Recommendation 19

The Committee’s view from the evidence we heard is that Scotland needs a BBC that is ambitious and accountable, and a BBC Scotland that is more devolved in its governance, better attuned to its audiences, financially and editorially empowered, in greater control of scheduling and commissioning, politically unencumbered by either government, firmly on the front foot in terms of leadership in the Scottish screen and broadcast sector, and fully able to fulfil the role of national public service broadcaster. We therefore invite the UK Government, the BBC and Ofcom to consider whether the BBC should adopt a more federal structure, one in which BBC Scotland would be a partner rather than a subsidiary, with greater fiscal and editorial control and commissioning power in each of the constituent nations of the UK.