Edinburgh International
Book Festival (Viability)
Maggie Chapman (North East
Scotland) (Green)
Baillie Gifford holds billions of pounds' worth of investments in
fossil fuel industries and in companies with links to Israel's occupation and its
genocide of Palestinians. Fossil Free Books is a collective of
more than 800 book workers, including authors and illustrators,
whose campaign seeks to persuade Baillie Gifford to divest from
those destructive companies. Members will recall how Baillie
Gifford divested from Russian firms in 2022, in response to
political pressure.
Will the cabinet secretary join me in recognising the work of
Fossil Free Books and applauding it in its aim of highlighting
how cultural events and institutions are used to launder
corporate reputations? Does he share its vision?
The Cabinet Secretary for
Constitution, External Affairs and Culture ()
As the member does, I have concerns about climate change, and I
have very severe concerns about what has been happening to
Israeli hostages and to the
people of Gaza. However, I do not think that disinvestment from
cultural events such as the Edinburgh international book festival
furthers those aims. It should be the aim of everybody involved
that we have ethical support, ethical philanthropy and ethical
giving. I know that Baillie Gifford is committed to that, and I
know that the festivals are committed to it. We need to find a
way of giving assurance to people who are concerned about issues
such as climate change and the situation in Gaza, but we need to
do that in a way that does not fundamentally undermine our arts
and culture sector.
Humanitarian Aid
(Gaza)
7. Kevin Stewart (Aberdeen
Central) (SNP)
To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to its humanitarian
aid funding, what discussions it has had with the United Kingdom
Government regarding the distribution of humanitarian aid to
Gaza, in light of recent developments including Ireland's,
Spain's and Norway's recognition of the state of Palestine.
(S6O-03627)
The Cabinet Secretary for
Constitution, External Affairs and Culture ()
We have continued to urge the United Kingdom Government since
October 2023 to use its influence to ensure that the barriers to
aid getting into and distributed throughout Gaza, which are in
contravention of international humanitarian law, are removed.
We have also called for the UK Government to recognise the state
of Palestine, end the licensing of arms exports to Israel and reinstate funding
for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency. It is now
critical that all parties step up their efforts to agree to the
ceasefire deal that has been tabled by the United States, so that
the unimaginable suffering that is being caused by the conflict
can finally end.
Kevin Stewart
Will the cabinet secretary outline whether he shares the view
that distribution of humanitarian aid to Gaza would be easier if
Palestine was recognised by all of the international community as
an independent state?
The cabinet secretary has given us a flavour of the asks that he
has already made of the UK Government. Can he outline what the
Scottish Government's will ask of the new UK Government in
relation to Gaza and Palestine?
The distribution of humanitarian aid to Gaza could be more
efficient and effective if Palestine were universally recognised
as an independent state, because that would facilitate more
robust diplomatic relations and establish clear legal frameworks
for the operation of international agencies. It could also
provide a Palestinian state with more control over its borders
and open the door for direct development aid and investment from
other countries.
We will continue to push the next UK Government to use its
influence to bring about an immediate ceasefire, the release of
all hostages and unfettered access for humanitarian aid going
into Gaza.
