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Culture secretary to face questions over T in the Park aid Culture secretary facing questions over T in the Park aid
(about 7 hours later)
Culture secretary Fiona Hyslop is to appear before a Holyrood committee to explain why the Scottish government gave £150,000 to the T in the Park music festival. Culture secretary Fiona Hyslop is appearing before a Holyrood committee to explain why the Scottish government gave £150,000 to the T in the Park music festival.
Accusations of "cronyism" were made after the MSP approved a grant to help the event move to a new site.Accusations of "cronyism" were made after the MSP approved a grant to help the event move to a new site.
MSPs have questioned why the popular event needed taxpayer funds.MSPs have questioned why the popular event needed taxpayer funds.
Ms Hyslop insisted funding was appropriate, transparent and in line with amounts given to other events.Ms Hyslop insisted funding was appropriate, transparent and in line with amounts given to other events.
A former SNP aide who set up a meeting between Ms Hyslop and festival organisers DF Concerts has since abandoned plans to stand for election.A former SNP aide who set up a meeting between Ms Hyslop and festival organisers DF Concerts has since abandoned plans to stand for election.
Jennifer Dempsie, a former aide to Alex Salmond, was working on a contract for DF Concerts as a festival project manager at the time of the meeting, ahead of the grant being awarded.Jennifer Dempsie, a former aide to Alex Salmond, was working on a contract for DF Concerts as a festival project manager at the time of the meeting, ahead of the grant being awarded.
She had planned to run as a list MSP for the SNP in the Highlands and Islands constituency in the 2016 elections, but decided earlier this month not to take forward her nomination.She had planned to run as a list MSP for the SNP in the Highlands and Islands constituency in the 2016 elections, but decided earlier this month not to take forward her nomination.
Ms Hyslop told the committee that festival bosses had "expressed concern" about the "long term future" of the event, due to the seven-figure cost of moving from Balado to Strathallan, and said there was a risk the festival could have moved away from Scotland.
Conservative MSP Mary Scanlon said the grant was "a done deal" because of Ms Dempsie's "close connections with the SNP", and asked if this was a "fraudulent application".
'Cultural offering'
Ms Hyslop underlined that she met with DF Concerts CEO Geoff Ellis, who she said has no connection with the party.
She said she didn't know that Ms Dempsie had made the original request, noting that she hadn't attended the meeting, although she had met the former party advisor at the SNP conference.
Ms Hyslop said she had been clear right from the start that her interest was in the "longer-term viability of the event", saying "I'm standing up for T in the Park".
She said: "My interest is the economic interest of this country and the cultural offering we have got for generations of young people, and the development of the contemporary music scene in Scotland."
Ms Hyslop said she was told that DF Concerts had been considering changing or moving the event out of Perthshire.
She said: "They said that their shareholders were giving them pressure to move from being a multi-day, multi-stage event.
"They indicated that if they wanted to have the festival in that format, they might have to move out of Scotland."
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie has said any indication of cronyism "degrades integrity in government", while the Conservatives and Labour called for "honesty" ahead of the meeting of the education and culture committee.Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie has said any indication of cronyism "degrades integrity in government", while the Conservatives and Labour called for "honesty" ahead of the meeting of the education and culture committee.
Labour MSP John Pentland said that while T in the Park is "an iconic Scottish cultural event" which should be supported, he said "serious questions" should be asked. A spokeswoman for DF Concerts earlier said there was "nothing secret at all" about the grant, noting that the awards process was "as transparent as it is for any other event or organisation".
He said: "We need some honesty from the SNP government about this £150,000 payment and the extent of the involvement of a former SNP adviser.
"At a time when the SNP government is slashing the budget for local services, people will find it difficult to understand how such a successful company needs an extra £150,000 from the taxpayer."
Scottish Conservative culture spokeswoman Liz Smith added: "If the claim is being made that the future of the festival was in doubt if this money was not paid over, then surely there was a business case presented to support that argument.
"T in the Park is a popular commercial festival. The public deserve honesty and transparency on this issue from the SNP."
Speaking ahead of the hearing, Ms Hyslop said: "The level of funding support provided was in line with the level of funding provided by Scottish government and its bodies to the organisers of other major events such as Edinburgh's Hogmanay, the John Muir Festival, the World Pipe Band Championships, Celtic Connections and the International Book Festival.
"The grant was paid by the Scottish government to DF Concerts and Events on 24 July 2015 and, in line with the Scottish government's firm commitment to openness and transparency and in accordance with state aid rules, details of the award were proactively published on the Scottish government's website on 28 July 2015.
"After looking into the matter carefully and taking advice from the permanent secretary, the first minister has concluded that this issue was handled entirely appropriately.
"The awarding of this funding followed normal procedures and was based solely on the merits of the case following an objective assessment by Scottish government officials. I look forward to answering any questions the committee has."
A spokeswoman for DF Concerts said there was "nothing secret at all" about the grant, noting that the awards process was "as transparent as it is for any other event or organisation".
The festival was staged at Strathallan Castle for the first time this summer, following a move from its long-time home at Balado.The festival was staged at Strathallan Castle for the first time this summer, following a move from its long-time home at Balado.
There were calls for a "major review" after widespread transport problems and delays at the Perthshire site.There were calls for a "major review" after widespread transport problems and delays at the Perthshire site.