Dorothy Grace Elder in Scotland on Sunday, 6 th December 1998.
'It is important we break away from the narrow concept of local news.'
Donald Dewar, 10 th December 1998.
| 'Donald Dewar deliberately left broadcasting out of the Scotland Bill. And now he lies low at the time when his duty is to stand up and splutter for Scotland' Dorothy Grace Elder in Scotland on Sunday, 6 th December 1998.
'It is important we break away from the narrow concept of local news.' | |
In what was seen by some campaigners as a sop to Scotland, the BBC's board of governors announced that, instead, it would invest £10m in Scottish news and current affairs, with the promise of 50 new jobs.
The move, widely anticipated after the governors admitted they were "not minded" to grant the request, was described as deeply disappointing by the Broadcasting Council for Scotland, but vice-chairman Jim Martin vowed to carry on the fight, saying: "I regard the six o'clock news issue as unfinished business."
Baroness Barbara Young, vice-chair of the BBC board of governors, flew up from London to announce the board's decision in Glasgow. She described the voting among board members as "not unanimous but not that narrow" and said that members had "agonised considerably".
She said the final decision had been reached because: "We felt that we had to take the best decision, not just for news reporting in Scotland, but for the rest of the UK."
Baroness Young claimed she could not remember the cost that had been worked out for a Scottish Six, saying: "Cost was not the issue" and she denied the request for a Scottish Six had been refused because of fears over a lack of journalistic quality, saying: "Of course we trust Scotland's broadcasters."
Governors did not rule out integrated national bulletins in the future and set out factors to be taken into account when the situation is reviewed in 12 months.
The Reverend Norman Drummond, national governor for Scotland, said: "My personal view is that it will one day happen."
Integrated programmes of the kind proposed will be developed for the 10pm slots on digital channel BBC Choice, and the final 15 minutes of BBC2's Newsnight will also be opted out to Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland at 11pm -- up against ITN's forthcoming Nightly News.
An extra £10m is going to BBC Scotland for 50 new specialist journalists to cover the new institutions, £6m to Wales for 40 new jobs and £5m for Northern Ireland, expected to provide 30 new posts.
Network news editors will be appointed for BBC Scotland, Welsh, and Northern Ireland newsrooms to ensure national representation on the main bulletins and all BBC programme makers will be trained in the significance of national differences within Britain.
Scottish Secretary Donald Dewar, recognising that "many people in Scotland will be disappointed by the decision that's been taken", added after yesterday's announcement: "It is vital that BBC Scotland raises its standards and offers proper in depth coverage of the new Scottish Parliament. It is important we break away from the narrow concept of local news."
BBC Scotland Controller John McCormick said that, while he was disappointed that the governors did not support the idea: "Today's announcement of such a substantial package of investment is very exciting for BBC Scotland, as it will provide great new opportunities to strengthen our services to audiences across Scotland.
"The package demonstrates the BBC's serious commitment to devolution and the new Scottish Parliament."
In Wales, the news was welcomed by Roger Jones, the BBC national governor for Wales, who said: "It represents the biggest investment in newsgathering in Wales for decades."
The SNP described the governors' decision as "arrogant and high handed" and condemned the proferred new bulletins and investment as "window dressing".
Scottish Conservative Party leader, David McLetchie, said a poll showed a majority in favour of "real changes".
He said: "By failing to listen to those voices and those of its own staff, I fear they may be making a grave mistake as this could well lead to a rift between London and Scotland -- a rift none of us sought and one which will only be welcomed by the separatists of the SNP."
Scottish Liberal Democrats called it a "classic London Establishment fix-up" and blamed a "control freak tendency" at the BBC.
Professor Lindsay Paterson, who resigned from the Broadcasting Council for Scotland last month over the governors' position, said: "The rejection of the Scottish Six flies in the face of almost unanimous support for it across the political spectrum in Scotland.
"I am astonished and very disappointed that the governors have ignored a very remarkable Scottish consensus. But it doesn't surprise me at all, it's the reason I resigned in the first place."
Details of the governors' decision made sixth position in the national Six O'clock News last night, but the three-minute report was only a quarter of the length of Reporting Scotland's coverage and did not mention that the decision would come under review in 2000. - Dec 11
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