Penny Mordaunt mocked the SNP in the House of Commons yesterday after it was revealed the Scottish Government handed £84,555 to an organisation which produced a sex film.
Mordaunt accused the SNP of "presiding over a six-figure sum of Scottish taxpayers’ money" spent on a "hardcore porn movie".
Arts quango Creative Scotland handed £84,555 from the National Lottery Open Fund to the Rein project. The project recruited actors to participate in "non-simulated" and "hardcore" sex scenes.
Yesterday it was announced that Creative Scotland will withdraw its support from the project and recover its funding after a review into the application was held.
Mordaunt's remarks came after SNP MP Dierdre Brock accused the Conservative Party of "choosing money over morality" when it accepted donations from Frank Hester, who has since been accused of racism.
Speaking at Business Questions in the Commons, Brock said: "Unfortunately, the Leader of the House’s party distinguished itself again this week by choosing money over morality in its grubby handling of the racist comments allegedly made about one of our colleagues in this House.
"At the very least, a debate to re-examine how parties are funded is called for.
"The 'Seven Up!' series was recently deemed to be the most influential television series of the last 50 years.
"Well, 14 years is well and truly up for this terrible Government, but apparently we cannot be put out of our Tory misery yet because their junior Members have debts and need the extra months to build up some reserves.
"Does the Leader of the House agree that that is not much of an excuse?"
Mordaunt hit back: "The hon. Lady asks about sound administration and about money over morality, in a week in which it has been discovered that the Scottish Government have presided over a six-figure sum of Scottish taxpayers’ money being spent on an art installation that promises a 'magical, erotic journey through a distinctly Scottish landscape.'
"That is known to the rest of us as a hardcore porn movie.
Mordaunt's remarks came after SNP MP Dierdre Brock accused the Conservative Party of "choosing money over morality" when it accepted donations from Frank Hester, who has since been accused of racism
PA
"I am glad that the SNP is interested in good governance and improving administration, particularly with reference to Brexit. Let me see how I can help to improve the Scottish Government’s effectiveness in that regard.
"There has been criticism this week that the SNP is blowing taxpayers’ cash on copious embassies and lobbying to rejoin the EU.
"That camper van must be out of the police pound soon, so why not turn it into a mobile embassy that can drive between Brussels and European capitals to lobby for EU membership?
"If the SNP wants to continue funding innovative film projects, perhaps it could double up and ask Cliff Richard to come along and produce a sequel to 'Summer Holiday', which would have the added bonus of cutting down the SNP’s need to blow more taxpayers’ cash on overseas jollies. I am here to help."
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In a statement, Creative Scotland said: "Following a review of the application, assessment, and contractual agreement regarding the project Rein, Creative Scotland has made the decision to withdraw support for this project and will be seeking recovery of funding paid in respect of this award to date.
"What has emerged in the latest phase of the project represents a breach of the conditions of funding award, as the nature of the project has changed. The central role that ‘non-simulated’ (i.e real) sex acts now play in the project, marks a significant change to the nature of the work presented in the original application which was assessed for funding. This significant change to the nature of the work has been evidenced in the most recent announcement on the project’s website, without the agreement of Creative Scotland.
"Creative Scotland makes in the region of 2,000 funding awards each year. We support artists and projects across all art-forms, some of which are challenging in content, and push creative and social boundaries.
"However, Creative Scotland has important responsibilities to the public for the appropriate use of public funding, and, as recipients of that public funding, award recipients also have legal responsibilities as reflected in their funding contract."