STV bosses have been criticised by MSPs for failing to give evidence and hand over documents relating to job cuts and restructuring at the channel.

The broadcaster was attacked after it rebuffed Holyrood’s culture committee, which is examining its controversial strategic review.

STV announced in May that it was restructuring its operation, with 34 jobs lost in news and a further 25 lost with the closure of its under-performing STV2 channel.

Designed to save £1m a year, the three-year strategy followed the arrival of new STV chief executive Simon Pitts on a £853,000 welcome package.

Mr Pitts gave evidence to the culture committee earlier this month, and MSPs now want STV chair Baroness Ford to appear before them on June 28.

However in a letter last night, Baroness Ford refused to attend citing other engagements that day, before adding she saw no reason to attend on any other date.

“I have no further evidence to add to the in-depth evidence which the Committee has already been provided on our company’s strategy and business plans,” she said.

STV also knocked back the committee’s request for a copy of a consultants' review of its news operations.

“We will consider that and come back to you on it,” Mr Pitts said on June 7.

However he has now said the report “was prepared specifically and solely for our plc Board and as such is commercially confidential,” and refused to disclose it.

Crystal Amber, the largest shareholder in STV, which is suspected by some MSPs of teeing up the STV for a sale to ITV, has also refused to send a representative.

SNP committee convener Joan McAlpine said: “The refusal of STV to hand over its strategy document after saying it would consider our request is very disappointing.

“I’m also unimpressed by the refusal of Crystal Amber to appear before our committee.

“Crystal Amber calls itself an ‘activist investor’ meaning as the largest shareholder it is very much involved in the direction of the company.

“These cumulative refusals make it imperative that the chair of the board, Baroness Ford, reconsiders our invitation to appear before MSPs on 28 June.”

Labour deputy convener Claire Baker added: “Questions still remain to be answered by STV on the cuts to its news service in Scotland. Our cross-party committee would expect the board of STV to recognise the importance of our invitation to give further evidence.”

It emerged on Monday that journalists at STV had dropped the immediate threat of strike action over job cuts after managers gave an assurance of no compulsory redundancies.

However an overwhelming ballot in favour of strike action remains active for six months.

A spokesperson for STV said: "Our Chief Executive Simon Pitts and Managing Director, Broadcast, Bobby Hain provided extensive and detailed information and responses to the committee on 7th June and our Chairman and Board are satisfied that this evidence provided a clear and comprehensive overview of the future growth strategy for STV.  

"We are continuing to actively engage in a consultation process with staff and trade union partners on the implementation of our news reorganisation. We are making good progress in reducing the scope of compulsory redundancies to the extent that the NUJ confirmed yesterday that they will not be initiating industrial action."