Chamber and committees

If I understand correctly, you are saying that the level of returns, and the information that will be able to be gathered from the census returns, is a suitable level to allow the decisions that are required to be made on the basis of the census to be made.

That is a useful segue into the independent sector. Nicole Kleeman, you talked clearly about the support that Channel 4 has given you. If you are willing to share, I am interested to hear about the support that you have given the freelancers, the training that you are able to provide and how an independent production company’s business plan works, because we have heard a lot about collaboration and everything being connected, and the fact that you will be pitching ideas to different broadcasters.

I thank the panel for their evidence. As Mark Ruskell said, it has been stark. I turn first to David Smith. You were quoted earlier this year as saying:

“Channel 4 and the BBC are keystones in Scotland’s growing film and TV production sector.”

I think that you used the word “cornerstones” today. You went on:

“Without these public service broadcasters, we would have no independent production sector, and the highly rewarding jobs they create would be lost to us.”

You have touched on that, as has John McVay in his figures. Will you elaborate on that and explain your thoughts on what the change could mean for the independent production sector in Scotland?

I have a very quick question. Mr Lowe, you have twice referred to the census results as being a “solid foundation”. As I am a layperson, can you explain what that message from the international steering group means?

I am interested to get John McVay’s thoughts as well. You mentioned the loss of £4.2 billion to the UK creative sector on television and film production. We talk a lot about the ideas, the producers, the directors and the researchers, but what do the proposals mean for the technical side as well for the different roles in television and film production?

That is helpful. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Alex. I think that your graphic at the end of programmes, which shows where your programmes are made, is really obvious. I noticed that the “Gogglebox” one now covers the whole of the landmass, so thank you for doing that.

Following on from what you have just said, I note that we had some powerful evidence from Nicole Kleeman of Firecrest Films, talking about the benefit of collaboratively working with Channel 4 and the support that you are able to give in training and in providing longer commissions and so on. It would be useful to hear from Briony Robinson, from her perspective as the external affairs manager, how she sees that working and what the benefit has been of Channel 4 being a nimble, innovative organisation.

I have been thinking about consistency with other acts. Legislation on the protection of livestock was upgraded at the end of the previous parliamentary session and the beginning of this session. Are the provisions in the bill consistent with those in previous acts?

Michael Clancy, in the Law Society’s written evidence, you made some comments about a lack of definition of “consent or connivance”, and you questioned the three-year prosecution window. Is there anything that you would like to add to that?

Does Sara Shaw have any comments about the enforcement sections of the bill?