BBC Scotland announces job cuts

BBC Scotland controller Ken MacQuarrie spoke to staff

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.

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 MacQuarrie BBC Scotland controller

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.

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.

ROAD TO THE BBC SHAKE-UP January - Government raises licence fee by 3%, less than the hoped for settlement March - Mark Thompson says BBC faces 'tough choices ahead' due to settlement May - New trust chairman Sir Michael Lyons (pictured) says a debate about how the licence fee is used should be opened August - Sir Michael says the BBC may 'do less' to meet a budget shortfall October - 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."

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.

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.

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.

Inflated sums

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.

"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."