The Scottish Parliament’s Education, Culture and Sport Committee this morning announced that it is to hold an urgent inquiry into the funding of Scotland’s national arts companies, including Scottish Opera.

Speaking after today’s meeting, committee convener Mary Mulligan said:

"There has been much recent concern over the current well-being of the arts in Scotland, in particular, that of Scottish Opera. As committee with lead responsibility for culture, our members agreed that, as a matter of some urgency, we should investigate carefully the organisational and financial positions of the national arts companies: Scottish Opera, Scottish Ballet, RSNO and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

"At our next meeting we will formally agree the exact terms of reference of the inquiry as well as asking some early questions of the Minister, Rhona Brankin. We will also take the opportunity to look at proposals for the establishment of a Scottish national theatre.

"Our intention is to complete the inquiry before Christmas, so we shall be extending invitations shortly to key organisations like the Scottish Arts Council, the companies themselves and representatives from relevant trade unions to give their evidence and views to the committee."

Deputy Minister for Culture and Sport, Rhona Brankin, is due to appear before next week’s committee meeting to discuss the national cultural strategy.

The committee also agreed today the topics for two other major inquiries, which will be scheduled around their consideration of the Improvement in Scottish Education Bill.

The inquiries will be:

• a wide ranging investigation into special needs education

• an inquiry into school infrastructure to assess the physical state of Scottish schools, including the impact of the Private Finance Initiative.

Detailed terms of reference for these inquiries will also be agreed shortly.

BACKGROUND NOTE

The committee’s full membership is as follows:

Convener: Mary Mulligan (Lab). Karen Gillon (Lab), Ian Jenkins (LD), Kenneth MacIntosh (Lab), Fiona McLeod (SNP), Brian Monteith (Con), Cathy Peattie (Lab), Michael Russell (SNP), Jamie Stone (LD), Nicola Sturgeon (SNP), Ian Welsh (Lab).