Additional funding for the Gaelic broadcaster MG Alba is not being cut despite "tough economic times", the UK Culture Secretary has said.

Maria Miller has confirmed that MG Alba has been protected from budget reductions in the Chancellor's Autumn Statement.

She insisted that £1 million of extra funding in 2016 for Scottish Gaelic broadcasting, set out in the UK Government's spending review earlier this year, would not be affected.

MG Alba, which stands for Gaelic Media Scotland, established the BBC Alba Gaelic language television service in partnership with the BBC.

Ms Miller praised its work, and said: "The Scottish Gaelic language is an integral part of our incredibly diverse culture and it's important we protect that diversity.

"MG Alba plays a crucial role in the cultural and economic wellbeing of Scotland. I'm pleased that even in tough economic times we can continue supporting minority language broadcasting in Scotland.

"We are providing the funding certainty that the channel needs to continue bringing high-quality Gaelic language programmes to the small screen."