The BBC has come under criticism after claims emerged that television productions can be classed as Scottish even when only a small proportion of staff and investment are actually based in Scotland.
The row follows reports that productions may qualify as Scottish under current Ofcom rules with little more than a small office north of the border, potentially staffed by only one person.
Current Ofcom regulations state that at least eight per cent of programme hours and production spending must be allocated to Scotland.
However, concerns have now been raised over how those quotas are being measured and whether the system is genuinely benefiting Scotland’s screen sector.
Research commissioned by Screen Scotland reportedly found that only five of the top fifteen producers behind programmes classified as Scottish between 2014 and 2022 were actually headquartered in Scotland.
The remaining companies were based in London but qualified under Ofcom’s rules through what is described as a “substantive base” in Scotland.
The revelations have sparked criticism from Alyn Smith who accused the BBC of treating Scottish production quotas as a “tick box exercise”.
Commenting on the issue, Smith said:
“This latest revelation raises serious questions for the British Broadcasting Corporation about its commitment to Scotland and for Ofcom about how productions qualify as being Scottish.
“It appears that the current system is being treated as a tick box exercise to ensure that quotas appear to be met despite jobs, money and creative control remaining in London.
“Scotland’s screen and TV sector is one of our success stories with our shows enjoyed by audiences around the world but the industry is perennially short changed by the BBC which, despite repeated promises, remains focused on the south east of England.
“The SNP is a firm supporter of public service broadcasting and will always make the case for more investment in Scotland.
“If the BBC continue to look for loopholes to keep hold of power and investment in London, then Ofcom must step in to tighten regulations to ensure that Scotland’s screen sector gets the investment it deserves.”
The debate is likely to intensify wider concerns over media centralisation within the UK and long running criticism that Scotland’s creative industries remain underrepresented despite the country’s growing reputation for film and television production.
For many within Scotland’s screen industry, the argument is no longer simply about quotas but about where real decision making power, investment and long term jobs are actually based.
