CHANGES TO BBC WEATHER BULLETIN

Early day motion 81, tabled 17 May 2005 by Angus MacNeil (Scottish National Party). Signed by 12 members.

That this House notes that the changes the BBC has made recently to weather forecast bulletins distorts Scotland, Northern Ireland and the north of England on the map and reduces the information available to many viewers, especially across the north of Scotland; recognises that this is particularly unwelcome in Na h-Eileanan an Iar where the variability of the weather can affect many crucial activities tied to people's livelihoods, including crofting and fishing, and where information and forecast are particularly important for a range of outdoor pursuits; further notes that the Hebrides used to have two weather icons covering the 180 mile length and that now there is one icon which will indicate the weather in neither the north or the south of the Hebrides effectively; further notes that England has a landmass which is less than twice Scotland's area yet the recent changes give England a presence on the television screen which is 10 times that of Scotland; and calls on honourable Members to make representatives to the BBC to think again and give the north and Islands of Scotland their due prominence on screen.

Signatures by party: Scottish National Party 6, Liberal Democrat 3, DUP 1, Labour 1, Plaid Cymru 1.