BBC bosses claim £175k expenses in three months

By Sam Marsden

Friday, November 13, 2009

TOP BBC managers claimed nearly £175,000 (about €195,000) in expenses in three months, it was revealed yesterday.

The claims ranged from 70p for a parking meter by the corporation’s director general, Mark Thompson, to £3,211.70 (about €3,575) for a flight to New York by its creative director, Alan Yentob.

They included a total of £46,110 (€51,340) for taxis, £50,375 (€56,085) for flights, £30,314 (€33,750) for hospitality and £16,678 (€18,570) for hotels between April and June this year.

The details emerged after the BBC published the salaries and expenses claims of its 107 most senior "decision-makers" yesterday.

Some 46 of the corporation’s managers earn more than Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s salary of £194,250 (€216,275), figures showed.

The Liberal Democrats said many people would be "gobsmacked" by some of the claims and pay packets, and called for a "clampdown on excess" at the top of the BBC.

Caroline Thomson, the corporation’s chief operating officer, claimed more than £4,000 (€4,450) for taxis over the three-month period, charging £1,534.47 (€1,700) in May alone.

The executive, who earns a basic salary of £333,000 (€370,000) and has a total remuneration package worth £413,000 (€460,000), made one claim for a taxi costing £114.42.

A BBC spokesman said Thomson needed to travel extensively as part of her role. "In London it can be quicker to go by taxi and she can also take calls, which she would not be able to do if she travelled by Tube or bus," he said.

The controller of Radio 1 claimed nearly £550 (€610) for equipment for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro for Comic Relief, his expenses revealed.

Andy Parfitt completed the charity ascent of the 19,300ft peak in March alongside celebrities including Radio 1 DJs Chris Moyles and Fearne Cotton and singers Gary Barlow and Cheryl Cole.

Parfitt, who is on a total pay package of £218,800 (€243,700) bought £541.83 (€600) worth of "specialist clothing" and other "essentials" for the expedition.

He also claimed £26.20 (€29) for taxis to pick up and transport his equipment for climbing the mountain.

BBC director general Mr Thompson, who receives a salary of £664,000 (€740,000) and a total remuneration worth £834,000 (€930,000), claimed 70p for parking on seven separate occasions.

He claimed a total of £89.73 (€100) in parking meter charges between March and the start of May this year.

Mr Thompson’s expenses claims totalled £3,364.75 (€3,750), including £647.50 (€750) for a night in the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas.

Lib Dem media spokesman Don Foster said: "Many people will be gobsmacked by some of the claims and salaries revealed. The licence fee should be spent on high quality programmes, not unnecessary hotels and flights."

This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Friday, November 13, 2009