BBC NI spends £800 per day on taxi fares
BBC Northern Ireland has been challenged over its spending on taxis after it emerged that the corporation spent almost £300,000 of public money on cabs in one year.
The 800-a-day bill was published when the Information Commissioners Office ordered BBC NI to disclose a range of information on Tuesday in response to an appeal against the broadcaster withholding answers under the Freedom of Information Act.
Yesterday, in compliance, BBC Northern Ireland disclosed its taxi bill of 290,000 for 2004/05 – and details of its top earner in that year, controller Anna Carragher, on a salary of between 100,000 and 131,000. It also revealed a hospitality bill of 267,000.
The corporation said it was unable to provide more up-to-date taxi expenditure data because it was the subject of an ongoing FOI request.
Recently, some politicians have said that the BBC – whose journalists have been among the media examining MP and MLA expenses – must in turn publish how it spends its share of the public purse.
Last night, DUP MP Gregory Campbell said: "I estimate that this taxi bill works out at around 7,000 a week on taxis during a normal busy week.
"I'm sure taxi firms are quite content but are the licence payers?
"I look forward to the BBC carrying interviews in relation to this. In fact I challenge it to let us politicians interview presenters about it on air;I promise I will be fair and impartial."
A BBC NI spokeswoman said that the bulk of the 290,000 taxi bill was incurred in bringing "guests and talent" to and from studios or locations.
The bill also includes "late night and early morning transport" which is essential to being a 24-hour broadcaster, she added.
BBC NI say that taxi costs have since come down as part of an overall value for money programme.
"Staff now use a centralised booking system which enables us to monitor taxi use and negotiate better deals with suppliers," she added.
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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