Deep inOfcom’s annual report on the BBC: 2018/19 Annex 2: BBC Performance Report, we find the above graph. It shows, red bar, a boost in spending in Scotland of £76 million (10%) between 2013 and 2014 then a return to lower levels between 2016 and 2017. The report does not comment on this. The important thing about this report is that, for Scots, it only measures satisfaction with BBC UK in a general sense and including the wildly popular wildlife shows. We do not, crucially, find out what Scots think of Reporting Scotland or Good mourning Scotland. If they asked, … Continue reading BBC Scotland popularity sneakily not assessed by Ofcom but BBC UK less popular in Scotland despite cynical boost in spending here around Referendum

From Insider yesterday: More than £32 million of Venture Capital (VC) was invested into Scottish start-ups in the third quarter of 2019, according to KPMG’s latest Venture Pulse survey. The figures, compiled by Pitchbook, reveal that though deal volume has dipped slightly, from 16 deals in the previous quarter, to 13 in Q3, deal value has increased, from £23.8 million in the second quarter of 2019, to £32.42 million in quarter three. The start-ups that benefited from funding included businesses in life sciences, agri-tech and manufacturing. Of these nine are based in Edinburgh and the Borders, three in Glasgow and West Central Scotland, … Continue reading Venture capital investments in Scotland up 36% in one year!

From Insider yesterday: Scotland’s food and farming sector is leading the way in meeting net-zero in carbon use and other key challenges according to a major new report. The RSA Food, Farming and Countryside Commission says that Scotland’s farmers and others are leading in this, in shifting to agroecology and the demand for improved ethical livestock standards. The report Scotland Field Guide for The Future comes from the Royal Society of the Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) Scotland, with the James Hutton Institute and is funded by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation. https://www.insider.co.uk/news/major-new-report-highlights-scotlands-20708693 Also leading the way on quantity: 8% of … Continue reading Scotland’s food and farming sector leading the way in net-zero carbon use as well as quantity

The Ofcom report today says this or something akin to it, seven times: People in Scotland, those aged 65 and over, especially disabled people in this age group, also continue to rate the BBC’s delivery of Public Purpose 4 lower than the overall population. I don’t know yet the actual figures but BBC Scotland, broadcast, online and radio have been studiously ignoring it. Good Morning Scotland did report on its problem attracting younger audiences, only, this morning with the Professor of Cultural Theory at Glasgow University and Maggie Brown, a ‘Channel 4 historian.’ Neither raised the issue of Scots’ disaffection … Continue reading Good Mourning Scotland get a pet establishment prof and a journo pal to tell them not to worry about the Ofcom report and of course ignore the Scottish thing

A reminder of one of the most clear, but by no means the only, example of BBC Bias against the SNP published today in the Ofcom report: Sunday Politics, BBC One, 30 April 2017, 11:24 This programme included an interview with the Scottish National Party (“SNP”) former Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond in which the presenter, Andrew Neil, asked about the SNP’s record on education. In one of his questions (“Why, after a decade of SNP rule, do one in five Scots pupils leave primary school functionally illiterate?”), Andrew Neil appeared to quote data from an official statistical source to … Continue reading How BBC’s Andrew Neil materially mislead the audience

From Energy Voice yesterday: Orbital Marine Power has teamed up with Swedish engineer SKF for its power train supply on the world’s most powerful tidal turbine. This will become the world’s most powerful tidal turbine when it enters operation at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney in 2020. Orbital has been working with SKF for the supply of critical bearing and sealing components since 2011 in both its 250kW unit and the SR2000-2MW unit, which produced more than 3GWh of electricity over its initial 12-month test programme. The announcement also follows the Scottish Government’s award of a £3.4 … Continue reading World’s most powerful tidal turbine for Orkney after £3.4 million Scottish Government grant

From Benefits in Wales: options for better delivery in October 2019: One of the strongest arguments we heard was the opportunity devolution could provide to better involve people with lived experience in the design, delivery, evaluation, and management of benefits. There is much that can be learnt from the excellent work in Scotland. We heard of a number of examples where lived experience directly fed into changes into how the system is administered, and the benefits themselves. Devolution was said to have allowed a better alignment between the income support, and broader personal support, such as advice on budget management … Continue reading National Assembly for Wales report praises ‘excellent work in Scotland’ as SNP improves benefits delivery

Reporting Scotland Down, once more, turns any crime figures into a scare. This morning and throughout the day we’ll hear: More than 5 000 sexual offences against children were recorded in Scotland in the last year. That’s according to the charity NSPCC. The figures represent a 30% increase in the past four years. Some of the cases will be non-recent offences. This does not mean that sexual offences against children are increasing. Despite the horror we feel in reading this, it’s important to remember that increases in the reporting of any crimes, especially those where victims often feel ashamed, tend … Continue reading Contrary to BBC scare story, more sexually abused young Scots feel more able to come forward but England’s councils betray them

https://ragmansbugle.wordpress.com/2019/10/21/orwell-and-language-in-politics/ Continue reading Orwell and language in Brexit politics

After a competitive selection process, former territorial army signaller and Scottish Tory leader (not really), Ruth Davidson has been appointed Special Adviser in the strategic financial and corporate communications advisory firm, Tulchan, headed up by top Tory, Andrew Feldman: BBC Scotland seem to have missed this last detail but to the online researcher’s credit, at the end, write: The UK’s largest PR trade body, the Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA), has criticised Ms Davidson’s appointment. PRCA director general Francis Ingham said: “It is simply wrong for lobbying agencies to employ legislators. “The possible conflict of interest in doing so is clear, … Continue reading Don’t you just love Britain’s meritocracy as long as you’re a Tory?