Ex-Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns will introduce a Bill in a bid to make the broadcaster more transparent about how and where it spends viewers’ cash. The BBC published salaries of its top stars for the first time in 2017 and Mr Cairns wants to take public scrutiny to “a new level”. He argues that publication of salaries led to broadcasters taking pay cuts, and says the same rules which require the Government to publish details of spending above £500 should apply to the BBC.
The Vale of Glamorgan MP claims this will allow people to see if regions across the country receive a fair share of spending, and provide assurance there are no “cosy” relationships with particular suppliers.
Mr Cairns, who says he is a “strong supporter of the BBC”, said the debate could help drive up efficiency and put it in a “stronger position” as the future of the licence fee is discussed.
He said: “Many BBC managers will have been on campaigns against the poll tax but seem to be the strongest defenders of the current licence fee which is basically a television tax.”
