With specific regard to the issue of provision of local public service television for Dundee in the future, local MSPs Joe FitzPatrick (SNP, Dundee West), Alison McInnes (LibDem, North East Scotland) and Marlyn Glen (Labour, North East Scotland) all responded positively to my request to sign a motion in the Scottish Parliament on the issue - see below - I note that Nanette Milne (Conservative, North East Scotland) has also given the motion her support, so good to see all-party agreement on this issue:
S3M-01359 Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Scottish Labour): Local Television— That the Parliament congratulates Ofcom on finding a means to deliver local television through Freeview to virtually every household across the United Kingdom; looks to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to introduce a licence in the near future to enable the provision of local public service television to be offered in each area at digital switchover, and urges the Scottish Government to consider how it can support the establishment of local public service television throughout Scotland.
Supported by : Jamie Hepburn, Rob Gibson, Bob Doris, Jim Tolson, Patrick Harvie, Trish Godman, Marilyn Livingstone, Tom McCabe, George Foulkes, Mary Mulligan, Pauline McNeill, Malcolm Chisholm, Hugh Henry, Robin Harper, Lewis Macdonald, Ted Brocklebank, Dr Richard Simpson, Nanette Milne, Alison McInnes, Jim Hume, Liam McArthur, Helen Eadie, Mike Pringle, Hugh O'Donnell, Marlyn Glen, Jamie McGrigor, Joe FitzPatrick, Ken Macintosh, Kenneth Gibson, John Park
Lodged on Friday, February 15, 2008; Current
There has also been a motion presented to the Westminster Parliament on the issue - click on the headline above to read today's press release from "United for local television" about the issue. Here in Dundee, as I have previously indicated, the City Council’s Economic Development Director has made a detailed submission to Ofcom indicating that Dundee wishes to be considered for future local TV output, given the popularity of the former Channel 6 station in the City. Local TV provision for Dundee would be an super development, so I'll keep fingers crossed on the Ofcom front! Many thanks to all residents who have contacted me regarding this issue, for their support and encouragement.