BBC publishes exec expenses, gifts

The BBC has disclosed the business-related expenses of its most senior managers, including all gift and hospitality declarations for the first time ever.

Individual expense reports for the six months from April to September 2009 were published today by the corporation for each of its 107 senior executives.

The information revealed that BBC director general Mark Thompson claimed for a £147.29 hotel stay in Stockholm on May 12 and a £162.11 mini-cab trip on June 26.

In his gift declarations, Thompson attended the Chelsea Flower Show on May 18 as a guest of Nick Bowers from Credit Suisse and later watched the British Grand Prix on June 21 as a guest of Formula 1.

He enjoyed a trip to Glyndebourne on July 3 with his wife courtesy of venue director David Pickard and attended the Wimbledon ladies' final on July 4, again with his wife, following an invite from the All England Club.

However, after receiving a Lumix digital camera from electronics firm Panasonic, Thompson opted to donate the gift to Children In Need.

On July 11, BBC director of audio and music Tim Davie also enjoyed a trip to Glyndebourne courtesy of Pickard. A day earlier, he received two tickets to see the BBC Concert Orchestra perform at the Henley Festival, but donated the cost of one ticket to Children in Need.

BBC director of Vision Jana Bennett claimed for nearly £2,500 in mini-cabs over the six months, including a £148.22 trip on August 31 and a £156.42 ride on September 10.

She also declared various theatre trips as gifts, including watching a performance of South African theatre on September 17 as a guest of the Garrick venue.

Among her declarations, BBC chief operating officer Caroline Thomson flagged up three bottles of wine she received as a thank you for speaking at The Future of Broadcasting Conference on June 30. She subsequently gave them all away.

The BBC also today confirmed that it paid £229m, or 6.56% of the licence fee, to artists, presenters, musicians and other contributors in the year to March 31, 2009.

The figure broke down as £115m on contracts of £50,000 or less (3.29% of the licence fee), £44m on contracts of £50,000 to £100,000 (1.26%), £16m on £100,000 to £150,000 deals (0.46%) and £54m on contracts above £150,000 (1.55%).

The amount paid by the BBC to artists, presenters, musicians and other contributors will now be published every year in the Annual Report. However, the corporation is still refusing to give an individual breakdown of each presenter's remuneration.

"Artists, presenters, musicians and other contributors are central to the BBC's ability to deliver high quality and distinctive programming and we know that audiences expect to see and hear them on BBC programmes," said Thomson.

"The BBC engages some of the greatest performers in the world across television and radio, and also nurtures and develops people that will be at the heart of our programmes in the future. They add to the credibility, expertise and creativity of the BBC."