BBC voluntary redundancy scheme not solution to funding dilemma, says Bectu

The BBC has announced a voluntary redundancy scheme in the public service arm of the broadcaster.

BBC Broadcasting House, London

Staff have been invited to express interest in redundancy as the corporation looks to find savings of £125m by the end of the year.

Head of Bectu Philippa Childs said in reaction: “Bectu members have worked tirelessly to adapt to the conditions presented by the pandemic and this announcement will raise questions about the BBC’s future financial position that the government must be willing to provide some more funding for.

“By nearly every measure of performance the BBC has demonstrated that it is the UK’s first port of call for information in a crisis. It has succeeded in bringing the nation together, demonstrated by record viewing figures for content that informs, educates and entertains. Years of efficiency savings mean that our members are working harder than ever to deliver these services to the nations and regions.

“The additional liability of funding the over-75s licence fee and the challenges of collecting fees in a pandemic have cost the BBC £125m on top of the savings that are already scheduled.

“Coronavirus has affected every part of the creative industries and the BBC is no exception to that. The employment market is especially challenging at the moment as revealed in figures from the Office for National Statistics this week and voluntary redundancies are not the solution to the wider funding problems the BBC is facing.

“The government must take back responsibility for the cost of free licence fees for over-75s to ensure the BBC is able to continue to fulfil its role as the UK’s leading public service broadcaster without content being compromised.”

The news follows the decision to carry out a review into regional current affairs programme Inside Out, which has prompted over 100 well-known figures to write director-general Tony Hall to raise concerns about it.