BBC AUSTERITY

Recession? What recession?

The expenses of senior BBC bosses have soared by 20 per cent in a year largely as a result of the costly move to Salford. Executives face fresh accusations of profligacy after spending on rail fares shot up by 57 per cent, while its hotel bill surged by 70 per cent. Figures, which cover the opening months of the new Media City, show the financial impact of the BBC’s plans to become less ‘London-centric’ In the latest numbers covering a three-month period from April to June 2011, the combined expenses bill of the top 102 senior managers grew to £183,276. This is a rise of a fifth on the same period of 2010 when the total was £152,257 – and came as the rest of the UK faced an austerity drive.