The BBC will undergo a two-week search for volunteers for redundancy next month.

Talks between the corporation and unions representing journalists and broadcasting workers will begin on November 5 on plans to cut 2500 jobs, including around 230 at BBC Scotland.

The search for volunteers will end on November 19 and further talks will be held with unions before any cuts are agreed, but the National Union of Journalists and Bectu repeated yesterday that if talks break down, they will ballot for strike action.

That agreement is the national framework for talks about job losses - at BBC Scotland the dates of any negotiations have not yet been confirmed.

Jeremy Dear, general secretary of the NUJ, said: "Whilst we welcome the BBC's change of mind on a national framework for our negotiations, they still fail to grasp the significant impact the proposed cuts will have on quality and core BBC public service commitments."

A BBC statement said: "The BBC is pleased to have concluded talks on a national framework agreement that enables us to begin to implement our six-year plan. Our staff have told us that they want us to move speedily to minimise any period of uncertainty about jobs."

Gerry Morrissey, general secretary of Bectu, said: "The joint unions remain fully committed to opposing any compulsory redundancies and any significant changes to unsociable pay allowances and pension arrangements.

"We believe that if the BBC is prepared to work with us, then we can assist them with the financial problems that currently exist as a result of a poor licence fee settlement."