Education, Culture and Sport Committee, 22 Feb 2000

Meeting date: Tuesday, February 22, 2000

Official Report 153KB pdf

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Work Programme

Good morning everyone. The first item on the agenda is an update of committee business. Are there any items that committee members wish to raise?

Convener, we had a brief discussion two or three weeks ago about Grampian Television Ltd. There has been some concern in the area of the north of Scotland served by Grampian, particularly in relation to the effect of any changes to the cultural content of broadcasting.

As members will be aware, there have been recent developments. I understand that, on Friday, two of the three producer-directors in the programming section of Grampian were issued with compulsory redundancy notices. That is an industrial relations matter—it is not a matter for us—but it has an impact on the regional and cultural aspects of independent broadcasting in Scotland. On that basis, I would like to seek evidence from Scottish Media Group plc on its policy on those issues. I would also like to inquire what further steps the committee wishes to take, given our discussion a few weeks ago.

Lewis makes an important point. Today, the Scottish Media Group announced its profits—up 9 per cent, at almost £50 million. That happens at the same time as a substantial number of staff, who have contributed to that success, find their jobs threatened. On the issue of the observation of the terms of the broadcasting licence and SMG's undertakings, substantial material evidence has been brought forward by a number of people that many of the licence conditions that SMG has been putting forward are at least refracted, if not totally bent.

It would be useful for us to hear not just from the Scottish Media Group, but from the trade unions, from viewers—who have been writing extensively on this matter—and from the Independent Television Commission. We should consider the issue of regional broadcasting in Scotland, which is a vital part of our culture—we do not want to see it eroded in the way in which it perhaps is being.

I support Lewis and Mike on this matter. We need to take evidence from viewers and from trade unions. I am aware that broadcasting is a reserved matter, but we are talking about important cultural aspects of broadcasting in Scotland. Given that we will be speaking to the BBC soon, we need to look at the wider aspects of broadcasting in Scotland.

I knew that this matter was still live, so I asked Gillian Baxendine, the clerk team leader, to make preliminary inquiries about whether Grampian would attend a committee meeting. Grampian has said that it is more than happy to do so. We will also invite unions and viewers. Grampian has suggested that we await the ITC report, which is due at the beginning of April, before we invite it to discuss the proposals.

I am sure that that would be a good reason for waiting for the ITC report, but there are two separate issues. The first is that it is not just Grampian that we need to talk to; we need to talk to the management of Scottish Media Group. Indeed, one of the key issues is whether Grampian has a distinct identity. The second matter is that there are on-going difficulties, and the longer that we delay on this matter, the greater the impact of those difficulties will be. Lewis has drawn attention to the fact that change is taking place as we speak, so although our time scale is tight, I would hope that the beginning of April would be the latest time at which we would address this matter.

I concur with that. It is important that we move this matter forward as quickly as we can. We should formally ask SMG to speak to us at the earliest possible date to account for its stewardship of the north of Scotland television licence. The beginning of April is within that time frame, but only just.

I wish to add my support to the concerns that have been expressed. The evidence that I have seen is of a move away from broadcasting provision by Grampian Television, which fits in with the perception of many people in the east of Scotland that Scottish Television Ltd is Glasgow television. We seem to be seeing an extension of this Glasgow television company to cover the whole of Scotland. We need to consider greater diversity in provision not just for the north, but for the rest of Scotland, including the south.

I am happy to take all those comments on board and try to arrange meetings with the relevant bodies, if that is agreeable to the committee. We will come back to committee members with suggested dates. The practicality of fitting in meetings has been raised, but we will do our very best to supply those dates as soon as possible, given the committee's concern about the matter.

Could the clerk supply the committee with the wording of its remit on this matter? Although Grampian Television is the primary issue, we cannot examine it without examining the issue of the Scottish licence—it is important that our remit covers both.

Okay, I am happy to do that.

On another matter, convener, members of the travelling community have requested the committee to examine the position of young travellers, particularly on issues such as access to education. Although I know that our timetable is pretty packed, we should try to schedule a discussion on the matter.

I am aware that you have been talking to members of the travelling community, and I am keen to make progress on that issue. Perhaps the two of us can discuss the matter with Gillian Baxendine.

A number of weeks ago, I wrote in my capacity as the Conservative party spokesman on sport to the Minister for Children and Education, Mr Sam Galbraith, about the committee's favourite subject—Hampden. I asked him to confirm or deny reports that the rescue package was running into the sand. Since then, however, I have not had an acknowledgement, never mind a response. As I am greatly concerned about the silence surrounding the whole issue, I wanted to ask whether you as convener had heard any more from the minister, and whether this might be a more appropriate time to ask again for the private briefing with him.

I have not received anything formally from the minister. However, informally, I believe that the receivers are still considering the financial package that will be put on the table. Although the minister has confirmed that he is willing to update us in writing about what stage has been reached, that has not moved very far. However, he has also confirmed that, as soon as he has some news, he is more than willing to discuss it with the committee. The meeting is still on the table, Brian, and will happen as soon as there is something to discuss. It will also give you an opportunity to return to any issues that still need to be clarified.

It is probably worth mentioning that I have more serious concerns about the involvement of the Scottish Football Association in the proposed rescue package. Last week, I was involved in matters concerning the Scottish cup match between Greenock Morton and Rangers—doubts arose about the SFA's willingness to help Queen's Park and its administrators out of difficulty by allowing that game to be played there. Although the SFA has its own procedural reasons for allowing the game to be played at Love Street, I received undercurrents of reports that Hampden's current status and the possibility that funds might be directed to it were playing heavily on the SFA's mind. When we take evidence on the matter, we will also have to question the SFA's role, because we cannot have petty politics disrupting a national stadium.

The best way of proceeding would be to ask the minister to write to us about what stage has been reached in negotiations and what the likely time scale will be. I feel sure that the committee will be happy for me to arrange a meeting as soon as possible without coming back to it.

I want to update the committee on the appointment of an adviser to our inquiry on special educational needs. Dr Julie Allan, from the University of Stirling, has been appointed by the Parliamentary Bureau, and it is proposed that she attend a meeting in March at which we can discuss the inquiry with her. Is that okay?

Members indicated agreement.

Next week, we will consider the draft report on stage 1 of the Standards in Scotland's Schools etc Bill. Do members agree to hold that meeting in private?

Members indicated agreement.