THE SNP voiced concern at the scope of the broadcaster's shake-up being pushed through by ministers.

Culture Secretary John Whittingdale rejected fears expressed by East Dunbartonshire MP John Nicolson, a former BBC journalist, over what influence he would have regarding appointees to the BBC Trust's replacement.

It came as he was questioned by the Commons Media Committee over the Government's controversial overhaul of the corporation's royal charter.

The board will have up to 14 members, with the BBC responsible for appointing at least half of the members and the Government no more than six.

Mr Nicolson said the minister had done exactly that when he disbanded the panel selecting trustees for the National Portrait Gallery (NPG) because it rejected the five candidates he had wanted appointed.

"All of us are very concerned that you might do that with the BBC appointees. All of us on the committee are worried about BBC independence," Mr Nicolson said.

He also said Mr Whittingdale looked 'visibly uncomfortable' when pressed over the fate of the so-called 'Scottish Six' news bulletin that has been mooted for years.

Mr Nicolson said: "On the Scottish Six - Mr Whittingdale said that the BBC's role was to bring the country together. I disagree. The job of the BBC is to be editorially and journalistically independent. The Secretary of State should be playing no role in trying to influence or block a separate Scottish Six."

Meanwhile, Mr Whittingdale said a decision on whether to press ahead with the second stage of the Leveson Inquiry, into relationships between the Press and police, could be taken by the new year.