BBC spent nearly £11m on consultants in year to end of March
Corporation reveals external consultants' bill for public service arm, excluding any hired by BBC Worldw


The BBC spent almost £11m on external consultants in the 12 months to the end of March.
According to figures for the financial year to 31 March 2009, £10.9m was spent on outside consultants in the public service arm of the BBC. The figures do not include any consultants used by the corporation's commercial subsidiary, BBC Worldwide.
It is thought that some of the £10.9m was spent on hiring advisers from Deloitte, which has helped the BBC with a number of issues, including devising proposals to share the BBC's online and digital technology with rivals.
Although it is a far cry from the £22m reportedly spent in one year under the former director general John Birt, the amount – revealed following a Freedom of Information Act request – has surprised some BBC staff. One producer said: "It does seem a lot when we are the subject of cuts and redundancies."
A BBC spokeswoman said: "The BBC's total expenditure on consultants for the last year amounts to approximately 0.3% of the licence fee.
"In common with other large organisations, the BBC does employ consultants, but only when we need specialist advice and resource on projects that are outside of the normal course of business.
"This is more cost-effective than employing staff. We have a framework of consultancy organisations which were are appointed following a competitive tender, ensuring best value for money."


By:- Tara Conlan
Source:-
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/dec/01/bbc-10-9-m-consultants