Taxi Driver Online

Daily Mail (London)

August 17, 2006 Thursday

HEADLINE: The BBC's Pounds 55,000-a-day spending on taxis

BYLINE: KHUSHWANT SACHDAVE

THE BBC is spending Pounds 55,000 of licencepayers' money on taxis and car hire every day, it emerged last night.

The bill amounts to Pounds 20million a year, or Pounds 1,000 for every worker at the corporation.

The shocking figure is sure to anger viewers already facing an inflation-busting hike in the licence fee. The revelation comes after a series of huge payouts by the broadcaster.

Last month it was revealed the ten board members picked up a total of Pounds 3.7million in pay and bonuses last year, while staff received Pounds 17million overall in bonuses.

Presenter Jonathan Ross has also recently benefited from the BBC's generosity, securing an Pounds 18million deal to make him the highest paid presenter in British TV history.

At the same time, BBC bosses have called for a licence fee rise of 2.3 per cent above inflation.

The increase could see viewers being forced to pay Pounds 180 to watch a colour TV by 2013.

The Pounds 20million bill on car use for Pounds 2005/06 breaks down to Pounds 14million on cab fares and Pounds 5.4million on private car hire. The spend on taxis was Pounds 100,000 more than last year even though 1,100 employees were axed.

According to information obtained by The Sun, Pounds 6.6million was spent on taking home staff working late or on early shifts, another Pounds 4.2million was spent on what the corporation refers to as 'routine BBC business' and taxis for guests appearing on the corporation's shows cost Pounds 3.6million.

On top of taxis, BBC staff claimed Pounds 24millionin expenses over the past year which is the equivalent of Pounds 1,100 for each BBC employee.

The corporation last night defended the money it has spent on cars.

A spokesman said: 'We are very careful about the use of taxis at the BBC.

Staff use a centralised booking system which enables us to monitor taxi use and negotiate better deals with suppliers to ensure value for money.' He also said taxi and car hire costs have been consistent for the last three years.
.........................................................

Not a bad little contract.

_________________
IDFIMH

If they ever pay they are 6 months behind paying me for work i did for them

Unfortunately this is the case with most of these big companies

_________________
Legal and proud

Loads a love from BERTIE !!

Maybe you should get Watchdog to have a look at them.

_________________
IDFIMH

Maybe you should get Watchdog to have a look at them. [/quote]

Very good LMAO

_________________
Legal and proud

Loads a love from BERTIE !!