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BBC HR chief corrects evidence to MPs on executive's £1m payoff BBC HR chief corrects evidence to MPs on executive's £1m payoff
(12 days later)
Lucy Adams, the BBC's HR director, has written to MPs to correct her evidence to parliament about her involvement in agreeing the £1m severance payment for a former senior executive.Lucy Adams, the BBC's HR director, has written to MPs to correct her evidence to parliament about her involvement in agreeing the £1m severance payment for a former senior executive.
Adams admitted in fresh evidence released by the Commons public accounts committee on Friday that she was involved in drafting a key memo to the BBC Trust that detailed a controversial £1m severance payment to Mark Byford, the former deputy director general.Adams admitted in fresh evidence released by the Commons public accounts committee on Friday that she was involved in drafting a key memo to the BBC Trust that detailed a controversial £1m severance payment to Mark Byford, the former deputy director general.
Mark Thompson, the former director general, described Adams in evidence also published by the committee on Friday as "one of the main authors" of the memo – dubbed the 7 October note – which she claimed not to have seen when she appeared before MPs on the PAC on 10 July. In a letter made public on Friday, Adams said it was not clear which document the committee was referring to at the time.Mark Thompson, the former director general, described Adams in evidence also published by the committee on Friday as "one of the main authors" of the memo – dubbed the 7 October note – which she claimed not to have seen when she appeared before MPs on the PAC on 10 July. In a letter made public on Friday, Adams said it was not clear which document the committee was referring to at the time.
The 7 October note, drafted in 2010, has become central to the BBC payoffs saga because it was drawn up to inform the BBC Trust of two controversial payoffs – to Byford and former director of marketing Sharon Baylay, who received £390,000. The BBC Trust has since claimed not to have been fully briefed on these redundancy deals.The 7 October note, drafted in 2010, has become central to the BBC payoffs saga because it was drawn up to inform the BBC Trust of two controversial payoffs – to Byford and former director of marketing Sharon Baylay, who received £390,000. The BBC Trust has since claimed not to have been fully briefed on these redundancy deals.
"Ahead of my appearance in front of the public accounts committee on Monday 9 September, I wished to clarify to the Committee part of the evidence that I gave during the Committee hearing on the 10 July," said Adams in a letter sent to the PAC on 2 September."Ahead of my appearance in front of the public accounts committee on Monday 9 September, I wished to clarify to the Committee part of the evidence that I gave during the Committee hearing on the 10 July," said Adams in a letter sent to the PAC on 2 September.
"During the 10 July hearing, the chair referred to a memo of 7 October 2010. At the time, I was not clear which document the chair was referring to and so I could not recollect with absolute certainty whether or not I had seen the memo sent by Mark Thompson to the then [BBC Trust] chairman [Sir Michael Lyons] on 7 October 2010."During the 10 July hearing, the chair referred to a memo of 7 October 2010. At the time, I was not clear which document the chair was referring to and so I could not recollect with absolute certainty whether or not I had seen the memo sent by Mark Thompson to the then [BBC Trust] chairman [Sir Michael Lyons] on 7 October 2010.
"Since the hearing, I am now clear which document was being referred to and I can confirm that I was involved in drafting that memo, although I had not seen the final note sent to the trust until recently.""Since the hearing, I am now clear which document was being referred to and I can confirm that I was involved in drafting that memo, although I had not seen the final note sent to the trust until recently."
Copies of emails between Thompson's office and the trust provided by him to the PAC indicate that Adams played a key role in the final drafting of the 7 October memo.Copies of emails between Thompson's office and the trust provided by him to the PAC indicate that Adams played a key role in the final drafting of the 7 October memo.
In one email exchange, Adams is asked to give advice on changes to the briefing note requested by the BBC Trust. She replies: "Yes they work for me."In one email exchange, Adams is asked to give advice on changes to the briefing note requested by the BBC Trust. She replies: "Yes they work for me."
In his PAC submission Thompson described Adams's evidence to the committee on this point as inexplicable, saying she was one of the main authors of the 7 October memo.In his PAC submission Thompson described Adams's evidence to the committee on this point as inexplicable, saying she was one of the main authors of the 7 October memo.
Thompson added in his evidence to the PAC: "This is not just a memo 'for information' from me to the BBC Trust. Trust officials were themselves engaged closely in its composition and would not let it be formally submitted to the chairman until the wording was perfect from their point of view."Thompson added in his evidence to the PAC: "This is not just a memo 'for information' from me to the BBC Trust. Trust officials were themselves engaged closely in its composition and would not let it be formally submitted to the chairman until the wording was perfect from their point of view."
He also accused Lord Patten, who succeeded Lyons as BBC Trust chairman in 2011, and trustee Anthony Fry of "fundamentally misleading" parliament over the extent of the governance and regulatory body's knowledge about the Byford and Baylay redundancy deals when they appeared before the PAC with Adams in July.He also accused Lord Patten, who succeeded Lyons as BBC Trust chairman in 2011, and trustee Anthony Fry of "fundamentally misleading" parliament over the extent of the governance and regulatory body's knowledge about the Byford and Baylay redundancy deals when they appeared before the PAC with Adams in July.
Patten responded to Thompson's claims on Friday: "I'll deal with it next week [at the PAC] and have no concerns at all about the remarks which Mr Thompson has made, except that at the end of the day I don't want to say or do anything which damages the BBC."Patten responded to Thompson's claims on Friday: "I'll deal with it next week [at the PAC] and have no concerns at all about the remarks which Mr Thompson has made, except that at the end of the day I don't want to say or do anything which damages the BBC."
Ben Bradshaw, the former culture secretary and ex-BBC journalist, said this saga highlighted a need for the BBC Trust to be scrapped and for the corporation to be regulated by Ofcom.Ben Bradshaw, the former culture secretary and ex-BBC journalist, said this saga highlighted a need for the BBC Trust to be scrapped and for the corporation to be regulated by Ofcom.
"I think this does raise a deeper and more fundamental problem which some of us have been banging on about for quite a long time and that is the essential unsustainability of the current governance structure of the BBC and the fact you have this organisation, the trust, which doesn't really act as an effective regulator nor as an effective cheerleader because it's expected to do both jobs in one," he told BBC Radio 4's The World at One on Friday."I think this does raise a deeper and more fundamental problem which some of us have been banging on about for quite a long time and that is the essential unsustainability of the current governance structure of the BBC and the fact you have this organisation, the trust, which doesn't really act as an effective regulator nor as an effective cheerleader because it's expected to do both jobs in one," he told BBC Radio 4's The World at One on Friday.
"I do hope that the government will use this shambles as another reason for looking again at the governance of the BBC when it comes to our charter renewal."I do hope that the government will use this shambles as another reason for looking again at the governance of the BBC when it comes to our charter renewal.
"The BBC should have nothing to fear from independent regulation. It could be regulated by Ofcom – then it could have its own board which would do the job the boards of most organisations do and that would be a much more healthy settlement.""The BBC should have nothing to fear from independent regulation. It could be regulated by Ofcom – then it could have its own board which would do the job the boards of most organisations do and that would be a much more healthy settlement."
Adams, Patten and Fry will be returning to the PAC on Monday to face a further tough grilling about BBC severance payoffs.Adams, Patten and Fry will be returning to the PAC on Monday to face a further tough grilling about BBC severance payoffs.
Thompson will also be appearing, along with Lyons and Marcus Agius, the former chairman of the BBC executive board remuneration committee which was responsible for approving significant payoffs, in what promises to be a combative hearing.Thompson will also be appearing, along with Lyons and Marcus Agius, the former chairman of the BBC executive board remuneration committee which was responsible for approving significant payoffs, in what promises to be a combative hearing.
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