Liberal Democrat Culture spokesperson Iain Smith MSP has called on the Government to clarify what powers it used to set up the Scottish Broadcasting Commission, where the money to pay for it will come from and who has authorised this expenditure. Mr Smith received unsatisfactory replies to Parliamentary Questions and has been forced to table further questions to uncover the truth behind the Scottish Broadcasting Commission.

Commenting, Mr Smith said:

“The Scottish Government wriggled out of answering my questions about what powers it used to set up the Scottish Broadcasting Commission. Ministers also failed to reveal where the money to pay for this commission will come from and who authorised the expenditure.

"The Scottish Government can only spend money in line with a budget authorised by the Scottish Parliament. Ministers failed to answer the question about when the Scottish Parliament authorised expenditure on a broadcasting commission. Ministers must clarify urgently who has cleared this expenditure.

“This Government has made much of being open and transparent, a philosophy clearly not extended to the Scottish Broadcasting Commission. I have tabled further questions to the Scottish Government to get to the bottom of this mystery. I will find out what Ministers are hiding.”