Malcolm calls on the First Minister to support a network of local channels

homelocal news scottish parliament speeches about malcolm contact malcolm

Question to the First Minister on local broadcasting channels Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab):
I welcome the report of the always independent Scottish Broadcasting Commission and the proposal for a new Scottish network. Does the First Minister believe that local television services should be linked to the Scottish network proposal, as the report suggests in paragraph 3.5.5? Will he argue strongly to Ofcom that spectrum must be made available for local services? Does he support the idea of a network of local channels that would provide a local dimension to the new Scottish network?

The First Minister: The commission's report contains excellent comment on the local and national opportunities that newly available spectrum will open up, so the general answer to Malcolm Chisholm's question is yes. I am sure that I would be just as fulsome if he was speaking from the front bench. His contribution was an entirely constructive one. October 8th 2008, (Columns 11563)