SECRET scripts have been written by the BBC that would be read on air if energy shortages cause blackouts this winter.
As reported by The Guardian, the scripts outline how the BBC would reassure viewers if there was a “major loss of power” causing infrastructure systems like mobile phone networks and banking to fail across mainland Britain.
Northern Ireland would be unaffected as it shares its electricity grid with the Republic of Ireland.
In this scenario, people would be advised to use car and battery-powered radios to receive emergency broadcasts on FM and long-wave frequencies that would usually be broadcast on Radio 2 and Radio 4.
One of the scripts warns that a blackout could last as long as two days, with hospitals and emergency services under “extreme pressure”.
Another of the scripts says: “The government has said it’s hoped power will be restored in the next 36 to 48 hours. Different parts of Britain will start to receive intermittent supplies before then.”
It is reported that the documents were produced by BBC journalists as part of routine emergency planning for hypothetical situations and include login details for the different areas of Britain.
As part of the Government’s civil contingencies planning, the BBC has a formal role in spreading information across the country in case of a national emergency.
The corporation’s governance framework says: “If it appears to any UK government minister that an emergency has arisen, that minister may request that the BBC broadcast or otherwise distribute any announcement or other programme.”
While the Government collaborates with the BBC in the course of its emergency planning process, it is not clear whether it influenced the content of the scripts.
A government spokesperson said: “The government is confident that this is not a scenario we will face this winter.”
The BBC said it did not comment on its emergency broadcasting plans.
This follows the National Grid warning that energy supplies could be at risk this winter. In a hypothetical worst scenario, the organisation said it could order planned blackouts for up to three hours a day if Russia severs its gas supply to Europe.
The National Grid’s chief executive, John Pettigrew, said on Monday that if everything that could go wrong did then there could be rolling blackouts between 4pm and 7pm on “really, really cold” days in January and February - when there is not enough wind to power turbines.
The scenario in the BBC’s draft plans suggests that the broadcaster would run a severely reduced temporary radio service from the UK’s emergency broadcasting centre, said to be in a rural location that is not acknowledged by the corporation.
The service would broadcast news bulleting on Radio 4’s FM and long-wave frequencies every 30 minutes, along with a “music service”. Meanwhile, Radio 2 would provide news updates on its FM spectrum.
One of the hypothetical scenarios in the scripts assumes that mains electricity is only operational in a few areas of Scotland, namely the Western Isles, Orkney, Shetland and some parts of the Highlands.
One script states that an emergency coordination centre has been set up in Wales while Nicola Sturgeon chairs the devolved government’s emergency planning meeting.
Adding: “Officials are saying there is no current risk to food supply and distribution. But they’re asking people to look out for vulnerable neighbours and relatives.”
