BBC to reject new calls for Holyrood tapes

Published on Sunday 25 January 2004 00:00

BBC Scotland is set to spurn renewed calls to hand over transcripts and footage of the Holyrood tapes to the Fraser inquiry despite accusations the corporation was following "double standards" by withholding the material.

The BBC and the Fraser inquiry into the soaring cost of the Scottish parliament have been at loggerheads after broadcasters refused to submit unseen interviews with then First Minister Donald Dewar and controversial architect Enric Miralles, who have since died.

The Scottish Conservatives have accused the BBC of "double standards" over its refusal to hand over untransmitted interviews to the Holyrood inquiry. They said the decision contrasted sharply with co-operation given to the Hutton inquiry, where the corporation handed over a transcript of an untransmitted interview with the government expert Dr David Kelly, whose death led to the Hutton investigation.

The interview was finally broadcast in a Panorama programme last week.

Although the BBC has said it would consider any fresh approach from the Fraser inquiry, insiders have told Scotland on Sunday that the comparison to Hutton would not change their stance.

An insider said: "We do not accept that it follows that we should hand over the tapes of a transcript because of what happened at the Hutton inquiry. The position of the BBC was different then and the BBC was to some extent in the dock over the whole affair. That is not the argument this time. I don’t think that anyone is blaming BBC Scotland for the cost increases at the Scottish parliament."

He added: "The policy is that we do not hand over unbroadcast material. That has always been BBC policy and it will continue to be so."

However, the Scottish Tories last night rounded on the corporation for refusing to hand the footage over to the inquiry.

A spokesman said: "I should like to know where in the BBC’s guidelines this distinction exists. If the BBC saw fit to hand material over to the Hutton inquiry then the same principle should apply in this case."