Parliament Workbench
Data: Motions & questions to 19 Nov 2026 · Votes to 12 Nov 2026

Motion For Debate · S7M-01962 · Session 7

The BBC and Public Service Broadcasting in Scotland

Carried Lodged by Màiri McAllan SNP Lodged 9 Nov 2026 Debate 10 Nov 2026 2 supporters

The motion

That the Parliament opposes the BBC's proposal to close the linear BBC Scotland channel and to discontinue Reporting Scotland: News at Seven; expresses concern that proposed changes could reduce access to Scottish news and public broadcasting, particularly for audiences who rely on traditional television services, and could impact jobs and investment in Scotland; highlights the contribution of broadcasting to Scotland's economy through investment in skilled jobs, the screen sector and the creative industries workforce; notes the importance of fair and sustainable support for Gaelic media and the continuing disparity in funding between Gaelic-language and Welsh-language broadcasting; believes that licence fee revenues raised in Scotland should be reinvested in full in Scotland; recognises the opportunity presented by the ongoing BBC Charter Review to deliver greater accountability, representation and investment for Scotland; believes that BBC television and radio must authentically reflect the lives of people in Scotland, and calls on the UK Government to devolve responsibility for broadcasting to the Scottish Parliament.

What MSPs voted on: the motion as amended

The SNP’s motion was changed by a Green amendment (S7M-01962.4) before this vote. A vote ‘for’ was a vote for the SNP’s motion with the Greens’ changes.

That the Parliament opposes the BBC's proposal to close the linear BBC Scotland channel and to discontinue Reporting Scotland: News at Seven; expresses concern that proposed changes could reduce access to Scottish news and public broadcasting, particularly for audiences who rely on traditional television services, and could impact jobs and investment in Scotland; highlights the contribution of broadcasting to Scotland's economy through investment in skilled jobs, the screen sector and the creative industries workforce; notes the importance of fair and sustainable support for Gaelic media and the continuing disparity in funding between Gaelic-language and Welsh-language broadcasting; believes that licence fee revenues raised in Scotland should be reinvested in full in Scotland; recognises the opportunity presented by the ongoing BBC Charter Review to deliver greater accountability, representation and investment for Scotland; believes that BBC television and radio must authentically reflect the lives of people in Scotland, and calls on the UK Government to devolve responsibility for broadcasting to the Scottish Parliament.S7M-01962.4 Green ; believes that the Charter Review should secure creative origination in Scotland, with commissioning decisions and ownership of intellectual property resting with independent producers based in Scotland; recognises the BBC as a vital public good that faces an existential threat without a sustainable settlement; expresses concern at the commercialisation of core BBC services and believes that the answer lies in fair, sustainable public funding that keeps services universal and affordable, and calls on the UK Government to ensure that digital terrestrial television services are not discontinued until every household has an affordable alternative.

Final wording as read into the Official Report at Decision Time. The marked changes are worked out by this site from the amendment texts and match that wording.

Amendments

  1. S7M-01962.1 Labour Katherine Sangster Defeated vote, 26–93
  2. S7M-01962.3 Reform UK Victor Currie Defeated vote, 14–105
  3. S7M-01962.4 Green Q Manivannan Agreed vote, 78–39
  4. S7M-01962.5 Conservative Murdo Fraser Defeated vote, 48–69
  5. S7M-01962.2 Liberal Democrat David Green Defeated vote, 9–109

Signatures by party

2 MSPs besides the lodger · 0 from other parties
SNP 2

Party on the day each MSP signed. Signing a motion is voluntary and not whipped. Who signs whose motions

Vote

1 division
  1. 10 Nov 2026
    The BBC and Public Service Broadcasting in Scotland
    S7M-01962as amended by Green
    Carried
    70 for, 48 against

Amendments

5
  1. S7M-01962.1
    The BBC and Public Service Broadcasting in Scotland
    Katherine Sangster Lab Lodged 9 Nov 2026
    Defeated
    26 for, 93 against
  2. S7M-01962.2
    The BBC and Public Service Broadcasting in Scotland
    David Green LD Lodged 9 Nov 2026
    Defeated
    9 for, 109 against
  3. S7M-01962.3
    The BBC and Public Service Broadcasting in Scotland
    Victor Currie Reform Lodged 9 Nov 2026
    Defeated
    14 for, 105 against
  4. S7M-01962.4
    The BBC and Public Service Broadcasting in Scotland
    Q Manivannan Green Lodged 9 Nov 2026
    Carried
    78 for, 39 against
  5. S7M-01962.5
    The BBC and Public Service Broadcasting in Scotland
    Murdo Fraser Con Lodged 9 Nov 2026
    Defeated
    48 for, 69 against

Supporters

2 MSPs

SNP 2

Show all 2 supporters by party

SNP 2

Party shown is each supporter’s party when the motion was published.

In the Official Report

7 contributions mention S7M-01962
  1. 10 Nov 2026
    BBC and Public Service Broadcasting
    Clare Adamson SNP Meeting of the Parliament

    The next item of business is a debate on motion S7M-01962, in the name of Màiri McAllan, on the BBC and public service broadcasting in Scotland. There is no time in hand and any interventions must be absorbed within the speaker’s time. Mem…

  2. 10 Nov 2026
    Decision Time
    Kenneth Gibson Meeting of the Parliament

    There are six questions to be put as a result of today’s business. I advise members that, if the amendment in the name of Katherine Sangster is agreed to, the amendments in the name of Victor Currie, Murdo Fraser and David Green will fall.…

  3. 10 Nov 2026
    Decision Time
    Kenneth Gibson Meeting of the Parliament

    The next question is, that amendment S7M-01962.4, in the name of Q Manivannan, which seeks to amend motion S7M-01962, in the name of Màiri McAllan, on the BBC and public service broadcasting in Scotland, be agreed to. Are we agreed?Members…

  4. 10 Nov 2026
    Decision Time
    Kenneth Gibson Meeting of the Parliament

    The next question is, that amendment S7M-01962.5, in the name of Murdo Fraser, which seeks to amend motion S7M-01962, in the name of Màiri McAllan, on the BBC and public service broadcasting in Scotland, be agreed to. Are we agreed?Members…

  5. 10 Nov 2026
    Decision Time
    Kenneth Gibson Meeting of the Parliament

    The next question is, that amendment S7M-01962.2, in the name of David Green, which seeks to amend motion S7M-01962, in the name of Màiri McAllan, on the BBC and public service broadcasting in Scotland, be agreed to. Are we agreed?Members:…

  6. 10 Nov 2026
    Decision Time
    Kenneth Gibson Meeting of the Parliament

    The final question is, that motion S7M-01962, in the name of Màiri McAllan, on the BBC and public service broadcasting in Scotland, as amended, be agreed to. Are we agreed?Members: No.

  7. 10 Nov 2026
    Decision Time
    Kenneth Gibson Meeting of the Parliament

    The result of the division on motion S7M-01962, in the name of Màiri McAllan, on the BBC and public service broadcasting in Scotland, as amended, is: For 70, Against 48, Abstentions 0.Motion, as amended, agreed to,That the Parliament oppos…