Letter: The pros and cons of John Birt Productions Ltd

Sir: The revelation that John Birt has used a limited company as a vehicle to receive earnings from the BBC is surprising in one aspect. The surprise is that Mr Birt and his wife (the co-director) obviously do not appear to have taken advantage of sections 246 and 247 of the Companies Act 1985. These permit directors of small companies (such as John Birt Productions Ltd) to file an abbreviated set of accounts, which would only show a balance sheet, together with certain notes.

There would, if these abbreviated accounts had been filed, have been no way of discovering what the turnover or expenses were from Companies House records.

Yours faithfully,

S. GREGGAINS

Richmond, Surrey

1 March