Speeches by Rutland.

“Peter Kosminsky proposes requiring streamers to contribute to a fund to support PSB-backed British drama based on their number of subscribers. Do you think that streamers should do more to support British-made content for British audiences, perhaps through paying a levy?”

“Minister, you talked about Peter Kosminsky’s comments on a potential tax credit uplift for high-end TV in the same way as there has been for independent film. What is your view on that?”

“I am going to ask a little bit about supporting high-end television. Some producers have called for domestic high-end television to receive an enhanced tax credit like independent film. What assessment has the BFI made of the likely return on investment of that policy?”

“Do you anticipate that that would take as long as it did for the film side?”

“Jay, what other measures would the BFI support to help independents and PSBs make high-end TV that speaks to British audiences?”

“Beyond the benign tax environment, are there any other measures that would specifically help if independents and PSBs make high-end television in an era of increased budgets?”

“We have talked a little bit about lottery funding already, how much lottery funding currently goes to high-end television, and are you satisfied with the amount?”

“At the risk of asking an obvious question, if the BFI had more lottery funding to distribute, what more could you do for high-end TV?”

“Peter Kosminsky proposes requiring streamers to contribute to a fund to support PSB-backed British drama based on their number of subscribers. Do you think that streamers should do more to support British-made content for British audiences, perhaps through paying a levy?”

“Minister, you talked about Peter Kosminsky’s comments on a potential tax credit uplift for high-end TV in the same way as there has been for independent film. What is your view on that?”

“T6. The brilliant Adur Ukraine Support Association has raised concerns with me that the 18-month limit on the extension of Ukrainians’ permission to remain in the UK is causing issues in securing tenancies, jobs and undergraduate university courses, which last for a minimum of three years. Will the Minister meet me to …”

“When you collaborate with the companies you mentioned, and perhaps also the bigger streamers, do you think it is possible to retain a distinctly Scottish end product if you do work together?”

“For Margaret Mary, have streaming companies shown any interest in content for Gaelic-speaking audiences?”

“When you compare yourselves against those other companies, what do you think is distinctive about what the BBC brings to the Scottish screen sector, both from an industry perspective and for audiences?”

“I should begin by declaring some interests as the chair of the BBC APPG, a recipient of BBC hospitality, and a former employee of the Prospect and Bectu unions, which represent BBC staff. In December 2021, the BBC and Screen Scotland said that there was an urgent need to address skills shortages in the screen industry.…”

“Yesterday, at the CMS Committee, we heard a lot about how there had been a big boom in content commissioning a few years ago that has now dried up a little from the major streamers, which has resulted in some independent production companies having to close, or there not being enough work commissioned. How does that si…”

“The Across the UK strategy included a commitment to partner with local education providers, which I think you have just touched on, to grow the skills base needed to operate the BBC’s production studios in places such as Glasgow. Can you elaborate a bit further on the progress that has been made on that?”

“That takes me on to streaming. Louise, perhaps this is for you. How has the BBC’s relationship with streaming companies such as Amazon and Netflix changed in recent years, both in general and in Scotland specifically?”

“It is interesting because Jane said later in her comments that tackling the long day is difficult because ultimately, because you are chasing the light, you are adding more days to the filming time, which obviously, as you were saying, increases the budget. It was interesting to hear about how the clustering could pote…”

“That last question or your last comment leads nicely on to what I will be asking about, which is working practices and retention. I should probably declare an interest here as a former employee of the Prospect and Bectu unions. Bectu has warned that unsustainable working hours, the feast and famine nature of employment…”