BBC relocation will burden taxpayers
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Taxpayers will fork out up to £3,000 to pay for new carpets and curtains for BBC staff moving from London to Salford, it emerged.
And staff in London with houses to sell will also benefit from a guaranteed house purchase scheme, under relocation terms for those prepared to head North.
The payments for curtains and carpets, still subject to Inland Revenue approval, will be available to any of the 1,630 BBC staff on contracts who are selling up to shift to Greater Manchester.
It is one payment among a package of incentives, paid for out of the licence fee, to entice staff to move North.
The BBC said it is offering a "comprehensive package of financial and practical support".
The TaxPayers' Alliance described the package as "a slap in the face to the ordinary taxpayer forced to subsidise such generosity when they are facing the consequences of hard economic times".
The BBC is moving five departments; Sport, Children's, Radio 5 Live, learning and parts of a department called, Future, Media and Technology to a new site, MediaCityUK, currently being built at Salford Quays, Greater Manchester.
All staff must make a decision whether to move or not by September 30, with most relocating between April and December 2011.
Details of the relocation payments were released after an application by the Press Association under the Freedom of Information Act, made law by the Labour government in 2000.
The package includes the BBC employing a specialist relocation company, Cartus, with the guaranteed house purchase scheme (GHPS) including payment of solicitors' fees, survey fees and stamp duty.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments