Report puts BBC pension deficit at £1bn

The National Union Of Journalists has called on the BBC to come clean about its pension deficit, after leaked figures appeared to counteract management claims.

In a statement today, the NUJ said that it has seen a report drawn up for the BBC by financial consultants that puts the pension deficit at £1 billion, considerably below the £2bn previously suggested.

Jeremy Dear, NUJ general secretary, said: "The BBC sought to sell its pensions robbery by claiming it had to plug a £2bn deficit. If today's figures are true, that has now been exposed as a sham.

"The BBC's credibility is in tatters and their justification for these punitive changes completely undermined. They must now come clean and restart negotiations with everything on the table."

The pension scheme's actuaries, who are believed to privately estimate the deficit at around £1.5bn, are currently in talks with the BBC to lock down the final figure.

In response to the NUJ claim, BBC Trustee Jeremy Peat told PA: "We are only beginning discussions with our actuaries over the deficit. I have discussed no figures as yet with the BBC but this figure of £1 billion is not one I recognise."

Members of the BBC staff unions, the NUJ, Bectu and Unite have already voted by more than 90% in favour of strike action over changes to the pension scheme. They are now voting in a further consultative ballot on the BBC's latest offer.

A 48-hour strike initially planned for tomorrow has been cancelled, but the BBC members will hold a 24-hour work to rule on October 22 in protest at the pension plans.