The Bookseller.com

1st December 2008

Fannin defends Publishing Scotland

07.05.08 Jo Young

Publishing Scotland chief executive Lorraine Fannin has strongly rejected public criticism of the trade body after Birlinn, one of the four largest book publishers in Scotland, resigned its membership and hit out at the organisation's "appalling" spending of its public grant.

Speaking to The Bookseller Fannin insisted that Publishing Scotland had the overwhelming support of publishers in Scotland. "There is zero correlation between us getting extra money and the block grant being cut. It comes from different funds. As to publishers objecting to our receiving and spending of public funds, none have complained to us about it, and many have written to me about the benefits they've got from their membership over the years," she said.

Birlinn c.e.o. Hugh Andrew criticised the organisation's "appalling" spending of its public grant, which is set to increase. In 2009 Publishing Scotland will receive an additional £60,000 on top of its annual £200,000 budget from the Scottish Arts Council (SAC). Meanwhile the annual block grant given to publishers by the SAC was cut by £100,000 this year.

Andrew added: "It is reprehensible that the block grant has been cut while Publishing Scotland has been promised an extra £60,000. If you're dealing with a finite budgetary arrangement, it's fair to say that [the SAC] is cutting one and paying the other. What I object to is how the Arts Council allocates its funds poorly and refuses to accept proper financial accountability."

Derek Rodger, the m.d. of Argyll Publishing, who resigned from Publishing Scotland two years ago over a similar dispute over funding, agreed. "Should money that is meant to go to the arts be given to a trade association? I'd say not. I believe that the funding available should go to the writers."

A membership list on Publishing Scotland's website, updated earlier this week, lists 68 publishers.

Birlinn Home Hugh Andrew Jo Young Publishing Scotland

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