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BBC luxury flights spending questioned

03/09/2008

The BBC spent £3 million of its £10 million flight budget on first or business class seats last year, a freedom of information request has revealed.

The corporation also spent £5 million on rail travel.

"The BBC's own guidelines say that flying business class should only happen in 'exceptional circumstances'," said Liberal democrat transport secretary Norman Baker.

"It is hard to believe that there can be £3 million worth of exceptional circumstances in a single year."

But the BBC reacted furiously to Mr Baker's comments.

"We reject these claims completely," a BBC spokesperson said.

The corporation said 95 per cent of flights booked involved economy class seats, and that business class was only employed when the employee had to work immediately upon arrival.

The spokesperson also pointed out the figures included flights taken by BBC Worldwide, which involves no licence fee money.

"As an international broadcaster, viewers expect us to report stories and bring them programmes from around the world which inevitably involves travel," they added.

The BBC has been struggling to maintain quality and good value for money since former culture secretary Tessa Jowell allowed only a three per cent rise in the licence fee in early 2007.