Portfolio Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament am ar 24 Ebrill 2024.
Willie Coffey
Scottish National Party
To ask the Scottish Government what its policy is for public service broadcasting in an independent Scotland. (S6O-03328)
Jamie Hepburn
Scottish National Party
In continuing to deliver on our commitment to give people the information that they need to make an informed choice about their future, we set out our policy for broadcasting in the “Culture in an independent Scotland” paper that we published in February.
With independence, we would build on the strengths of the current broadcasting model, including through the creation of a new Scottish public service broadcaster, to better reflect and prioritise the specific needs and interests of Scottish audiences and our creative economy. On-going engagement and consultation with the sector and the public would be part of that process.
Willie Coffey
Scottish National Party
I am sure that the Minister will agree that Scotland is not served well on the international stage by the current broadcasting model. With our national broadcaster—unlike what happens with many other national broadcasters, some of which are for countries no bigger than Scotland—we neither see nor hear our voice represented on the world stage from a Scottish perspective. In my view, the Scottish people are losing out significantly. Will the minister share some thinking on how that will change for the better when Scotland becomes independent?
Jamie Hepburn
Scottish National Party
It is important that we recognise that there is still much good that comes from broadcasting that is based in Scotland. However, I agree that, with an independent public service broadcaster, which we would ensure was editorially independent of Government and adhered to the highest standards of impartiality, we would have a significant opportunity to ensure that we would see the world better reflected through a Scottish lens. Any charter for an independent Scottish broadcaster could help to ensure that. As I have set out, we have made a commitment to engage in consultation with the sector and with the public to ensure that we can reach that ambition for an independent Scottish public service broadcaster.
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