The BBC is to become more accountable to the devolved regions, Culture Secretary John Whittingdale has said.
In a statement to the House of Commons, he said the broadcaster will be “required to give greater focus to under-served audiences”.
Unveiling the UK Government’s White Paper on the future of the corporation, Mr Whittingdale said the BBC Trust will be abolished and replaced with a unitary board that has a “much clearer separation of governance and regulation”.
In a letter to Scotland’s Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop, BBC director general Tony Hall said there would be a Scottish “sub-board”, as well as Scottish representation on the unitary board.
He said: “The BBC supports the Clementi Review findings that each nation should be fully represented on the proposed new board that will run the BBC – providing powerful voices at the heart of the corporation.
“In addition it is our intention to create a sub-committee of the board for each nation overseeing their dedicated services.
“Our proposal that the BBC have a ‘licence’ for all the dedicated services provided for audiences in each of the nations was also supported by the Clementi Review.
“If implemented, this will provide clear accountability for the services provided in each nation and much more ability to shift resources around within each nation’s dedicated services, further devolving decision-making to the nations.”
Lord Hall also outlined plans including making Scotland a “centre for excellence” for factual television production, a drama commissioning editor for each nation, a comedy commissioner to be based in Glasgow, and allocating additional funding to improve dedicated services in the nations.
In his statement, Mr Whittingdale said the BBC will “be required to give greater focus to under-served audiences – in particular those from black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds and from the nations and regions, who are currently less well served”.
He added: “The BBC will become more accountable to the devolved nations.”
Ms Hyslop said: “The Scottish Government intends to play a full role in work to ensure the intention in the White Paper for the BBC to serve all nations and regions becomes a reality in detail and practice.”
She welcomed the proposed reforms of governance, but added: “However, today’s White Paper does not deliver on all of our policy ambitions and much of the detail is yet to emerge, so there is clearly a job of work to be done in continuing to argue Scotland’s case.
“The Scottish Government remains committed to working with the UK Government to deliver the ambitious agenda for the BBC that we have developed with audiences and the sector in Scotland.
“The Secretary of State has previously committed to a detailed role for the Scottish Government in the drafting of the Charter itself and I look forward to engaging in this process to ensure that the aims and aspirations set out in the White Paper deliver the positive outcomes we are seeking.”
