THE issue of fair pay for women at the BBC is “far worse” in Scotland than it is for the broadcaster across the UK as a whole, according to the SNP. Hannah Bardell MP, who is the party’s media spokeswoman at Westminster, and a former BBC producer, said the statistics are an “insult” and urged BBC Scotland to close the gender pay gap before a dedicated TV channel for Scotland is launched next year.

The comments came as the Sunday Herald learned that bonus pay for men at BBC Scotland far exceeds that of women. Statistics released following a Freedom of Information request show a bonus scheme set up to reward “exceptional performance” favours men, with women’s average bonus pay 32 per cent lower than men’s at BBC Scotland.

Bardell said: “There are a lot of talented people working at BBC Scotland and this disparity of pay and massive gap in bonuses on gender lines – which is far worse at BBC Scotland than the BBC UK wide – is an insult to them. It is vital that gender equal pay is in place with the staff of the new BBC Scotland channel from its launch date.”

Organisations which campaign for gender equality have also criticised BBC Scotland and called for urgent action. New legislation which came into force in April requires companies with 250 or more employees to publish their gender pay gap – the difference between women’s and men’s average earnings.

The gender pay gap is different to equal pay legislation, which has required companies to pay women and men the same for equal or similar work since the 1970s.

Under gender pay gap rules, employers must publish a range of calculations, which includes the bonus pay gap and the proportion of females and males in each pay quartile. The BBC’s gender pay gap figures were released last year but specific figures for BBC Scotland were only made available following a Freedom of Information request.

Executive director of charity Engender, Emma Ritch, said: “We’re disappointed but not surprised at these figures, which show there is still a long way to go before women are seen and treated as equal at BBC Scotland. It is also disappointing that these figures were only revealed after a Freedom of Information request, rather than BBC Scotland directly acknowledging their failure to close the pay gap.

“Women are routinely objectified, belittled and dismissed in Scottish media, and until media organisations acknowledge their role in perpetuating gender equality, and take steps to change, this situation will not change.”

The statistics show women who work for the BBC in Scotland are paid eight per cent less than men on average and women’s average bonus pay is 32 per cent lower than men’s. The BBC’s overall figure for the UK shows women are paid nine per cent less than men on average but women’s bonus pay is 20 per cent lower than men’s.

Anna Ritchie Allan, executive director of Close the Gap, which works to address the causes of women’s inequality, said: “When it comes to discretionary pay, women tend to lose out. This is borne out in the wide disparity in bonus earnings at BBC Scotland. In our experience, bonus schemes that reward exceptional performance can unfairly favour stereotypically male traits, and entrench existing inequalities as men are more likely to be in roles that have access to this type of reward.”

The statistics also show 62 per cent of the highest paid jobs at BBC Scotland are done by men, while 62 per cent of the lowest paid jobs are done by women. Figures for the BBC across the UK show 62 per cent of the highest paid roles are done by men, while 58 per cent of the lowest paid jobs are done by women.

Last year some of the BBC’s most high-profile female staff called on the corporation to “act now” to deal with the gender pay gap. Clare Balding, Victoria Derbyshire and Emily Maitlis were among those who signed an open letter to director-general Lord Tony Hall.

In January former BBC Scotland health correspondent Eleanor Bradford told a committee of MPs she was “one of the lowest-paid correspondents” and revealed she quit the BBC when managers refused to put her salary on a similar level with those of male colleagues, leaving her earning £10,000 less than some, even after a raise.

The BBC’s China editor Carrie Gracie resigned from her post, also in January, citing pay inequality with male colleagues. The Equality and Human Rights Commission then launched an investigation into pay discrimination at the BBC. A spokesman for the EHRC said: “We are in the process of analysing their latest response and considering our next steps.”

A BBC statement which was included in the response to the Freedom of Information request said: “The BBC is committed to closing the gender pay gap by 2020. Although the BBC’s gender pay gap is significantly lower than the national average and better than almost all other broadcasters, we are determined to lead the way in this area.

“Last year an equal pay audit...found there was no systemic gender discrimination in the way the BBC pays its staff. An On Air Review, which covered correspondents, presenters and on-air editors in news and news-related areas, also found no evidence of gender bias in pay decision making.”

A BBC Scotland spokesman added: “These figures relate to 2016/17. One year on, we have made significant improvements and we are well on track to meet all of our targets by 2020.”

CONVERSATION ABOUT GENDER PAY GAP MUST LEAD TO ACTION, WARN CAMPAIGNERS

Women In Journalism (WIJ) Scotland – a campaigning, networking and training organisation with around 100 members – is working with BBC Scotland to close the gender pay gap.

WIJ Scotland secretary Eve Livingston said: “Underpinning any gender pay gap is a combination of factors ranging from the types of roles that women find themselves concentrated in – often low-paid, insecure or part-time – to recruitment and promotion practices which implicitly disadvantage women. These issues therefore go beyond organisations or individuals, and are structural and embedded in society at large.

“The solutions are manifold, and we have been pleased to partner with organisations including BBC Scotland on a number of initiatives designed to strengthen the position of women in Scotland’s media.

“An increased focus on pay inequality has brought with it a much-needed conversation about the status of women in journalism. Our priority now will be ensuring that this translates into real action so that the important contribution of women to all aspects of Scotland’s media is truly valued.”

National Union of Journalists (NUJ) Scotland organiser John Toner is also working with BBC Scotland staff to close the gender pay gap “through a collective process with the company”. Toner added: “We are determined to assist our members in challenging disparity in pay not just at the corporation but across the media industry.”