Whitehall snub for McConnell

TESSA Jowell, the Culture Secretary, has delivered a pointed snub to Jack McConnell, the First Minister, declining so far even to respond to his latest plea to give Scotland a say in the future of British broadcasting.

The Scotsman has learned that Ms Jowell has infuriated Mr McConnell after he twice appealed for Scotland to be given representation on Ofcom, the powerful media regulator she has created.

Mr McConnell has vowed to fight the decision amid fears it could throw the future of quality regional broadcasting in Scotland into jeopardy.

He has sent an angry letter to the Culture Secretary, who has told friends she is taking a personal interest in the development of broadcasting in Scotland, especially the Gaelic service, after she dismissed his initial attempt to secure a seat for Scotland on Ofcom.

In the strongly-worded correspondence, Mr McConnell spelled out his firm view that it was essential Scotland had a seat on the board to protect broadcasting quality and standards north of the Border.

But his letter has been on the minister’s desk in Whitehall for at least four weeks, and it was confirmed last night that he has not received an official reply or even enjoyed informal contacts.

An aide to Ms Jowell said: "These things do not get answered overnight, but I am sure it will be dealt with."

The simmering row between Edinburgh and London intensified further after Ms Jowell sanctioned newspaper advertisements for senior Ofcom jobs before the Communications Bill, which will create them, has passed through parliament.

A source in the Scottish Executive said: "This dispute is still very much on-going. Jack McConnell is fighting hard to make sure Scotland’s interests are going to be represented."

The new super-regulator will swallow up the powers of five existing media bodies to give it control over the future of the industry, including decisions on sensitive mergers and take-overs of small broadcasting companies such as Border and Grampian Television.

The bodies Ofcom replaces are the Broadcasting Standards Commission, the Independent Television Commission (ITC), the Office of Telecommunications (Oftel), the Radio Authority and the Radiocommunications Agency.

The revelation that Mr McConnell had twice intervened directly about Ofcom ruined an attempt by the SNP to make political capital out of Scotland’s exclusion from the new regulator.

But the latest spat between Edinburgh and London will fuel Nationalist demands for broadcasting to be devolved to Scotland. Richard Lochhead, SNP MSP for North-East Scotland, challenged Mr McConnell to agree that the Westminster government’s draft Communications Bill posed a serious threat to broadcasting in Scotland "because it will open the door to faceless multinational companies and allow them to take over the independent television network".

He asked Mr McConnell in the Scottish parliament: "Is the First Minister aware that other devolved administrations have made representations to the UK government to secure a place on the boards of the new regulator? Has he done the same to protect Scotland’s interests?"

Mr McConnell said: "Not only have I made representations, I have done so twice.

"I have also spoken to the Secretary of State for Scotland. I intend to pursue the matter until final decisions are made."

The government has already made it plain it favours a small, slimmed-down board for Ofcom and its view has been approved by the Commons’ cross-party culture, media and sport committee.

The spokeswoman for Ms Jowell said: "There is still a great deal of time for discussion on the issues in the bill.

"But the government is clear that it wants Ofcom to have a small board. They think it is the right thing to do rather than have something unwieldy."

She said Scottish interests would be dealt with by sub-committees of Ofcom.

The draft Communications Bill is due to become law in the autumn of 2003, although the creation of the all-powerful media regulator Ofcom received Royal assent on 19 March.