Mark Thompson defends pay hikes

BBC director general Mark Thompson has been forced to defend the pay rises given to top executives in a year of job cuts and deception scandals.

The corporation's ten executive directors were paid a total of £733,000 more in 2007/8 than in 2006/7 - including a £28,000 increase for Thompson himself - its annual report revealed yesterday.

"BBC executive benefits are set at a much lower level than most of our equivalents," said the director general. "When you actually get out into the external world, some potential candidates almost roll on the floor laughing when you talk about potential levels of pay."

The salaries of several directors had been increased because they were given additional duties in "a major restructuring", he added.

Thompson, who declined to take his bonus for the fourth successive year, said it did not feel right at a time of "disruption and uncertainty" for the corporation. He also revealed that bonuses for Jana Bennett, BBC Vision director, and Jenny Abramsky, outgoing director of audio and music, had been cut by 40% because of last year's deception revelations.

The pair still received £23,000 and £19,000 respectively, and their total pay increased by £103,000 and £90,000.

In the autumn, the BBC announced it would cut up to 1,800 jobs following a smaller-than-expected licence fee increase. Gerry Morrissey, general secretary of broadcast union BECTU, said: "Because of the thousands of job losses that have happened, most of our members have taken on additional responsibilities - therefore we do not believe the hikes in executive salaries are justified."