Justice by not agreeing to go
to her alma mater. I look forward to that visit. Perhaps we can take in
the Abram Games exhibition at the same time.
The Glasgow School of Art plays an important role in developing our
culture in Scotland and I am aware of its plans for rationalising its
estate. The £148 million that we have allocated for such purposes is
designed to transform rather than maintain the higher educational
estate. I look forward to joining my colleague on a visit to the Glasgow
School of Art.
Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD):
Kenny Macintosh and I share the job of being in charge of the works of
art coming to the Parliament. Will the minister use his good offices to
encourage the Glasgow School of Art to get its excellent work into the
Parliament, which could be a showcase putting the work of the school in
the public eye.
Allan Wilson:
I do not know whether the school still displays any of the works of my
good friend and colleague the Minister for Justice. I had a very
productive relationship with the Glasgow School of Art before I came to
the Parliament and I look forward to renewing the acquaintance. I will
raise the matters that Mr Stone raises when Ken Macintosh and I meet
representatives of the school. That might help to swell the exhibition
of art that we already have in the Parliament.
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