Tiffany Jenkins' inaccurate and misleading comment piece on museums and galleries (Opinion, 7 October) needs to be corrected. The Public Services Reform (PSR) Bill does not give Scottish ministers the power to sell parts of Scotland's national collections.
Our national galleries and museums exist to preserve and safeguard the national collections and to hold them in trust for the nation. I have given categorical assurance that the order-making powers under section 10 of the PSR bill cannot be used to
undermine that purpose.
I am aware of concerns that have been raised in some quarters, including by some of the national cultural collection bodies, and have discussed the matter with them and made these assurances. I have also stated this position to the Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee during my evidence session on the PSR bill – which is a matter of record.
I have also been resolutely clear that the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Bill provides solid protection for the arm's-length principle that is rightly valued by our cultural community. This means that ministers will not be able to use the powers in the bill to give direction on artistic or cultural judgment – so, essentially, there is no change to the current position.
The order-making power in the bill provides an alternative procedure to primary legislation so that improvements can be made to public functions. Ministers cannot, however, do anything without prior consultation with interested parties, parliamentary scrutiny and parliamentary approval. I am absolutely certain that the national galleries' core function of preserving and safeguarding the national collections and holding them in trust for the nation will in no way be affected by the order-making powers.
MICHAEL RUSSELL MSP
Minister for culture
Scottish Parliament 