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BBC Scotland announces job cuts | BBC Scotland announces job cuts |
(about 1 hour later) | |
BBC Scotland is to cut 210 posts over the next five years to save money, it has been announced. | |
It is proposed that 130 new jobs will be created over the same period, resulting in a net loss of 80 posts. | |
The National Union of Journalists voiced shock at the scale of the cuts and called for "maximum consultation". | |
First Minister Alex Salmond described the cuts as "drastic", while the Tories and Labour warned against a loss of quality in programmes and output. | |
Director General Mark Thompson said about 2,500 cuts were being made across the UK as the BBC attempts to plug a £2bn funding shortfall. | Director General Mark Thompson said about 2,500 cuts were being made across the UK as the BBC attempts to plug a £2bn funding shortfall. |
The cuts are on top of 32 posts which will go in Scotland over the year as part of current value for money plans. | |
At the end of the five-year period, BBC Scotland will be smaller, but more efficient Ken MacQuarrieBBC Scotland controller | At the end of the five-year period, BBC Scotland will be smaller, but more efficient Ken MacQuarrieBBC Scotland controller |
The new posts will be created following investment in news and current affairs and a significant expansion of web-based content. | The new posts will be created following investment in news and current affairs and a significant expansion of web-based content. |
BBC Scotland also hopes to co-launch a new Gaelic service. | BBC Scotland also hopes to co-launch a new Gaelic service. |
A less than expected licence fee settlement has resulted in BBC Scotland looking for 3% annual savings over the next five years, in line with the rest of the BBC. | A less than expected licence fee settlement has resulted in BBC Scotland looking for 3% annual savings over the next five years, in line with the rest of the BBC. |
About 20 posts will go in the Network output, but more new jobs are likely to offset these as new Network output is commissioned. | |
The overall number of redundancies is likely to be between 150 and 160 over the five-year period. | |
Staff in Scotland were told of the changes by controller Ken MacQuarrie at the broadcaster's new Scottish headquarters at Pacific Quay, Glasgow. | |
Mr MacQuarrie said: "At the end of the five-year period, BBC Scotland will be smaller, but more efficient - and offer better value to licence fee payers. | Mr MacQuarrie said: "At the end of the five-year period, BBC Scotland will be smaller, but more efficient - and offer better value to licence fee payers. |
ROAD TO THE BBC SHAKE-UP January - Government raises licence fee by 3%, less than the hoped for settlementMarch - Mark Thompson says BBC faces 'tough choices ahead' due to settlementMay - New trust chairman Sir Michael Lyons (pictured) says a debate about how the licence fee is used should be openedAugust - Sir Michael says the BBC may 'do less' to meet a budget shortfallOctober - Mark Thompson's strategy for the BBC's future is approved | ROAD TO THE BBC SHAKE-UP January - Government raises licence fee by 3%, less than the hoped for settlementMarch - Mark Thompson says BBC faces 'tough choices ahead' due to settlementMay - New trust chairman Sir Michael Lyons (pictured) says a debate about how the licence fee is used should be openedAugust - Sir Michael says the BBC may 'do less' to meet a budget shortfallOctober - Mark Thompson's strategy for the BBC's future is approved |
"This is a tough and challenging period - but we're better placed than ever to produce the distinctive, high quality programming for audiences, wherever and whenever they want it." | "This is a tough and challenging period - but we're better placed than ever to produce the distinctive, high quality programming for audiences, wherever and whenever they want it." |
He insisted that a balance of investment and efficiency could provide huge opportunities for Scotland. | He insisted that a balance of investment and efficiency could provide huge opportunities for Scotland. |
BBC Scotland is awaiting Trust approval to create more regional news, expand web content and launch a new Gaelic service and hopes to attract new business to Glasgow - which has the largest studio in the UK outside London. | BBC Scotland is awaiting Trust approval to create more regional news, expand web content and launch a new Gaelic service and hopes to attract new business to Glasgow - which has the largest studio in the UK outside London. |
It is hoped the new facilities at Pacific Quay should also help win more Network output. | It is hoped the new facilities at Pacific Quay should also help win more Network output. |
The Scottish cutbacks come two years after the axing of almost 200 jobs. | The Scottish cutbacks come two years after the axing of almost 200 jobs. |
More than a quarter of those cuts have still to be made. | More than a quarter of those cuts have still to be made. |
Some 64 posts are outstanding, though agreements have been made on half that number, BBC Scotland said. | Some 64 posts are outstanding, though agreements have been made on half that number, BBC Scotland said. |
Inflated sums | Inflated sums |
Mr Salmond said: "These are drastic cuts affecting the BBC. | Mr Salmond said: "These are drastic cuts affecting the BBC. |
"They are particularly difficult in Scotland as the job losses are from a much lower staffing base compared to programmes centred in London. | "They are particularly difficult in Scotland as the job losses are from a much lower staffing base compared to programmes centred in London. |
"The danger is that BBC Scotland will have a shiny new battleship of a building in Pacific Quay but nobody manning the boiler-room." | "The danger is that BBC Scotland will have a shiny new battleship of a building in Pacific Quay but nobody manning the boiler-room." |
Labour's culture spokesman, Malcolm Chisholm, said: "I expect redundancies to be voluntary and Scottish Labour will be very concerned if these job losses affect the quality of broadcasting in Scotland or indeed regional output in any way." | |
Conservative culture spokesman Ted Brocklebank said: "I do genuinely think it is ridiculous that Scottish broadcasters and other staff will lose their jobs at a time when the BBC sees fit to pay out vastly inflated sums to so-called star network presenters." | |
Alistair Carmichael , the Liberal Democrats' shadow Scottish secretary, said: "The BBC is in an impossible position caused by the government's below inflation licence fee settlement and its insistence that the corporation pays for digital switchover." | |
'Maximum consultation' | |
The National Union of Journalists' Scottish organiser, Paul Holleran, said: "There's a lot of concern about the numbers affecting Scotland. | |
"People are a bit shocked at the scale and, I think, angry about at the way the government and the BBC have handled the licence fee deal. | |
"The need for these savings is obviously tied to the settlement." | |
Responding to reports that strike action could follow, he said: "People are obviously concerned that there may be compulsory redundancies and that will always trigger strike action. | |
"But what all the unions involved are saying is that these changes need to be discussed in detail. | |
"At the moment we're looking for maximum consultation." |