 The next item of business is a debate on motion 4287, in the name of Jackson Carlaw, on the new BBC Scotland digital channel. May I ask those who wish to speak to press the request to speak buttons? Can I tell you, but already pushed for time, short of time, so it will be quite strict. I call on Jackson Carlaw to speak to and move the motion up to eight minutes, please, Mr Carlaw. Presiding Officer, may I firstly move the motion in my name? Last week, Lord Hall, the director general of the BBC, successfully achieved a feat no chancellor or finance secretary has managed in the last 25 years of budgets. He produced a surprise and he managed to keep it a secret. It caught some politicians, commentators and broadcasters flat-footed. It certainly bamboozled a Mr, let me get the name right, a Mr John Nicholson, who postures as the SNP's culture spokesman, albeit I understand he is an MP at Westminster. In the hours before the announcement he rushed in where angels feared to tread and boomed that this multimillion-pound investment by the BBC, quote, demonstrated an extraordinary lack of ambition and commitment to Scotland. For the sake of clarification, I urge Fiona Hyslop in her speech this afternoon to confirm that notwithstanding Mr Nicholson's ambitions, she remains the SNP culture spokesman. That culture is indeed devolved to this Parliament and I want to assure her that this party will fight, fight and fight again to prevent the seizing of control of Scottish culture by the SNP at Westminster, the most grievous assault on our powers in 20 years of devolution. The surprise at the heart of Lord Hall's announcement, of course, was the announcement of a new BBC Scotland digital channel from the autumn of 2018. However, the announcement also led to rest, the long-running discussion regarding a Scottish Six. Last September at the Edinburgh Policy Conference in the TV market in Scotland, I made clear that Scottish Conservatives were not opposed to such a broadcast in principle, but that it faced various difficult challenges. Firstly, the not inconsiderable fact that the public, in all published expressions of opinion, declared that they were content with the current national UK broadcast at six, with reporting Scotland following on afterwards. Both these programmes are popular with viewers. Indeed, reporting Scotland is the most consistently watched Scottish news programme, even if some like me might prefer the and finally slot to commence a little later than 25 to 7. Secondly, the horrendous experience of experimenting with the national news at six a generation ago with the programme 60 Minutes, an unmitigated failure with which Lord Hall was himself associated, which did huge reputational damage to the BBC, for which it took some time to recover, a risk that we simply cannot afford at the present time. Thirdly, the fact that a Scottish Six may well have reduced the coverage of Scottish news in the rest of the UK at the six o'clock news bulletin, which would inevitably have been detrimental to our interests. Finally, and this has been represented to me by many of my elderly constituents, the fact that, for many, the national news at six is their principal source of daily broadcasting news. Like all sensible people, they are tucked up in their beds with a good book by 10 o'clock. While nationalists saw the whole issue through the prism or even the prism of evangelical arguments about independence, we and others judged it against the challenges that would have prevented and presented, and speak on behalf of the vast majority of viewers across Scotland who fully support and welcome the decision of Lord Hall to maintain a national UK news broadcast at six p.m. There will be no envelope with a second decision. Presiding Officer, I should say at this point that we support and accept the Labour amendment to our motion in the name of Lewis MacDonald, and while I agree with the sentiment of the SNP amendment, what it removes from the motion plays entirely to its neuroses and prejudices in a small-minded and cherlish manner, and I regret it, as will the overwhelming majority of viewers who support the sentiments that the amendment seeks to dismiss. In any event, given that Labour amendment encapsulates the sentiments that Fiona has slipped, perhaps even yet she will feel able to withdraw. Presiding Officer, the new BBC Scotland digital channel represents a huge commitment to an opportunity for Scotland. We all welcome the new employment opportunities created, in particular the 18 new journalists posts arising from the central programme in the new channel's schedule. An international news hour from Scotland at 9 o'clock when the largest perspective viewer audience is available. The new channel will broadcast from 7 p.m. daily with a programme schedule of which 60 per cent, some 1,000 hours will be new commissions and with £19 million of new money. Together with the existing BBC2 opt-out funding, some 30 million, all of which will be invested in programme, an equivalent sum to the current BBC4 budget, which produces just 750 hours of new programming. We expect the BBC to make a success of BBC2 Scotland and to ensure that its funding model is both robust and appropriate, and that this will be a judgment reached over the next few years. Presiding Officer, all this is without doubt genuinely exciting for broadcasting in Scotland and a huge opportunity for the creative film and television arts in our country. However, our motion today argues that it is also the moment for the Scottish Government and all of us to ask if we are currently structured to make a success of this opportunity and to ask if we currently have adequate and competitive studio capacity. There is little point in creating opportunities for new drama and comedy if we are unable to film them due to an absence of studio capacity. And then to our dismay, find that the new broadcasting hours in Scotland are being filmed with programmes made elsewhere. Now, I'm afraid we are simply not yet a thoroughbred at the races. We may well enjoy a wonderfully diverse and talented independent film in the television sector in Scotland and many award-winning documentaries and popular household-named television programmes are produced by them. However, the access to the networks has been problematic and they have worked in the face of a historical indifference to the television industry in general from Scottish Enterprise and Creative Scotland with regard to television while also acting together with a raft of uncoordinated involvement from other agencies. Now, while Creative Scotland is now engaging, the reality is that Northern Ireland's screen is regarded as a model of government, enterprise and creative arts co-operation and it's stealing a march in Scotland. I will, yes. Fiona Hyslop. Do you remember, aware that Northern Ireland, the public spend for Northern Ireland film commission by the Northern Irish is 10.6 million for 2014-15 and the latest figures for Scotland were 24 million? It's not just... Jackson Carlaw. The cabinet secretary misses the point. It's the co-ordination between the various agents which is leading to an opportunity for the independent sector to be fully involved in the opportunities that are made available by the extra screen hours that are there. The recent history we have to overcome in Scotland is one of so-called lift and shift era where productions travel to Scotland on a sort of busman's holiday, bringing all its needs with it, but leaving lock, stock and barrel when the production finished. It didn't leave the creative footprint in Scotland which nurtured and fulfilled the talent opportunities that we need to see the Government take a lead on developing. We see, for example, the new international next movie in the Marbles of Avengers series, film and location here in Scotland, a notable achievement. On location, yes, but the lack of studio and production facilities means that a movie with a stellar budget, all of which could have been spent in Scotland, will instead see the interior film and production work completed in Atlanta. I know there are planning applications pending. I hear rumours to have Scottish ministers working in announcements for their party conference ahead of Parliament. What is important is both that we create the right studio capacity, not try to force the industry into empty government property currently seeking a purpose, but that we greenlight urgently proposals which will transform our opportunity in our creative arts with it. Presiding Officer, this is an exciting time for broadcasting in Scotland. A once-in-a-generational opportunity for film and television creative arts, it must serve an advantage all parts of Scotland and radio too. However, it presents a challenge of its own to the BBC to now make good on their promise on the Scottish Government to create a competitive investment model on government and industry together to identify and develop world-leading studio capacity in Scotland to create a Scottish Hollywood to complement Scotland's Holyrood. I now call on Fiona Hyslop to speak to you and move amendment 4287.3 up to six minutes, please, Cabinet Secretary. Presiding Officer, I move the amendment in my name and I welcome this opportunity to contribute to the debate after the announcement from the BBC last week. As the chamber is aware, the Scottish Government negotiated a role during the development of the new charter and influenced the shape of its content to include support for Scotland's creative economy. Last week's announcements demonstrated that our role in the charter is having an impact. I have met Tony Hall, director-general of the BBC four times in the last year regarding the case for Scotland and the need to reflect, represent and serve the nations and regions. I welcome Scotland's new channel as it responds to calls that we have made for some time. As long ago as the broadcasting commission for Scotland and more recently in our widely supported policy position on the BBC charter, and while the increased investment in both journalism and wider production in Scotland is overdue, that is very positive. It is welcomed that the Conservatives now approve because when the First Minister called for a separate channel at the Edinburgh television festival as recently as 2015, Liz Smith of the Conservatives said that the First Minister was out of touch and that millions of pounds of licence fee funds should not be diverted to pay for it. So this road to Damascus moment is heartening, particularly when you consider it alongside the spectacular U-turn from Jackson Carlaw, who in 2013 called the licence fee to be abolished and for the BBC to make its own way, i.e. be privatised. In 2009, the Scottish Broadcasting Commission estimated that a similar channel to what is being proposed would cost around £75 million a year. That is more than double the £30 million that has been announced. When I raised this with Lord Hall last week, he said that the new channel can draw on the wider resources of the BBC and he expects this channel to be fresh and different. He also stressed that this channel is wholly the entity of BBC Scotland and so it is critical that this channel has commissioning and editorial independence and that it is properly resourced. No Scottish Six is disappointing, but I expect the Scottish Nine to deliver. Quality journalism is key to delivering the best for Scotland and the BBC's investment in 18 new journalism jobs is great news. It confirms what we knew all along, that Scotland has the talent and skills to produce an hour-long news and current affairs programmes covering issues from home and abroad. That is the 18 months away and between now and the launch of the channel and indeed after, the BBC as a whole must invest in quality news programming and deliver relevant content to the people of Scotland as we move through Brexit, the triggering of article 50 and beyond. Of course, we must keep things in perspective. Last week's announcements mean that, by 2019-20, the BBC will spend 68 per cent of the licence fee raised in Scotland, but that is still less than the 74 per cent in Northern Ireland and the 95 per cent in Wales spent in 2015-16, and only 5 per cent up from 2013 in Scotland. Lord Hall was reluctant to agree to the screening leadership group's recommendation for the BBC to spend 100 per cent arguing that the coherence of the BBC would be threatened. I disagree that the BBC must put Scotland on equal footing with other devolved nations. Only last week I was interviewed by the Danish broadcasting company. Denmark, with a population of 5.7 million, has six channels and quality news and, as we know very well, drama. We must seize the opportunities that were presented with us from the announcement last week if we are to deliver on our wider ambitions for screen. I am quite happy to keep the challenges that are set out in the original motion in what we are mending. Nothing in our amendment should cause the Conservatives any difficulty. Spend on screen in Scotland is increasing. In 2015, we saw record levels of film and TV production spend of more than £52 million, and that is more than double that of 2007. The Scottish Government and its bodies are investing more than ever, £24 million, as I said, in 2014-15. On top of that, we now have the new production growth fund that was launched in 2015, and that is a £3 million fund that stimulates growth in production by providing incentives for major productions to come to Scotland. We have seen the wife shooting in Scotland with Glenn Close and Churchill starring Brian Cox, as well as encouraging Scottish producers, such as Brian Coffey, to anchor their productions here. We are also establishing a dedicated screen unit to reinvigorate the structural relationship between Creative Scotland and Scottish Enterprise, which I understand is what the motion is asking for. We are making progress on the studio and studio production space. The Warpark Studios expansion is in train with the additional stages, and we will see a world-class film and TV and studio facility there. I must reiterate that we are not procuring a film studio. It must be private sector-led, and we are continuing to develop our screen infrastructure to deliver on a range of options, including purpose-built facilities, but also full-time conversions, such as Warpark, and build spaces like the Pyramids and Palamas in Leith. Of course, the Pentlands proposal for a mixed-use development, including a film studio, energy centre and hotel, is sensitive and complex and is due for decision shortly. There is more to cover than perhaps six minutes certainly can allow, but I must emphasise in closing that the role of this Government and this Parliament in our scrutiny collectively, our debates and our negotiation have been instrumental in making progress with the BBC, but this is only the start, which is why, on that consensual basis, our amendment keeps the meaning of the original motion in that I agree with it. I hope that Parliament can continue to work together and achieve more and further success for the screen industries in Scotland. I call on Lewis MacDonald to speak to and move amendment 4287.4, up to five minutes, please, Mr Mac. Thank you very much. Public service broadcasting has seldom been more important than at this time of change when journalistic integrity is under attack from many different directions here and around the world. We need the institutions of a free society more than ever. Public service broadcasters need to be unafraid of those in power to be willing to ask the hard questions and to be free to do their jobs. That puts an obligation on politicians too. In debating the BBC, our starting point should be that no party and no Government should tell a public service broadcaster what to say or how to say it. We should seek instead to build a consensus that protects journalistic freedoms. What the BBC offered last week was the basis for such a consensus, and it is disappointing that it has not been wholly welcomed accordingly. For too long, we have endured a sterile debate about whether to replace the six o'clock news and reporting Scotland with a Scottish Six or to keep the status quo. That argument became a proxy for the independence debate. Tony Hall has cut through all that by proposing a new channel with its own nine o'clock news, allowing viewers to choose whether to watch an hour-long national and international news programme on BBC Scotland or to stick with half an hour from London and half an hour from Glasgow on BBC One. Those who have made the case for a Scottish perspective on world news should welcome the BBC's proposals on its merits rather than respond to it in terms of the wider constitutional debate. An hour-long programme at peak viewing time with access to BBC correspondence around the world and no direct competition on the BBC or anywhere else offers a choice that viewers have not had before. The case for a Scottish Six has therefore fallen not because it lacked merit but because the BBC has come up with something better. The challenge now is to move on from the old arguments, get behind the new channel and make it work. That is what our amendment seeks to do today. 80 new journalist posts in Scotland is good news, especially at a time when newspaper journalism is under pressure. They can help to refresh the whole media and creative sector so long as new investment is made and new jobs are created right across Scotland and not just at Pacific Key. Donald MacKinnon, director of BBC Scotland, committed at the culture committee last week to strengthen production centres beyond Glasgow. Ken Macquarie, director of nations and regions, promised that this investment will be spread across the whole of Scotland, the whole of the nation and all of its regions. Those commitments build on an earlier promise of BBC funding to support 20 local reporters and other people's news outlets across Scotland. Our amendment seeks to build on all of those commitments by calling for new investment, not just in the new channel but across news, radio, TV, factual content and online, and for that investment to be distributed equitably across Scotland. Existing production centres already make many excellent programmes, as Mr Macquarie acknowledged with reference to Aberdeen. BBC studios from Shetland to the borders can say the same and many of Scotland's independent production companies are also based a long way from Pacific Key. So none of that must be put at risk and programme content must also reflect the whole country, the nation and all of its regions, rather than simply Scotland as seen from the central belt. BBC Alipa is another key part of that. Supporting indigenous languages is the job of public service broadcasters, all public service broadcasters, not just of the BBC. The BBC's partner, MG Alipa, aspires to increase original content to 10 hours a week. The additional funding confirmed last week is welcome. It should see an increase from the current 4.2 hours to 7.2 hours a week. That is good progress, particularly on Gaelic weekend news, but halfway there also means more still to do. Kate Forbes, thank you very much to the member for taking that intervention. It was just to commend BBC Alipa for the work that they have done over the last few years. We talk about the Scottish Six. They have been offering the Scottish Eight for the last few years, which provides excellent news coverage in Scotland. Lewis MacDonald. Indeed. A Scottish Eight in Gaelic, complemented by a Scottish Nine in English, will indeed be progress in the right direction. The final point that we raise here is that viewers should be able to find public service channels via electronic programme guides. That is particularly important for Alipa, but it will matter for the new BBC Scotland channel too. Ofcom has a duty to ensure that public service channels are easy to find by ensuring that they have prominent places on those guides. There is an opportunity to extend that remit to reflect changing technologies through the digital economy bill at Westminster, and I hope that all parties here can agree that that opportunity should not be missed. In all those respects, we are able to help to ensure that the new channel can be a success, and on that basis I move the amendment in my name. We now move to the open debate. Very strict four-minute speeches, please. Rachael Hamilton, to be followed by Rona Mackay. Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I'm delighted that the Scottish Conservatives have brought this debate to Parliament today, which takes the opportunity to discuss this new and exciting opportunity for Scottish programming. It is the biggest investment in broadcast content in Scotland in over 20 years. The BBC announcement last week saw a new TV channel for Scotland, as we've heard, with integrated television news programme and major investments in network programming. The announcement is in response to audiences who have expressed that they want to see more of their lives reflected on BBC Scotland with programmes such as The River based in the Scottish Borders. The BBC is well aware of the perception that BBC Scotland currently struggles to do this because of the fantastic Scottish-based content has sometimes been eclipsed by equal surrounding content. The new channel offers a distinct service that will allow Scottish content to stand alone and shine brightly. The director-general Lord Hall detailed to me that because the way this new channel has been funded, it has the opportunity and ability to take risks, to be at the forefront of Scottish content, edgy and groundbreaking in commissioning. In total, an additional 20 million will be invested into this new initiative that will broadcast every evening to educate and entertain and includes an hour-long news programme edited and presented from Scotland. The BBC have promised to create an increase in 80 jobs in journalism, spread right across the whole of the UK. I look forward to hearing from the BBC and discussing with them how these new roles will build on the existing BBC Scotland apprenticeship programme and link with the BBC's UK-wide journalism trainee scheme to ensure that the best young talent from Scotland can grow their skills within this industry. Deputy Presiding Officer, this is a Scottish channel with 1,000 hours and 750 of those will be original. This is a huge step in the right direction and will offer something that Scotland has never seen before. It's a big commitment, both in ambition and financial terms, and one that will require a lot of hard work to make this happen. But I have full confidence, however, that this will be a success. And this success is promised to be shared. Last week, the Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Relations Committee heard from Ken Macquarie. As Lewis MacDonald has said, how this service could cover the whole of Scotland, every region, every community, to ensure that every part of the country benefits from this investment. The objective is at the forefront of their minds. It is crucial to recognise that this isn't just a Scottish service independent of the wider BBC. Lord Hall has made it clear that it is a service that is fully supported by the whole of the BBC. For example, the hour-long news programme at 9 will build upon the already strong running of the 6.30 news programme reporting Scotland. As Jackson Carlaw said, it is the most watched news programme in Scotland. The 9 o'clock news programme will benefit from the entire journalistic and editorial global and UK resources of the BBC. Significantly, the 9 pm slot will not compete with any other terrestrial news programmes and will offer an alternative to the usual drama on offer. And this will be news from a Scottish perspective with original Scottish journalism to bring viewers informed and insightful journalism. The new channel will also be available online and on iPlayer in HD in Scotland and across the UK. It is important that this digital service is fully available to viewers, especially socially and disadvantaged people and viewers living in rural areas. Incidentally, Ofcom's latest connective nations report indicates that only 46% of rural properties in Scotland currently have access to superfast broadband. We look forward to the Scottish Government's first phase of roll-out of digital infrastructure, which aims to provide access to high-speed fibre broadband to Scottish premises by March 2018, ready for the launch of the BBC's new channel. To conclude, I would like to close with the words of Ken McRory. In Scotland, there is now an opportunity for us to come together. Can I just say at this point that that time will be taken off the party of people who run over because we really are tight for time? May I have Rona Mackay to be followed by Neil Findlay? Thank you, Presiding Officer. The airwaves were buzzing last week with the news that Scotland will finally have a daily BBC channel from August next year. I wonder whether the father of television John Logie Baird be rejoicing that 90 years on from his invention we are where we are. Of course, the new channel is a step in the right direction and it's long overdue and our cabinet secretary should be applauded for all her work in helping it to come to fruition. As a former journalist, I welcome the fact that it will create 18 new posts for an hour-long news and current affairs programme with editorial control over content and I agree with Lewis MacDonald's comments on this issue. It will also be a chance to showcase Scotland's amazing array of national talent in the arts and the media and encourage future generations to contribute to our rich culture. However, Presiding Officer, Scotland's new channel has been funded to the tune of £30 million, which falls well short of the proportionate share being spent in Northern Ireland and Wales. Last year, 55 per cent of licence fee funds were spent on Scottish Network content. By start comparison, 95 per cent of licence fee funds raised in Wales were spent in Wales, with a figure for Northern Ireland being 74 per cent. Would Rona Mackay agree with me that, including the investment, the new investment and the distribution costs that will rise to up to 80 per cent? Rona Mackay. I have not figured that out, but all I can say is, would you welcome this channel being run in a shoestring because I do not think that that is what we want. By start comparison, 95 per cent of licence fee funds raised in Wales were spent in Wales, with a figure for Northern Ireland being 74 per cent. The Scottish Broadcasting Commission estimated in 2009 that a new channel would cost around £75 million. You do the maths. It is also worth noting that in Catalonia, it is also worth noting that in Catalonia, with a population just larger than Scotland, the public broadcasters annual budget is £293 million. It broadcasts six TV channels and four radio stations. Remember that the BBC raises £320 million from licence fees in Scotland, so come to your own conclusion. Evidently, we have some way to go, but I do hope that this is the start of a flourishing broadcasting future in Scotland, and we should all wish it well. On the wider issue of Scotland's rich and incredible culture, to outline it in four-minute speech is not easy. Inventors who change the world, such as doctors, scientists and engineers, actors, composers, film producers, comedians, musicians and all the rest. Presiding Officer, I look back in anger when I think about what has been done to our Scottish culture over the decades. The lack of Scottish history taught during my time at school still saddens me. I learned more about the battle of Hastings than Oliver Cromwell, than I did about the battle of Barnett Burn or the Highland Clearnesses. Then there were the generations of children who were belted for not speaking the Queen's English. Can you imagine? Children have been denied the right to speak in their mother tongue because it was too Scottish. Thankfully, that is all changing, and our beautiful Scots language, including Gaelic, is back on the school curriculum. However, the commitment of 1.2 million investment in BBC Alba, as my colleague Angus MacDonald outlined in portfolio questions earlier, falls short of the 10-hour-per-week commitment that the channel needs to ensure that it can build on its success. To conclude on an optimistic note, however, I am delighted that the Scottish Government is investing in word-part film studios in Cumbernauld, home to the fantastic Outlander and soon to produce the new Avengers film Infinity. Presiding Officer, the reawakening of our culture has been hard fought, but I am glad that we are last making some progress with this new TV channel. The nation of Scotland has contributed so much to the world culturally, and it has so much more to give. Neil Findlay, to be followed by Patrick Harvie. I think that all of us have criticisms to make of the BBC, whether it be the schedule, programmes, licence fee, whatever your criticism of choice the BBC is not short of critics of. I have serious concerns at times about some of the political coverage, but let me say that if we did not have the BBC, then I fear what our TV would become. I would be appalled to see us go down the route of US TV with a series of adverts, intersperse by low-grade garbage on many channels. Here, over the decades, the BBC has set the standard in drama, with things like Boys from the Black Stuff play for today, Tootie Frooty, and comedy, porridge, and Rapsy Nisbit still game. Children's shows like Grange Hill and Balamori, and in sport, with sport scene, The Open Golf and the Olympics, I've probably just given away my viewing schedule there. But consistently, the BBC delivers high-quality programmes, excellent value, presenting and creativity. And whether the news output is from London Card of Belfast, Glasgow or any of the regions, it is of high quality. I don't always agree with the content, I often think that reporters can be more establishment commentators than straight news reporters, but it's undeniable that the BBC output has a positive impact on the quality of output from other channels. Of course, politically, the Tories would privatise the BBC in a heartbeat if they thought they could get away with it, but they know that public opinion would kill that stone dead, no matter Mr Carlaw's previous wishes. Over the last five years, nationalists have used the BBC as a political whipping boy. Who can forget the demonstrations outside the BBC studios in 2014? And we've heard repeatedly that the burning issue in every household in Scotland isn't low pay, it's not the state of the NHS, social care or the loss of thousands of council jobs and services. It's whether we can have a Scottish six o'clock news. Well, I have to say, nor a single person has ever come to my surgery, nor sent me an email, nor wrote me a letter saying that life would just be so much better if only we had the Scottish six o'clock news. I wish members on the SNP benches, certainly. Alasdair Allan. The member for giving way. Does he not consider that, whether it's at six o'clock or nine o'clock, one of the benefits of having a Scottish news programme is to cover some of the very issues that he's talking about, that his constituents come to him and so that his constituents are not deprived of that information? Absolutely. Neil Findlay. That's why I welcome the news that not only are we getting the nine o'clock news, we're getting a whole channel. I thought he would be ecstatic about that. I just wish members on his benches were as exercised and angry about their Government's starving of local government, about health and educational equality or the social care crisis, as they were about a six o'clock news, but tell you this, I won't hold my breath. Now, we know that traditional TV viewing has changed. We can watch TV live, play back on demand and across a whole range of platforms. Many people access STV news, BBC news already, along with many other news options, and figures show an increasing amount of viewing falls outside the normal standard measurement, because people are looking at it across many platforms. So if people are interested in consuming more Scottish news, then they will watch it. When it's convenient for them. Presiding Officer, 20 million of new investment, not just on a news show, but on a whole channel, is excellent. At a time when Scottish journalism desperately needs it, I've never seen the parliamentary press pack so happy for many years. Can I say? You must close, please. I would echo the NUJ who welcomed it as a shot in the arm. Patrick Harvie to be followed by Tavish Scott. Mr Finlay is just reminding me to declare an interest as a member of the NUJ. So I'll do that. Can I begin by saying the one thing that I found most disappointing about Jackson Carlaw's opening speech? I think he knows what I'm going to say. He didn't manage to work in a single doctor who reference into it. In his entire speech, and I expected better, I thought at least we'd be told that the Scottish independence movement was the enemy of the world or a Scottish six would take us to the edge of destruction, but nothing. And I know Mr Carlaw can do better than that. I do welcome his motion though, and overwhelmingly, the bulk of it, I agree with very strongly. It welcomes the announcement from the BBC. It calls for additional or for adequate resources, certainly, and it makes some serious points about the relationship between Creative Scotland, Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Government, with many of which echo some of the conclusions of the report into the creative industries in the last session of the Scottish Parliament through the economy committee that I know the cabinet secretary contributed to that discussion. I can even agree with Jackson Carlaw's motion that the BBC's willingness and ability to adapt to the broadcasting needs of a devolved Scotland within the UK has been shown, and is being shown by this announcement. I'm sure that he can understand that those of us who don't see that as the only constitutional future for Scotland would like to broaden the argument out somewhat, and I personally want to be sure that the BBC has a strong and a vibrant future, regardless of the constitutional settlement that we eventually arrive at. That's why I'm glad that the SNP amendment doesn't go down their earlier route of calling for a Scottish broadcasting service for the break-up of the BBC, and I do hope that the SNP is moving away from that policy for the longer term. I think that, even if Scotland was to vote for independence at some future point, the argument for retaining the BBC as a multinational broadcaster is a strong one, and would not only ensure a genuine in-built incentive for the corporation to take its different audiences and jurisdictions seriously, but would also act as a double-lock protection for the principle of a public service broadcaster funded by the licence fee, protecting it against the kind of attacks that Mr Finlay rightly said do happen from time to time from a range of different political perspectives. Those attacks, I think, need to be defended against. I grew up with my dad coming home every evening from his job as a film editor at the BBC, and I was instilled from an early age with a belief that, even when the BBC is rightly subject to criticism in aspects of the way that it is run, it is greater than the sum of its parts, and it will continue to provide an important service for the future if we protect that principle of a public service broadcaster paid for by the licence fee. In Scotland, we need to make a case for a reasonable share of our licence fee being spent in Scotland. I do not want to put a figure on that. I do not want to say that the BBC's announcement at the moment has gone far enough. I do not want to say where that needs to end up at, but it needs to be adequate to build up the screen industries in Scotland as well and regain some of the ground that we have lost over the years and over the decades in the level of screen production in Scotland. I believe that we can do that, Deputy Presiding Officer, without breaking up the biggest news-gathering machine on the planet and without ever undervaluing or placing inadequate emphasis on our contribution to UK-level production as well, whether that is Doctor Who for Mr Carlaw and myself, or the natural history output or the wide range of drama and documentary output from the BBC. Tavish Scott, to be followed by Stuart McMillan. I also want to thank Jackson Carlaw for bringing this debate to Parliament today, although I thought that it was ever so slightly ungaland of him to begin by suggesting that John Nicholson was more important than Fiona Hysloppy. What I suppose slightly worries me about the new 9pm television news is that that may be the kind of item that becomes a regular on such a news programme. I would hopefully have to encourage Brian Taylor and his colleagues not to do so. Fiona Hysloppe began by declaring, and she did rather declare this, that she expected the 9 to deliver. I am sure that that is true of all of us, but I also want to make sure that that programme, and indeed the public sector broadcasters more generally, can deliver without any Government interference, whether from Edinburgh or indeed from London, with less politicians phoning up to complain and with less social media abuse of journalists. If we could move forward in a new spirit with what was announced by Lord Hall last week, that would be to the benefit of news journalism in this country and at large. Lewis MacDonald mentioned public service broadcasting. Of course, the president of the United States has banned the BBC and indeed others from reporting things that he does not like by excluding them from White House briefings. Journalism is under threat in that sense, and it is important to recognise the importance of editorial independence and to work darn hard on making sure that that happens. I want to pick up two points that were made by a number of colleagues across the chamber this afternoon, latterly by Patrick Harvie on the percentage of the licence fee. He made a reasonable point about a reasonable share. Tony Hall actually did answer that question in the culture committee last week and gave some assurances on that. It will never be enough for some, but he explained at some length what had already been happened. It is also important to remember that viewers in Scotland also benefit from the other aspects of the BBC that have shown whether it will be the world service, whether it will be the Olympics, the coverage of the Commonwealth Games, the match of the day, which I know is not a great source of comfort to Joan McAlpine, but certainly to those of us who do our football fans, it is a big plus to the coverage that the BBC produces and also, as others have mentioned, rightly to the... If I must. Joan McAlpine. I just wanted to put on record that I do not have a down on a match of the day. I was just making the point in committee that £60 million is spent on match of the day, which is double that that is spent on the new channel, but I have absolutely nothing against match of the day and I wanted to put that on record. Tavish Scott. I think that, as others have said, £60 million is very well spent indeed. If Joan McAlpine wants to debate about that in front of people in Scotland, I think that those of us on the side of match of the day will probably win that all, but my delight in seeing Alan Shearer removed now and again from that programme would be considerable. The important other point was on international news gathering. There are Scots all across the BBC, whether it be James Cook on the red carpet at the Oscars the other night or the other morning, if I saw him on breakfast, to Quinton Somerville providing quite unbelievably strong news coverage from Iraq and in other areas of that war-torn part of the world at this stage. That is a part of international news coverage and gathering that Lord Hall was very clear to mention last week in the context of what will now appear on BBC Scotland. Two other points. Firstly, the point about BBC Scotland only being a £32 million investment and Blair Jenkins's proposal some years back being £60 million to £75 million omits the £10 million that Blair Jenkins also wanted to spend on setting the channel up in the first place and the £10 million that he also wanted to spend on the online and interactive parts of a new channel. It is important that you compare apples with apples and you do so. The figures are not quite as they have already been mentioned in the chamber. Finally, on commissioning, the Cabinet Secretary and others have made much of commissioning. I have seen John Hyslop on tele talking about this in recent days. The important point about commissioning is quality. Of course, there are excellent independent film companies and film organisations in Scotland. It must always be based on quality. Stuart McMillan, to be followed by Oliver Mundell. There is much to welcome in the announcement from last week, which committee members stated at the time. I do not think that anyone can disagree with the announcement of £30 million additional investment, as well as the additional 80 journalism jobs. Certainly, with the increase in investment in journalism and the wider production in Scotland, it is long overdue, as Rachael Hamilton indicated in her comments when she stated about the biggest investment in Scotland in 20 years. Had the cabinet secretary or the First Minister last week said that this was terrible news, every one of the SNP-backed benchers would have been saying a completely different speech today. Or would he still have said that it was really good news? Stuart McMillan. I thought that the first two minutes of his speech to the other members were quite good, and they resorted to type. I am not sure whether Mr Finlay checked the official record from the European Committee, Culture Committee from last Thursday, when every SNP member welcomed the announcement. I do not know what he has been reading, but this particular investment is very much welcomed. The investment in journalism and other areas of broadcast that it brings is much needed. Scotland's news landscape has not adequately evolved alongside devolution. That is a point that was raised last week, too, as we all know. The problem for the BBC has not been that devolution—it has not been with devolution that the news broadcast, sometimes in London, sometimes leads with stories that have no direct relevance to Scotland. That is also understandable, but the SNP has already been stated as long call for a new TV channel for Scotland, which can make better use of the wealth of production and journalistic talent that Scotland has. The extra £90 million investment in native jobs and the prospect of more homegrown drama is excellent news for Scottish broadcasting. I agree with Tavish Scott on the quality of what is being presented. The investment goes to underline that Scotland has the talent and skills to produce a long news and current affairs programme that covers issues from home and around the world. Of course, many journalists will want to work abroad or in London for network news, but it would not be tremendous if some felt as if they did not need to leave Scotland to actually progress. The new Scottish TV channel will be capable of nurturing the talent and also be truly reflective of Scotland's current diversity. It is also that massive step in the right direction. Once again, as Rachel Hamilton commented about, as did my colleague Rona Mackay. The longer-term test will come when the channel gets underway next year, and the BBC has now recognised that Scotland is changing and that it needs to change too. The fact that, with the Smith commission's recommendations, the fact that the BBC is laying the reports in the Scottish Parliament and coming to the Scottish Parliament indicates that the BBC is now willing to consider this aspect of the changing nature of devolution. The success of the new channel and its investment will certainly depend upon how it is implemented and whether it can be delivered with the genuine ambition and innovation, and there are legitimate concerns as to how far the £30 million of additional funding can go, but there is also the issue about BBC Alibar. The additional £1.2 million for BBC Alibar is certainly welcome, but it still does not put the channel on a par with S4C in Wales, and that is a point that I raised last week. I am conscious of time-signing, but the news programme, the 90 of 10, if it does not establish itself quickly with the audience, then, unfortunately, the whole channel might not gain the full support of the public. There is huge potential in this announcement, and it is exciting. It is a vibrant broadcast opportunity time for Scotland. However, in 2018, people will be watching the new channel closely to see whether it merits one simple test to the programmes that reflect Scotland, as it really is. I am grateful to have the opportunity to speak in today's debate on a new BBC Scotland digital channel, not least because it affords me an early opportunity to pitch the commissioning of the real housewives of Dumfrieshire to BBC bosses. With yourself in the chair today, it certainly feels a bit like Dragon's Den in here. I hope that you accept that comment in the light-hearted sense that it is intended. All joking aside, I believe that this proposal is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to expand and enhance the range of television programming on offer. It represents a real step change in the BBC's approach to the new-found realities of devolution, and will allow for a distinctive and culturally relevant programming across Scotland, bringing with it new jobs and helping to ensure that we retain important skills here in Scotland, giving our young people and the next generation greater possibilities than ever before within the industry. At the same time, it manages to ensure that viewers here in Scotland will have the maximum choice and continue to benefit from UK-wide news and television. I believe that this announcement is all the more welcome and positive, and indeed remarkable in the increasingly politicised climate in which the BBC has to operate. Sadly, despite the very robust mechanisms, we continue to see the impartiality of the service called into question, and most disappointingly of all, we frequently see accusations being made regarding the integrity of their journalists. I therefore very much welcome within that context the bold approach that the BBC has taken, and I believe that they have got the balance just about right. It is in that context too that I am disappointed but not surprised at the reaction that we have seen from some in the SNP, who continue to suggest that, when it comes to television in Scotland, there is only one acceptable option, their own. I believe that this approach takes away and undermines the significant benefits that this new channel will bring to our nation. It is also why I am dismayed that the Scottish Government felt the need to amend the motion in the name of Jackson Carlaw to make what I feel a pretty petty point about its own view of the importance of the United Kingdom. I also think that calling into question the channel's funding before it has even had an opportunity to get up and running smacks of political opportunism, and for Patrick Harvey's benefit, I think that if you listened to some in the SNP, they are almost suggesting that the new BBC Scotland channel would be the size of a TARDIS, which is very small. However, I think that it will be like a TARDIS in reality, because the amount of money will allow for a massive expansion within the BBC here in Scotland of the programming that it has on offer. We have heard mention of my south of Scotland Covid drone McAlpine's views on March of the day, and I understand that she is not saying that the programme should be pulled, but it is just the wrong type of argument to be making that somehow a new channel in Scotland should be benchmarked against a football programme that is broadcast across the whole of the UK, and it points to the fact that the Scottish Government and many within the SNP continue to miss the opportunities and the real arguments that we are considering. I hope that now this announcement has been made that all parties in this chamber will get behind the proposal and ensure that we see Scotland-wide coverage that captures the interests of all our communities from the border regions to the islands. I move to the last of the open speeches. I agree with much of what is in the Conservative motion. I have been sat on several committees of the Parliament, the Economy, Committee, which looked at the creative industries, the current culture committee and the previous education culture committee, and they all did a lot of work in getting us to where we are. I agree about the issue of the screen agencies working together, Scottish Enterprise and Creative Scotland. I absolutely welcome the work that the cabinet secretary has done in that regard to make that happen. Also, what she has done is getting us a really important aspect of the BBC charter in place, which is the public purpose to sustain and grow creative industries in the nations and regions. That is really, really so important in terms of growing our creative industries and is a tribute to her and to the committees of the Parliament that we have. I supported the Scottish Six. The Conservatives say that we need to move on from that, so I am not quite sure why it is in their motion. We are all moving on from that. I think that the new channel presents a fantastic opportunity to move ahead and to get to where the creative industries are asking us to get to in terms of the spend in Scotland. The director general of the BBC, when he was giving evidence to the committee last week, agreed that we are at a starting point with the new channel. Those who say that we are being churnished by raising the issue of funding are missing that. It is a starting point. The 80 new journalists are really, really welcome. I was really pleased to hear them say that there are actually going to be more jobs than that once the director of the new channel comes in place and quite rightly decides to him or herself what the shape of it is going to be. We will see where the rest of the money is spent on new jobs. If you are funding original news to that extent and you are also taking in the funding for the BBC opt-outs, you have got to ask where the rest of the funds are going to be met from. Comparing it to BBC Four is fair enough, as is one of my favourite channels on the BBC. The BBC Four does rely on quite a lot of archive coverage from one of the best archives in the world. I think that we need to keep a watching eye on that spend in terms of creative new programmes like drama, which are very, very expensive, but I absolutely welcome it. It is not just us who are making this point about funding. As the creative industries themselves, I just wanted to read out a little bit of feedback that the committee got from one of the independent producers who has been campaigning for an increase in the spend in the licence fee. I think that anybody who has sat in any of those committees would recognise that the issue of the amount of licence fee that we get to spend is a real concern to the creative industries in Scotland. After our evidence session last week, the producer said that it has been a good couple of days, real positive change but also clear-sighted cross-party pressure for a better still return on investment. Thank you for all that you did today. So many of us are grateful to you and your committee for your engagement and the results delivered already, and I hope that the committee can keep the pressure on. I would just say that to people who say that it is wrong for us to raise the issue of resources. It is really important to raise the issue of resources. John McCormack, the head of the screen sector leadership group, has also raised that issue of licence fee spend in his report. He is, of course, a former head of BBC Scotland, so this is not just an SNP issue. I just wanted to finish off very quickly by saying that I totally support the BBC's efforts to influence the Westminster Digital Economy Bill, which is currently in the House of Lords. The BBC wants to ensure that electronic programming guides give prominence to public service channels. That is supposed to happen just now, but I know previously through my efforts to get prominence for local TV that it does not work out in practice. With a new channel coming on stream, it simply cannot be allowed to happen that people are finding it difficult to find a new channel. It has to be right in the top of the program guide, and I support that. We now move to the closing speeches. I call Alex Rowley. In closing for Labour, I can say that Jackson Carlaw—in fact, this has been a really good debate today and a good discussion. Jackson Carlaw spoke about John Nicholson's comments when this announcement was made. I had the unfortunate situation where I had not heard the announcement before I heard John Nicholson's comments, and I thought to myself, what have they announced? It was a great surprise to me and a welcome surprise when I heard the announcement. Mr Nicholson has perhaps been put back in his box. Sadly, the SNP amendment would suggest that it is not willing to embrace and welcome this opportunity. I note that Patrick Harvie said that even if he got his wish for an independent Scotland, he would not want to break up the BBC, and I think that he is right to say that. Unfortunately, I do not think that the SNP is willing to come to that point. I have only got four minutes, sorry. It is disappointing, but we need to look at where the opportunity is. How can we get the maximum benefits for Scotland right across the creative industries from this announcement? That will be the important point going forward. John McAlpine makes the point that it is right to continue to argue for resources, and it was similar where Rona Mackay talked about the licensing fee. I agree that we should continue to make the case for resources only with John McAlpine and others who will not attack us when we keep making the case for local government resources that are being cut time and time again, but I agree that when the channel is up and running and if it needs more resources, we should be more than willing as a Parliament to make the case for those resources. I think that, as Lewis MacDonald says, the new journalist post is very welcome for Scotland. That is a good thing. In a time when we have media empires such as the Murdoch Empire trying to go for world domination, if we did not have a BBC, we would need to create a BBC in order to ensure unbiased reporting right across the world. It is a good thing that we are going to get those journalists. The idea that I am moving on from the Scottish Six is that we are getting something that is an even better opportunity for Scotland than would have been simply the Scottish Six. Therefore, it is not just about moving on. It is saying that there is a real opportunity that we need to embrace that opportunity. We should also be looking at digital in other areas. The cabinet secretary in response to the points that were made for Jackson Carlaw about studio capacity run through very quickly a whole range of things that are happening. I will take the time to read that. I could not quite follow the speed that she was going at. However, it sounded like there was a lot of things happening there. The important thing that could be mentioned is where is the overall strategy in Scotland? I was in Northern Ireland in Derry in the summer and I went along to the cinema and watched the film Bobby San 66 Days, which is a really good film documentary. At the end it said that it had been produced by BBC Northern Ireland. In Scotland, we had just a few months ago the independent production on BBC of the council, which really highlighted what it is like every day for people working in local authorities to live on important services. I agree with the point that we can produce programmes in Scotland and create opportunities in Scotland. I hope that the Government will grab the opportunity to invest and put in place a strategy to make the best of it. I am glad that we are seeing changes from the BBC. I am glad that we have had the opportunity to debate that so quickly after the announcement. I thank Jackson Carlaw for bringing the debate in that spirit. It is a result of years of hard work, debate and discussion both publicly and internally within the BBC that has brought us to this moment. There now is a tangible opportunity for the BBC in Scotland to deliver more, to deliver better, as a key driver in the creative growth and sustainability of our cultural sector, as Rona Mackay said, for the benefit of our economy, our society and our democracy. It needs the will of the BBC to deliver, and it also needs the will of our public bodies to deliver together strategically and in partnership to help that. In many ways, the BBC are playing catch-up, and it is quite notable that the Scottish TV has already taken the lead for planning an hour long Scotland at 7, an international and domestic news programme. Reflecting on Kate Forbes' intervention in 18 months time, we can watch news, BBC UK at 6, STV at 7, BBC Arbor at 8, BBC Scotland at 9 and ITN at 10. Jackson Carlaw. The crucial difference is that the BBC programme will be networked across the whole of Scotland. On free view, the STV programme will only be involved in the cities where it has actually achieved the city contract, so it won't be a nationally networked news programme on STV, but it will from the BBC. Fiona Hyslop. In terms of content, in terms of what we can deliver, in terms of journalistic standards and opportunities to reflect a Scottish lens to Scotland, I think that the fact that the STV are doing what they are doing, they are to be congratulated, but I also think that in terms of this debate, some of the important themes that have been about the importance of public service broadcasting raised by a number of people and the quality that that means. The editorial independence that Tavish Scott mentioned and Lewis MacDonald is absolutely critical and that is why it is in our amendment. I also think that the point that was made, and I think that that is reflecting the point that Jackson Carlaw is saying, if we want quality news or indeed drama or indeed other content from broadcasting, it has to be accessible and I think that that is important that we take that forward as part of our on-going, I think, solution of what is going to be involved. I think that perhaps in this debate we have not had as much time to think about commissioning, that has been a big issue for the previous committees of this Parliament. The £20 million of network commissioning additional for Scotland was welcome, but I think that we have yet to pin down what that means and I think that Tony Hall has acknowledged that, as he did when I spoke to him about the fact that with this new channel, the spend of the licence fee in Scotland will be closer to 68 per cent and that is in response to what Rachel Hamilton was saying. We have not talked about radio either. I think that there is an opportunity, as we have called, for two stations, one speech and one music. Again, I think that that would be welcomed. The point that Lewis Macdonald made about BBC Alba, we have still got some journey to go, we have still got some details to come out from last week, but I think that we should still press for that 10 hours of original production, I think that that is going to be very important indeed. That funding that is coming from the BBC to cover the £1.2 million of Gaelic programmes previously funded by BBC Alba is very welcome indeed. We have much to look forward to. I think that there are great expectations both from the channel but also from the wider sector. I think that the role of the independent production sector in Scotland is one that has been scrutinised by this chamber, and they have opportunities here both with the channel but also with the new commissioning as well. Remember, in terms of the skills that we have, we have great talents in Scotland. I think that the fact that we are going to have 80 new journalist jobs is very much to be welcomed. I think that in terms of attracting and being able to sustain both film and high-end television, it is the skills of our talented crew that bring people here. I think that as part of the role of the BBC strategically, and it is something that I have impressed with them in all the discussions that I have had, they have a responsibility not just to take in and use the existing talent. They really have to help to grow and develop strategically our creative industries in partnership. I have just received the screen leadership groups report. Those of you who have not read it, I recommend it particularly to Alec Rowley in his relation to film strategy. I think that you will find that particularly interesting. We will respond more fully in due course, but that report has been produced by well-respected leaders in the industry and it provides a considered direction for all our agency and the industry to follow, and we also bid the BBC to follow its recommendations also. The opportunities for the creative industries and the screen sector are strong, and together the public sector and the private industry interests can realise the ambitions of our sector precisely as Patrick Harvie set out to realise our full potential as a screen nation. I urge members to act as they have done collectively and consensually, and I hope that they can support our amendment. We are taking forward the spirit of what I think this debate today has been about from all sides of the chamber. What is not current, I ought to declare an interest in today's debate in that I worked for over a decade in the television industry, both at the BBC and in the independent production sectors. When one thinks of culture, perhaps nothing is more ingrained in our country's fabric than the BBC. It is not just the landmark institution or an iconic brand, but those three squares are a world-renowned source of news. It is an entertainer, it is an informer and a producer. It brings us everything from the Olympics to Wimbledon, from Angling to the Archers, from Elgar to Eurovision. But evolution has seen it grow from the early days of analogue, black and white, to the digital transformation, which today sees 290 million requests to iPlayer a month, or the 18.3 million downloads of stories from the CBBC's Storytime app. It is devolution that is how the BBC has survived over many decades of increased commercial competition. Now we are in the latest chapter of this evolution, a brand new multi-platform peak time dedicated Scottish TV channel. I would expect that a tailor-made BBC channel for Scotland would be unequivocally and warmly welcomed by all in this chamber. I am pleased that there have been some very positive contributions today, but for some more is never enough. I will address some of the critique later, but first I can perhaps focus on some of the positives. A number of members, including Rona Mackay and Stuart McMillan, welcomed one particular aspect of this, the 80 new jobs that it would create, but it did highlight that these posts should be spread across Scotland. I think that that is a fair point. My colleague Rachel Hamilton asks how those new roles will build on the existing BBC Scotland apprenticeship programme and how it will link with the BBC's UK-wide journalism trainee scheme, something that I am sure the BBC will reflect on. We heard from the Cabinet Secretary who said that the Scottish 9 must deliver, and I absolutely agree that the problem that we have with the amendment is that it pretty much removes any reference to the UK in our motion. Lewis MacDonald made a very valid point that we should judge this new announcement on its merits, not on the wider constitutional debate or indeed on old arguments about the BBC, so we are happy to support his amendment and that sentiment. Neil Findlay made a curious point about the privatisation of the BBC, but he failed to mention that there was a BBC renewed charter under a Conservative Government that enshrined a publicly funded public broadcast service through the licence fee model. Patrick Harvie showed a renewed sense of enthusiasm for the BBC, I thought, and he made a very curious point about retaining the BBC in this theoretical independent Scotland, but he missed the point completely about how it would be funded. I found some interesting points came from Stuart McMillian about career opportunities that this new channel might create. In fact, I can say to the member that I was one of those people who headed to London for a career in TV as there were in such opportunities in Scotland at the time. I would be happy to. Stuart McMillian I thank Jamie Greene for taking the intervention, but that was certainly the point that I raised earlier on. Mr Greene felt that, if he had to go because there were a lack of opportunities in Scotland, the point that I raised was that it would be good for people to feel as if they wanted to stay here because of the increased opportunities here in Scotland. Jamie Greene There is nothing there that I disagree with, thank you for making that point. Some really good points were made about how the BBC should deliver on the promise that it made last week. I have no doubt that this Parliament will hold the BBC to account, but there are some logistical issues to resolve, for example, such as the matter of EPG-PSB prominence, which can only be achieved through off-com regulation and surely is already causing the owners of various TV platforms to twitch nervously. Oliver Mundell pointed out that members who raised the, in my view, quite parochal argument around the portion of licence per money that is raised in Scotland that is spent in Scotland are in fact missing the point entirely. The BBC raises £320 million in Scotland through licence fees, but a Scottish viewer listener has access to over £3.5 billion of BBC infrastructure and content, which includes £2.2 billion on TV, £600 million on radio, online and so on. I could go on. In fact, 86 per cent of all content consumed in Scotland is of UK-wide network content, because that is what consumers want. I know that it might be hard for some in this chamber to believe, but people at home right now in Scotland are not watching this chamber, they are watching Floggett on BBC One. At 5.15 you will be pleased to know that Pointless is coming on. I know that that is not just another Government debate on Brexit. The critics asked the BBC to respond to the needs and demands of a modern, devolved Scotland, and that is what they got. They asked for a Scottish Six and a Scottish Channel. They asked for an hour of news and they got 825 hours of content. They asked for more money for BBC Alba, they got a 20 per cent increase in funding. They asked for more money for content and £20 million to Scottish content. The reality is that, as a family of nations, we collectively share resources and talent. By doing so, consumers across the UK will benefit from that. In closing, I ask this chamber to unanimously and collectively welcome the news of this new BBC channel and support our motion today. That concludes our debate on the new BBC Scotland digital channel. The next item of business is consideration of business motion 4327, in the name of Joe Fitzpatrick, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out a business programme. I would ask any member who wishes to speak against the motion to press their request-to-speak button now. I call on Joe Fitzpatrick to move motion 4327. Thank you. As no member has asked to speak against the motion, I put the question to the chamber. The question is that we agree motion 4327. Are we all agreed? We are. The next item of business is consideration of two parliamentary bureau motions. I would ask Joe Fitzpatrick to move motions 4328 and 4329 on the approval of SSIs. They will be put at decision time to which we now come. Seven questions as a result of today's business. The first question is that amendment 4286.1, in the name of Shirley-Anne Somerville, which seeks to amend motion 4286 in the name of Liz Smith, on the abolition of the Scottish Fund and Council Board, be agreed? Are we all agreed? We're not agreed. We'll move to division and members may cast their votes now. The result of the vote on amendment 4286.1, in the name of Shirley-Anne Somerville, is yes, 62, no, 63. There were no abstentions. The amendment is therefore not agreed. The next question is that motion 4286, in the name of Liz Smith, on the abolition of the Scottish Fund and Council Board, be agreed? Are we all agreed? We're not agreed. We'll move to a vote and members may cast their votes now. The result of the vote on motion 4286, in the name of Liz Smith, is yes, 63, no, 62. There were no abstentions. The motion is therefore agreed. The next question is that amendment 4287.3, in the name of Fiona Hyslop, which seeks to amend motion 4287, in the name of Jackson Carlaw, on the new BBC Scotland digital channel, be agreed? Are we all agreed? We're not agreed. We'll move to a vote and members may cast their votes now. The result of the vote on amendment 4287.3, in the name of Fiona Hyslop, is yes, 73, no, 52. There were no abstentions. The amendment is therefore agreed. The next question is that amendment 4287.4, in the name of Lewis MacDonald, which seeks to amend the motion in the name of Jackson Carlaw, be agreed? Are we all agreed? Yes. We are all agreed. The next question is that motion 4287, in the name of Jackson Carlaw, as amended, on the new BBC Scotland digital channel, be agreed? Are we all agreed? Yes. We are all agreed. The next question is that motion 4328, in the name of Jovis Patrick, on the approval of an SSI, be agreed? Are we all agreed? Yes. We are all agreed. That concludes decision time. To a member's business debate, in the name of Alexander Stewart, we'll just take a few moments for members to change seats.