Malcolm defends children's rights to a good musical education
Children's access to music suffers underSNP
Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab):
Willthe minister tell us even one way in which children's access to music provisionhas improved in the past year? Is it not the case that cultural co-ordinators,who are vital to widening access, are being run down and will be axed? In Edinburgh,is not the council's SNP coalition administration depriving children of opportunitiesto access and enjoy Scottish Ballet and Scottish Opera? We welcome the continuationof the youth music initiative, but is not its budget flatlining in cash termsand therefore declining in real terms?
LindaFabiani:
It is interesting that I am beingasked all those questions when I am the first minister with responsibility forculture and the arts in Scotland to try to map the provision of music in outreach,education and other activity throughout the country. That has never been donebefore. Provision has been piecemeal. For the first time, our national companiesare letting us know what work they do, so that we can see how to use them tobest advantage.
May 22nd 2008, (Columns 8928)