Official Report 103KB pdf
Item 3 is on the work programme. A fairly self-explanatory paper has been circulated on the issue. Since the work programme was drawn up—
Scotland nearly won a rugby match.
That is right.
We do not need an inquiry any more.
We would have won if the game had finished in the first half.
Or even halfway through the second half.
That is right.
We would have got a draw if the game had not started.
Members will note that, since the paper was circulated, the Office of Communications has decided to undertake a review of public service television broadcasting obligations and their impact in the regions and nations. Given that we will be considering the reorganisation of the BBC, I suggest that once we have had a hearing on that issue we should widen the discussion to include the broader issues that are associated with the Ofcom review, which is specifically about the nations and regions. This is the appropriate committee—both from an enterprise and from a culture point of view—to examine the matter. I think that every member of the Parliament has been circulated with information on the Ofcom review. That would seem to be a logical development of our work on the BBC. Is everybody happy with that proposal?
In the South of Scotland region, the Ofcom review for England and Wales directly affects the local broadcaster because Border Television is shared. The whole of the region is likely to be governed by the English Ofcom review rather than by anything that is done up here in Scotland. We must take that into account.
With that proviso, are there any other comments or observations on the work programme?
I am sorry that I will not be here on 22 February.
I take it that Michael Matheson will not be here either.
That is right.
That is when we take evidence on the Scottish Rugby Union and consider the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Bill.
I presume that there will be substitute arrangements.
I am particularly sorry that I will not be here for the discussion on Scottish rugby, which will be very interesting.
We will not ask where the two of you will be; we will just read the Daily Record.
I will not be at the cricket.
Are there any other comments on the work programme? Annex A outlines who is coming from the SRU and so on. Is everybody happy with that?
We now move into private for item 4.
Meeting continued in private until 15:10.
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