MPs
have slammed BBC executives for awarding themselves salary and bonus increases
of up to 13 per cent – more than four times the rate of inflation.
The
payments were revealed in the BBC’s annual report, which detailed how the 18
members of the executive committee received £5.3m, up from £4.7m in the
previous year.
MPs
from the culture, media and sport committee accused the BBC of producing a
‘complacent’ annual review. They singled out Alan Yentob, who awarded himself a
£67,000 bonus even though the arts programme he presents had very low ratings.
The
committee also drew attention to the fact that millions of viewers pay the
annual TV licence fee of £116 even if they never watch the BBC.
Gerald
Kaufman, chairman of the committee, said: "Licensing is a poll tax and is
no longer appropriate. Now that the BBC has an audience under 30 per cent, I
don’t see why people who never watch it should help pay for very large salaries
and bonuses."
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The
executive committee’s opposite numbers at ITV only received a 2.5 per cent
increase.
