Mr. John Birt

HC Deb 15 March 1993 vol 221 cc99-100W

Mr. Corbett

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) pursuant to the answer from the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 8 March,Official Report, column 396, whether he consented to the appointment of Mr. John Birt as deputy director-general of the BBC on a consultancy contract arrangement;

(2) pursuant to the answer from the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 8 March, Official Report, column 396, whether he consented to the appointment of Mr. John Birt as director-general of the BBC on a consultancy contract arrangement.

Mr. Portillo

No. In general, the terms and conditions of employment of a chief executive of a public body are subject to Treasury consent, but not in the case of the BBC.