SCOTTISH Labour has rejected plans for a BBC ''Scottish Six'' news programme and called for Newsnight Scotland to be replaced.
Its submission to the BBC's review of news and current affairs in Scotland said there was a danger of the corporation's programming ''becoming parochial''.
The Labour party believes the argument over whether Scotland should have its own hour-long 6pm BBC news slot has become politicised, but hopes a lack of public interest and the cost of an integrated news programme will knock it off the agenda.
The report argues: ''We have not yet seen any evidence that an integrated news hour between 6pm and 7pm, produced in Scotland, would deliver significant added value for viewers. We also do not believe that the problems which would be solved by the integrated news hour are as great as is claimed by supporters of the Scottish Six. It is likely that the integrated news service would be significantly more expensive than Reporting Scotland. We are of the view that any available resources would be better spent on freestanding nightly Scottish current affairs programmes on BBC Scotland and Radio Scotland.''
The report blames ''advocates of Scottish independence'' for trying to use the arguments around a Scottish Six ''as a proxy for further moves towards separation''. The report also takes a swipe at the politicians, including Labour ones, with a contrary point of view who have used the issue as ''a proxy for their own opinion''.
It also criticised media commentators who, the report says, believe a Scottish Six will add to a sense of Scottish identity.
The report states: ''We reject these arguments. While the introduction of the Scottish Six would undoubtedly have PR advantages for nationalist parties, we do not believe that a Scottish Six would herald the break-up of the UK.
''Neither do we believe that the network six is a bulwark against nationalism. It is also wrong and naive to suggest that an integrated news hour would play any part in increasing Scottish cultural self confidence.''
It called for Newsnight Scotland to be replaced by a rescheduled programme, dedicated to Scottish issues.
''We do not believe that the current format for Newsnight Scotland adequately serves its audience,'' the report stated. ''That said, the programme itself regularly delivers in-depth analysis of Scottish news and current affairs and we feel that the programme is constrained by its short duration and uncertainty about the opt-out of network Newsnight. We believe the current format should be abandoned and space should be found in the schedule for a stand-alone, half-hour Newsnight Scotland.''
The report blamed Radio Scotland's limited political coverage on a lack of resources.
The Labour party acknowledged the BBC's attempt to respond to devolution by increasing the time devoted to news and current affairs, but denounced its recent decision to take Holyrood Live, Politics Scotland and Politics Tonight off the air during the Scottish Parliament's recess.
The report stated: ''Devolution may have increased Scottish viewers' interest in Scottish domestic affairs, however there is no evidence it has diminished their interest in the rest of the UK and the rest of the world.''
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