Hyslop angered by cuts at BBC Scotland

The broadcaster could cut up to 120 jobs by 2017 in a push to reduce its budget by 16 per cent. This would result in reductions of £16.1 million.

With the Scottish Government planning to hold its independence referendum in 2014, Ms Hyslop demanded assurances that the quality of news and current affairs coverage at the BBC would not suffer.

Ms Hyslop said: “As a result of the UK government’s damaging licence fee agreement, BBC Scotland’s baseline budget is being slashed to just £86m per year, a cut of 16 per cent, with up to 120 jobs losses and potential reductions across online, television and radio programming.

“Cuts on this scale – at such a historic time for our nation – are bitterly disappointing.”

The proposals are part of the broadcaster’s Delivering Quality First scheme, which has been rubber-stamped by the BBC Trust. The BBC has committed itself to saving billions of pounds from its budget after the annual licence fee was frozen at £145.50 for six years.

Ms Hyslop said: “I have grave reservations about the potential impact of Delivering Quality First on the BBC in Scotland.”

A spokesman for BBC Scotland said: “We do have to take some tough decisions on our spend in Scotland, but we will safeguard the output, which is most valued by our audiences and which best fulfils our role as Scotland’s national public service broadcaster.”