Top BBC bosses' salaries revealed

Mark Thompson announced in July the details would be revealed

The salaries of the top 100 decision-makers at the BBC have been published online in a move for greater openness.

The details, which include business-related expenses, have been revealed in line with plans set out by director general Mark Thompson in July.

Shadow Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt welcomed the move, but said the BBC now needed to publish details of what it pays its celebrity talent.

The figures show almost all of the top executives earn more than £100,000.

"This is good news as far as it goes and I welcome it as a step in the right direction," Mr Hunt said.

"They can't stop here though. We must see a full breakdown of what the BBC pays their celebrity talent - it is licence fee payers' money and full transparency is a must."

'Significant move'

Caroline Thomson, the BBC's chief operating officer, said the corporation would publish "a precise total amount" that the BBC spends on talent early next year.

The BBC says it has gone beyond any other public body in organising and publishing the data and will now publish the details on a regular quarterly basis.

"Today's quarterly disclosure is a significant move for the BBC in our continued commitment to achieving ever greater openness and transparency to the public who pay for the BBC," said Ms Thomson.

TOP 107 SENIOR MANAGER EXPENSES Taxis: - £46,110.25 Hospitality (internal and external): £30,314.87 Flights (UK and international): £50,375.00 Hotels (UK and international): £16,678.34 Overall total: £174,650.42 Expenses for the first three months of the financial year 2009/10

"The launch is a direct response to the public who have indicated that they would like more information about how the BBC is run in a way which marks a step change in openness, simplicity and accountability."

The details can be found on the About The BBC section of the BBC website and offers specific information on each of the 107 senior managers in terms of leadership, financial and decision-making responsibility.

As part of the expenses claims, it was also revealed that for the first three months of the financial year, the senior executives spent £46,110 on taxis and £30,315 on hospitality.

At the end of October the BBC Trust announced a series of measures the corporation is undertaking regarding its senior management.

The BBC intends to cut its senior management pay bill by 25%, freeze current pay and bonuses for senior staff and reduce the total numbers of senior staff over a three-and-a-half year period.

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