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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Commission looks at broadcasting | Commission looks at broadcasting |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| First Minister Alex Salmond has announced a commission to look into Scottish broadcasting. | First Minister Alex Salmond has announced a commission to look into Scottish broadcasting. |
| He called for the Scottish Parliament to be given powers over the area, currently reserved to Westminster. | He called for the Scottish Parliament to be given powers over the area, currently reserved to Westminster. |
| The UK government warned that creating a "Scottish Broadcasting Corporation" was a backward-looking proposal. | The UK government warned that creating a "Scottish Broadcasting Corporation" was a backward-looking proposal. |
| Blair Jenkins, a former head of news at BBC Scotland, will chair the commission on which former Labour First Minister Henry McLeish will also serve. | Blair Jenkins, a former head of news at BBC Scotland, will chair the commission on which former Labour First Minister Henry McLeish will also serve. |
| Speaking at an event at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, the first minister said the commission would have a broad remit and would combine "substantial industry experience with a broad spectrum of political opinion". | Speaking at an event at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, the first minister said the commission would have a broad remit and would combine "substantial industry experience with a broad spectrum of political opinion". |
| Denying Scots access to the world's most respected broadcaster by creating a parochial and narrow Scottish Broadcasting Corporation is a backward-looking proposal David CairnsScotland Office minister Brian Taylor's blog class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=7091&edition=1">Your views | |
| Mr Salmond said the long-running debate over a separate BBC six o'clock news programme for Scotland was only "shorthand" for a much wider debate which had to be conducted. | Mr Salmond said the long-running debate over a separate BBC six o'clock news programme for Scotland was only "shorthand" for a much wider debate which had to be conducted. |
| He said the most pressing issue was a dramatic cut in television production in Scotland in recent years and described the industry's desire to see the BBC and STV spending 9% of their budgets in Scotland as a "floor not a ceiling". | He said the most pressing issue was a dramatic cut in television production in Scotland in recent years and described the industry's desire to see the BBC and STV spending 9% of their budgets in Scotland as a "floor not a ceiling". |
| The first minister also criticised television chiefs for claiming an average spend of 3% was due to a lack of talent and ideas. | The first minister also criticised television chiefs for claiming an average spend of 3% was due to a lack of talent and ideas. |
| Read Alex Salmond's Speech in full (external link) | Read Alex Salmond's Speech in full (external link) |
| Mr Salmond said: "It was a previous BBC director general, Greg Dyke, who championed the cause of greater ethnic diversity at the BBC, an organisation which he famously and controversially once described as hideously white. | Mr Salmond said: "It was a previous BBC director general, Greg Dyke, who championed the cause of greater ethnic diversity at the BBC, an organisation which he famously and controversially once described as hideously white. |
| "It's not just whether the BBC is hideously white but whether it's also still hideously White City, believing that talent and wisdom reside only in West London." | "It's not just whether the BBC is hideously white but whether it's also still hideously White City, believing that talent and wisdom reside only in West London." |
| Mr Salmond also said he would be seeking meetings with the main UK broadcasters in a bid to "reverse the steep decline" in network spending on Scottish productions. | Mr Salmond also said he would be seeking meetings with the main UK broadcasters in a bid to "reverse the steep decline" in network spending on Scottish productions. |
| "We want to ensure editorial and creative control is exercised in Scotland on behalf of Scottish audiences," he said. | "We want to ensure editorial and creative control is exercised in Scotland on behalf of Scottish audiences," he said. |
| Alex Salmond raised concern over cuts in TV production | Alex Salmond raised concern over cuts in TV production |
| Earlier at the event, the broadcaster and actress Elaine C Smith claimed Scotland was not well served by current broadcasting arrangements. | Earlier at the event, the broadcaster and actress Elaine C Smith claimed Scotland was not well served by current broadcasting arrangements. |
| But David Cairns, minister of state at the Scotland Office, said Mr Salmond was "clearly out of touch". | But David Cairns, minister of state at the Scotland Office, said Mr Salmond was "clearly out of touch". |
| "Denying Scots access to the world's most respected broadcaster by creating a parochial and narrow Scottish Broadcasting Corporation is a backward-looking proposal which will command little public support," he said. | "Denying Scots access to the world's most respected broadcaster by creating a parochial and narrow Scottish Broadcasting Corporation is a backward-looking proposal which will command little public support," he said. |
| Mr Cairns said he had sought assurances on an increase in Scottish programming "from the highest levels of the BBC in Scotland". | Mr Cairns said he had sought assurances on an increase in Scottish programming "from the highest levels of the BBC in Scotland". |
| Scottish Tory culture spokesman Ted Brocklebank said there was a legitimate concern that Scotland was not getting a fair share of national broadcast funding. | Scottish Tory culture spokesman Ted Brocklebank said there was a legitimate concern that Scotland was not getting a fair share of national broadcast funding. |
| However, Mr Brocklebank, a former Grampian Television head of news and current affairs, said: "Nobody is fooled by Alex Salmond's demand that the Scottish Parliament be given a regulatory role over broadcasting, whilst having no control over editorial policy. | However, Mr Brocklebank, a former Grampian Television head of news and current affairs, said: "Nobody is fooled by Alex Salmond's demand that the Scottish Parliament be given a regulatory role over broadcasting, whilst having no control over editorial policy. |
| "Influencing editorial policy is precisely the ultimate goal of the separatists." | "Influencing editorial policy is precisely the ultimate goal of the separatists." |
| 'Major investment' | 'Major investment' |
| Liberal Democrat culture spokesman Iain Smith MSP welcomed the prospect of a serious debate about the future of broadcasting in Scotland. | Liberal Democrat culture spokesman Iain Smith MSP welcomed the prospect of a serious debate about the future of broadcasting in Scotland. |
| But he warned: "It is, however, important to recognise the considerable advantages that Scotland has from access to the BBC and other UK-wide broadcasters." | But he warned: "It is, however, important to recognise the considerable advantages that Scotland has from access to the BBC and other UK-wide broadcasters." |
| A spokesman for BBC Scotland said it welcomed any debate on broadcasting as it believed it already contributed significantly to the Scottish economy. | A spokesman for BBC Scotland said it welcomed any debate on broadcasting as it believed it already contributed significantly to the Scottish economy. |
| He said: "We are about to open our new £188m state-of-the-art headquarters at Pacific Quay in Glasgow - the most sophisticated digital production centre in Europe - and it will benefit not just BBC Scotland but the entire broadcasting industry. | He said: "We are about to open our new £188m state-of-the-art headquarters at Pacific Quay in Glasgow - the most sophisticated digital production centre in Europe - and it will benefit not just BBC Scotland but the entire broadcasting industry. |
| "Our Network TV commissions are set to increase with £50m investment forecast for the coming year and further growth planned for 2008/2009, while our overall investment for Scottish output remains strong. | "Our Network TV commissions are set to increase with £50m investment forecast for the coming year and further growth planned for 2008/2009, while our overall investment for Scottish output remains strong. |
| "The decision to make this major investment is a sign of the BBC's confidence in the strength and ability of the creative community in Scotland." | "The decision to make this major investment is a sign of the BBC's confidence in the strength and ability of the creative community in Scotland." |
| The spokesman said BBC Scotland worked closely with local theatre companies, with a new radio drama studio within Pacific Quay, and was developing new comedy writing. | The spokesman said BBC Scotland worked closely with local theatre companies, with a new radio drama studio within Pacific Quay, and was developing new comedy writing. |