Asked by: Julian Knight (Independent - Solihull)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to (a) support and (b) protect heritage railways.
Answered by John Whittingdale
The United Kingdom is a true pioneer in the history of railway development, benefiting from the talents of Brunel and Stephenson among many others.
Heritage railways are major contributors to the UK’s visitor economy, attracting around 13 million visitors and bringing an estimated £250 million to the economy each year. More than 3,000 people are employed on heritage railways, with a further 22,000 volunteers generously committing their time and expertise.
The unprecedented Cultural Recovery Fund provided approximately £18 million to heritage railway-related organisations during the COVID-19 pandemic, helping them to reopen safely and continue to welcome visitors. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is also currently undertaking the Local Visitor Economy Partnership accreditation process which will benefit heritage railways by ensuring that local tourist boards work together to boost the visitor economy across the country.
HM Government is engaged in positive discussions with Network Rail and the Heritage Rail Association to discuss their plans for the Rail 200 bicentenary celebrations, to ensure that the historic birth of the UK’s first passenger railway can be properly celebrated. DCMS’s arms-length bodies Historic England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund are also investing in projects that will support the bicentenary.
Specific elements of heritage railway infrastructure are protected through the designation process. For example, signal boxes, stations, bridges can all be listed, and specific embankments, cuttings and so on can be scheduled under heritage protection legislation. In general, entire railways are not designated.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester, Withington)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department plans to review the level of grant-in-aid for heritage institutions, in the context of rises in inflation.
Answered by John Whittingdale
The UK’s heritage institutions play a vital part in our nation's rich history and cultural life.
Just as we supported it through the challenges of the pandemic, HM Government has made support available to mitigate increasing costs for the whole heritage sector, not just those bodies which receive grant-in-aid. The Energy Bills Discount Scheme was implemented from 1 April 2023, a key component of which is the higher level of support being provided to energy and trade-intensive industries. Heritage was recognised as one of these industries and therefore receives a higher level of discount on energy volumes and will be subject to the maximum discount for gas and electricity bills.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport continues to work with its arm’s-length bodies and other Government Departments to support the sector’s resilience – and to deliver the Government’s promise to halve inflation this year to ease the cost of living and give people financial security.
Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the national expansion of the blue plaques scheme on the cultural heritage of Hendon constituency.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The blue plaque scheme plays an important role in championing local cultural heritage, and its expansion will ensure that more places around the country will be able to commemorate local people who made their mark on national (and international) life.
The national expansion will build on the success of the London scheme operated by English Heritage, which covers the Hendon constituency, and which is now more than 1,000 blue plaques strong. The London scheme remains open for nominations via the English Heritage website. There are 19 blue plaques in the London Borough of Barnet, including ones dedicated to the football manager Herbert Chapman, the music hall comedian Little Tich, and Juan Pujol Garcia, also known as Agent Garbo.
Public nominations for the national blue plaques scheme will be launched at the end of May and will invite nominations from people across England to celebrate inspirational figures who deserve commemoration. The scheme, which is being developed and led by Historic England, recognises that every place has a unique story to tell, and will help communities across England discover the history and cultural heritage on our doorsteps.
Asked by: Cameron, Donald (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Highlands and Islands)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-24287 by Christina McKelvie on 17 January 2024, whether there have been any cases of (a) cultural, (b) arts and (c) heritage organisations not abiding by its Intangible Cultural Heritage principles, and, if so, whether it can provide details of this.
Answered by McKelvie, Christina - Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development
The UK Government notified its intention to ratify the UNESCO convention for safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage on 23 December 2023. The Scottish Government will work with the other UK nations alongside key Scottish stakeholders to consider the most appropriate methods of implementing the convention once ratified.
The Scottish Government is unaware of any cases of cultural, arts or heritage organisations which have agreed Intangible Cultural Heritage principles and then not abided by them.
Asked by: Cameron, Donald (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Highlands and Islands)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide details of how it ensures (a) cultural, (b) arts and (c) heritage organisations that are in receipt of grant funding abide by Intangible Cultural Heritage principles.
Answered by McKelvie, Christina - Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development
The general Intangible Cultural Heritage principles of transparent collaboration, open communication, mutual respect and inclusivity are echoed across the Scottish Government, as well as across the work delivered by our public and national bodies.
The Scottish Government delivers support for cultural and heritage organisations through the sponsorship of our public bodies. In turn, Historic Environment Scotland and Creative Scotland deliver grant programmes to support many varied heritage, traditional skills and cultural practices.
Museums Galleries Scotland, the national development body for Scotland’s museum sector, also distributes grant funding for the Scottish Government to support accredited museums in Scotland which can also showcase Intangible Cultural Heritage and living heritage.
Asked by: Cameron, Donald (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Highlands and Islands)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to develop a legal framework regarding Scottish living heritage.
Answered by McKelvie, Christina - Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development
The Scottish Government has no plans at present to develop such a framework for living heritage/ Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Living heritage is protected through the UNESCO 2003 Convention for the Protection and Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. The convention has virtually global coverage, with over 180 nations signed up. However, despite Scottish Government encouragement the UK remained one of a very few countries that had not ratified until the UK Government announced their intention to ratify on 23 December 2023.
The Scottish Government has been a vocal supporter in recognising the intrinsic value of our Intangible Cultural Heritage and is pleased that Scotland already has an online Intangible Cultural Heritage inventory at https://ichscotland.org/ with ongoing collaborative work continuing between Museums Galleries Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland, Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland, Creative Scotland and local communities throughout Scotland.
Going forwards, the Scottish Government will work with the other UK nations alongside key Scottish stakeholders to develop methods to incorporate Scottish living heritage entries into a Scottish list and a UK wide list.
Asked by: Cameron, Donald (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Highlands and Islands)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide details of how it works with community groups to promote Intangible Culture Heritage principles.
Answered by McKelvie, Christina - Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development
The general Intangible Cultural Heritage principles of transparent collaboration, open communication, mutual respect and inclusivity are intrinsic to the way the Scottish Government operates. From the National Performance Framework values to the Programme for Government’s key priorities of equality, opportunity and community, the Scottish Government is committed to transparency and respect as we work with and for all the people of Scotland.
Scotland’s strategy for the Historic Environment “Our Past our Future” sets out a national mission to sustain and enhance the benefits of Scotland’s historic environment, for people and communities both now and into the future. Be that through the Intangible Cultural Heritage of local stories, traditions, rituals, crafts, customs, music, poetry and languages Gaelic, Scots, as well as the languages spoken by Scotland’s migrant communities which are all essential to understanding and passing on our shared living heritage.
However, Intangible Cultural Heritage does not exist independently from the people who create and enact it, and who identify with it. Therefore, it is important that our local communities take the lead to shape our Intangible Cultural Heritage and lead from the ground up to define and share cultural practices and customs.
Asked by: Cameron, Donald (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Highlands and Islands)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide details of how it ensures that (a) schools, (b) colleges and (c) universities promote Intangible Culture Heritage principles in all relevant materials.
Answered by McKelvie, Christina - Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development
Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence provides opportunities across school education for children and young people to deepen their understanding of culture and identity in Scotland (and the wider world) and this can be found in areas such as history, expressive arts, literacy, English and social studies. Within social studies for example is a specific commitment to develop understanding of the history, heritage and culture of Scotland, and an appreciation of local and national heritage within the world.
Colleges operate independently of Government, and as such, it is for them to decide on the shape of their curriculum, taking into account the needs of the region and communities they serve.
Similarly Universities, as autonomous institutions, are responsible for their own course provision and it is for them to decide how to distribute the allocation of funded places between faculties and courses. However the Scottish Government is supportive of post-school provision that promotes Intangible Cultural Heritage principles, such as the Cultural Heritage Futures interdisciplinary degree delivered by the University of Edinburgh.
As the member is aware, the Gaelic and Scots languages contain a wealth of cultural and artistic expression which make an important contribution to Scotland’s diverse linguistic heritage, rich cultural life and to our Intangible Cultural Heritage. These forms of expression are protected and promoted by a number of bodies and institutions in Scottish public life and this support enables schools, colleges and universities to have access to these resources. A wide range of bodies are involved in this task and in relation to Gaelic and Scots, Fèisean nan Gidheal, Tobar an Dualchais, Scots Language Centre and Dictionaries of the Scots Language are among the bodies that have a key role.
Museums Galleries Scotland, the national development body for Scotland’s museum sector, also distributes grant funding provided by the Scottish Government to support accredited museums in Scotland, including those hosted by Scottish universities, which can also showcase living heritage.
May. 07 2024
Source Page: Minister for Europe calls out Russian attempts to erase Ukrainian culture, during UK-German forum for cultural co-operationFound: Minister for Europe calls out Russian attempts to erase Ukrainian culture, during UK-German forum for cultural
Mar. 28 2024
Source Page: Inspiring Connections: Scotland's International Culture StrategyFound: Our unique historic environment is shown in our six World Heritage Sites.