EVESHAM’S MP Nigel Huddleston has backed a report by an influential group of MPs which has called on the BBC to reveal the pay of their top talent who earn more than the Prime Minister.
The Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, which Mr Huddleston sits on, has published a report on the BBC White Paper and has made a series of recommendations to the corporation, including making the broadcaster publish details of all salaries more than £143,000.
This would mean the salaries of their top talent would be made public. However, the BBC has raised concern that this could lead to other broadcasters poaching their stars if their salaries are revealed.
Speaking following the publication of the report, Mr Huddleston said: “It is vital that the new governance arrangements should preserve, and be seen to preserve, the independence of the BBC from interest group pressure and from pressure from politicians,” Mr Huddleston said.
“The BBC has made real progress in providing a degree of transparency as to the number of people whose pay exceeds certain levels.
“The fact of the matter is however, licence fee payers have a right to know where and how their money is being spent to a much greater degree than the currently do. This should include the vast sums of money being spent on BBC talent.
“Given that the threshold for the publishing of executives’ salaries will be £143,000, there is no good reason why the same should not apply to BBC performers, presenters and producers.
“The fact that it has been difficult to find out what talent is paid raises suspicion.
This would reduce that, and the chance of there being unfair or inappropriate compensation to BBC talent.”
