§ Mr. Allan StewartTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to publish the policy review of the Scottish Film Council; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythCopies of this review, along with the implementation plan authorised by the Secretary of State, are being placed in the Library. We have accepted the major recommendation of the review that the Scottish Film Council should be established as a fully independent non-departmental public body. The separate status of the Scottish Film Council will enable it better to secure private sector support and sponsorship for film in Scotland, to supplement the substantial resources already made available by the Government. We are consulting those directly interested about the arrangements for achieving this with full effect from April 1990. I am confident that the new arrangements will provide a secure foundation for the maintenance and development of the distinctive Scottish contribution to film.