SNP under fire over arts merger 'chaos'

THE Scottish Government was yesterday accused of incompetence over its handling of the merger of the country's main arts bodies.

Linda Fabiani, the culture minister, came under pressure amid claims that set-up costs for Creative Scotland were spiralling, and that MSPs' concerns were being ignored.

The SNP's flagship Creative Scotland Bill – intended to merge the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen – was defeated in June after some MSPs said they were being misled over financial implications.

The government now intends to set up the cultural body via the forthcoming Public Services Reform Bill.

Iain Smith, a Liberal Democrat MSP, said: "The uncertainty and confusion over the future of Creative Scotland is entirely the result of the incompetence of this government."

The exchange was sparked by a question raised in parliament by the Labour MSP Rhona Brankin asking if reports of a £7 million increase in set-up costs were true.

Ms Fabiani said: "We are right now working on the transition costs and these will, of course, be presented to parliament at the appropriate time."