§ Mrs. Ewingasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what Government grants are available to assist publication of works of Scottish literature; and how much has been expended in such grants in each of the last three years.
§ Mr. RossThe Scottish Arts Council made grants of £775 in 1966–67 and £2,775 in 1967–68 and has so far offered grants of £4,750 in 1968–69 to assist the publication of Scottish literary periodicals and poetry, as well as giving bursaries to individual writers. Under schemes of Publication Awards to Scottish authors and of Grants to Publishers introduced in 1968 to encourage the publication of Scottish works of literary merit, the council has so far made awards and grants totalling about £3,000. Scottish authors may also receive assistance under the scheme of maintenance grants operated by the Arts Council of Great Britain to supplement publishers' advances to authors of works of outstanding quality.
389WIn addition, I am making a grant-in-aid of £5,000 a year for four years from 1st October, 1968, to Glasgow University to enable it, on the advice of a specially appointed Gaelic Books Council, to give financial support for the publication of new and original works in Gaelic. The work of the Gaelic Books Council will also be assisted by the Scottish Arts Council.