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BBC's Lord Patten flatly contradicted by Mark Thompson over evidence to MPs BBC's Lord Patten flatly contradicted by Mark Thompson over evidence to MPs
(2 months later)
A growing rift has emerged over the BBC's controversial £60m of redundancy payouts to senior staff, with the former director general Mark Thompson at loggerheads with Lord Patten, the BBC Trust chairman.A growing rift has emerged over the BBC's controversial £60m of redundancy payouts to senior staff, with the former director general Mark Thompson at loggerheads with Lord Patten, the BBC Trust chairman.
Thompson, who is now chief executive of the New York Times Company, issued a strongly worded statement on Thursday contradicting key passages of Patten's evidence to the Commons public accounts committee 24 hours earlier.Thompson, who is now chief executive of the New York Times Company, issued a strongly worded statement on Thursday contradicting key passages of Patten's evidence to the Commons public accounts committee 24 hours earlier.
The former director general, who will appear before MPs in November, said the trust was "fully informed in advance" of the near-£1m redundancy package given to his former deputy, Mark Byford.The former director general, who will appear before MPs in November, said the trust was "fully informed in advance" of the near-£1m redundancy package given to his former deputy, Mark Byford.
Thompson said he had "made sure that the trust were aware of and understood all potentially contentious issues" and had been sent a "detailed analysis of the value-for-money case" of redundancies at the top of the corporation.Thompson said he had "made sure that the trust were aware of and understood all potentially contentious issues" and had been sent a "detailed analysis of the value-for-money case" of redundancies at the top of the corporation.
Patten told the committee on Wednesday that he assumed, and had been told by Thompson, that Byford's redundancy, and that of another former senior BBC executive, the marketing and communications chief Sharon Baylay, were being made on contractual terms.Patten told the committee on Wednesday that he assumed, and had been told by Thompson, that Byford's redundancy, and that of another former senior BBC executive, the marketing and communications chief Sharon Baylay, were being made on contractual terms.
"It was a question of shock and dismay for us to discover how many [redundancy payouts] had been beyond contractual and had therefore been even higher than they needed to be," said Patten."It was a question of shock and dismay for us to discover how many [redundancy payouts] had been beyond contractual and had therefore been even higher than they needed to be," said Patten.
A friend of Thompson said the former director general had been "surprised and gobsmacked" by his former BBC colleague's evidence to MPs and "reluctantly felt he had to step in to defend his own reputation in the light of what had been said".A friend of Thompson said the former director general had been "surprised and gobsmacked" by his former BBC colleague's evidence to MPs and "reluctantly felt he had to step in to defend his own reputation in the light of what had been said".
It has emerged that an email sent by Thompson's office to the BBC Trust director, Nicholas Kroll, on 8 October 2010, said Byford and Baylay would receive "maximum payments". It said they would be given their formal redundancy letters in "calendar year 2011".It has emerged that an email sent by Thompson's office to the BBC Trust director, Nicholas Kroll, on 8 October 2010, said Byford and Baylay would receive "maximum payments". It said they would be given their formal redundancy letters in "calendar year 2011".
Although the decision to make Byford redundant was made in October 2010, he remained on staff for a further eight months before receiving his full redundancy payment, 12 months' salary worth £474,500, with a further £474,500 pay in lieu of notice. Byford's severance settlement was criticised by MPs on the PAC on Wednesday as one of a number in which the BBC paid out more than its contractual obligations.Although the decision to make Byford redundant was made in October 2010, he remained on staff for a further eight months before receiving his full redundancy payment, 12 months' salary worth £474,500, with a further £474,500 pay in lieu of notice. Byford's severance settlement was criticised by MPs on the PAC on Wednesday as one of a number in which the BBC paid out more than its contractual obligations.
Thompson, in his statement, said he was "looking forward to laying the facts in front of the public accounts committee in person, but there are a couple of inaccuracies ... which I would like to clear up".Thompson, in his statement, said he was "looking forward to laying the facts in front of the public accounts committee in person, but there are a couple of inaccuracies ... which I would like to clear up".
"I had made sure that the trust were aware of and understood all potentially contentious issues (including the fact that formal notice would not be served at once)," he added."I had made sure that the trust were aware of and understood all potentially contentious issues (including the fact that formal notice would not be served at once)," he added.
Thompson said he was not involved in the £375,000 payoff to the BBC's former director of archive content Roly Keating, who later returned the money after the National Audit Office described it as "seriously deficient". "If I had been consulted, I would not have approved it," said Thompson.Thompson said he was not involved in the £375,000 payoff to the BBC's former director of archive content Roly Keating, who later returned the money after the National Audit Office described it as "seriously deficient". "If I had been consulted, I would not have approved it," said Thompson.
A spokeswoman for the BBC Trust said Thompson's October 2010 email predated Patten's tenure as chairman; the trust was then headed by Sir Michael Lyons.A spokeswoman for the BBC Trust said Thompson's October 2010 email predated Patten's tenure as chairman; the trust was then headed by Sir Michael Lyons.
She added: "It did not contain a breakdown of the payments themselves, and no reasonable reading of this correspondence would have concluded that it indicates these individuals were to be given excessive pay in lieu of notice."She added: "It did not contain a breakdown of the payments themselves, and no reasonable reading of this correspondence would have concluded that it indicates these individuals were to be given excessive pay in lieu of notice."
The New York Times Company said in a statement: "Mark [Thompson] continues to have the full support of the New York Times Company board and of his colleagues in management."The New York Times Company said in a statement: "Mark [Thompson] continues to have the full support of the New York Times Company board and of his colleagues in management."
The BBC Trust said on Thursday it was considering the committee's request to provide the names of 150 senior managers who received severance payments in the three years to 2012.The BBC Trust said on Thursday it was considering the committee's request to provide the names of 150 senior managers who received severance payments in the three years to 2012.
The committee said if necessary it would use its parliamentary powers to force the BBC to identify the executives after Tony Hall, the BBC director general, said he had taken advice from the information commissioner not to do so because of data protection issues.The committee said if necessary it would use its parliamentary powers to force the BBC to identify the executives after Tony Hall, the BBC director general, said he had taken advice from the information commissioner not to do so because of data protection issues.
Patten told MPs if they used parliamentary privilege to obtain the names there would be a "hell of an argument about what it would do to the BBC's independence, which I am statutorily obliged to defend".Patten told MPs if they used parliamentary privilege to obtain the names there would be a "hell of an argument about what it would do to the BBC's independence, which I am statutorily obliged to defend".
Hall admitted to MPs that the corporation had "lost the plot" over executive severance payments. The committee accused the BBC of a "dereliction of duty" and a "snouts in the trough" culture.Hall admitted to MPs that the corporation had "lost the plot" over executive severance payments. The committee accused the BBC of a "dereliction of duty" and a "snouts in the trough" culture.
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