Extract from Scottish Parliament question time: Culture, Tourism and External Affairs - Jun 18

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of any action being taken to ensure that the Edinburgh festivals do not experience the same difficulties as last year regarding complex visa rules faced by some artists. (S5O-03399)

At the end of last month, I was pleased to close the members’ business debate on the important topic of visa issues for festivals. For the benefit of those who were not in the chamber on that day, I repeat that I have written to the Home Secretary as well as to other ministers, inviting their attendance at an international festivals visa summit here, in Edinburgh. I have reiterated that a better solution for visiting artists, performers and others must be integral to any future immigration system.

The United Kingdom Government’s current visa application process for visitors who come to Scotland for our festivals is lengthy and complex, and there is a catalogue of examples of poor decision making. The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that Scotland’s voice and that of our internationally renowned festivals is heard in the discussion on the future immigration system.

I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer and for her efforts to address the problem. The issue needs to be addressed for the long term. Will the cabinet secretary join me in calling on the UK Government to make the visa process for this year’s festivals more transparent and to allow festival organisers a chance to put any errors or omissions right before a visa refusal is received?

I will, indeed. We have reminded the Home Office that it needs to address that for this year, not just for future years. The member will have heard about the real concern of two Indian artists who have come as part of a UK-India cultural exchange programme, which was set up by the UK Government with funding from the British Council, Creative Scotland and the Scottish Government. Paragon, a charity that promotes Scottish inclusive music and dance, was involved in that particular programme.

The galling thing is that the artists’ non-disabled colleagues from the charitable foundation in Chennai, who were travelling to Glasgow with them to support them, were granted entry without any trouble but the two young artists were not. We are looking into the issue and we are asking the Home Office to look into it. As of now, and as of this weekend, we are continuing to see the issues that are faced by cultural artists who want to come and perform here. They should be made welcome, and we should celebrate our international musical connections. The Home Office really must pay special attention to those issues this year.