Education, Culture and Sport Committee, 23 Oct 2001

Meeting date: Tuesday, October 23, 2001

Official Report 213KB pdf

---

Scottish Media Group

The other item is the situation with independent television. Representatives of SMG came before the committee when there was the prospect of a trade dispute and we were required to examine what was happening. If the committee remembers correctly, at the end of the matter, the Independent Television Commission made several stipulations to SMG about some of its activities.

Times are very tough for independent television. Besides the fairly obvious falling-away in advertising revenue before 11 September, we must take into account the effects of what happened on 11 September and the growing difficulties within the television sector. Nonetheless, all members will have received a letter from the Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre Union which draws attention to SMG's desire to seek staff redundancies. We are all aware of the concern flagged up in some newspapers about the reduction in regional programming. Scottish Television has indicated that any cuts will neither be as severe as nor be made in the way that people are expecting. The ITC has been at pains to point out that it has not been discussing the cuts with SMG in the way that the newspapers said, because that would be improper behaviour for the regulator.

Even so, the situation in independent television is a cause for concern. Given the committee's interest in television and the fact that we have had similar discussions before, perhaps we should consider whether there is some way that we could discuss matters with SMG. When we previously spoke to SMG, we made a commitment to have the organisation back at some stage. We did not follow through on that.

I agree. Even before I received the letter from BECTU, I was concerned by the stories I was hearing. As the issue is relevant to the committee's role, we need to consider the matter fairly quickly, either by taking evidence or by sending someone to gather information for us.

We have a very full programme between now and Christmas, and will require to dedicate a substantial period of time to the children's commissioner inquiry if we are to do the issue any justice. I am therefore reluctant to factor in any more evidence-taking sessions. Instead, I suggest that we write to both SMG and the ITC to get a better insight into exactly what has been proposed and the ITC's role in the matter. The committee can then consider the responses at a later date and decide what further action, if any, we wish to take.

I agree with that course of action. We have already discussed the structure of the committee's work programme. Although I understand members' concerns about matters that are confronting us, we must be careful about pushing the envelope. If we receive the information that you request, convener, we can make a measured judgment about whether we can fit the issue in. Given that a few members had certain issues that they wanted to pursue, it is only fair to keep to the structure that we all broadly agreed.

Did SMG not offer to give the committee an informal briefing at some stage?

It was put off.

After the convener receives a response to her letters, it might still be possible to arrange an informal briefing with SMG that would not impinge on our formal programme.

I will write to the organisations and come back to committee once I have received responses.