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| Thompson defends BBC top salaries | Thompson defends BBC top salaries |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The BBC's director general has defended the salaries paid to its top managers, saying they could earn considerably more in the private sector. | The BBC's director general has defended the salaries paid to its top managers, saying they could earn considerably more in the private sector. |
| Mark Thompson was responding to questions from the novelist PD James, who is the guest editor of BBC Radio 4's Today programme for the day. | Mark Thompson was responding to questions from the novelist PD James, who is the guest editor of BBC Radio 4's Today programme for the day. |
| The former BBC governor said it was extraordinary at least 37 BBC managers earned more than the prime minister. | The former BBC governor said it was extraordinary at least 37 BBC managers earned more than the prime minister. |
| But Mr Thompson said the BBC was still losing key staff to its rivals. | But Mr Thompson said the BBC was still losing key staff to its rivals. |
| During the interview, Lady James suggested the BBC had lost its way. She said while it was easy to name some programmes of superb quality, others hardly qualified as public service broadcasting. | During the interview, Lady James suggested the BBC had lost its way. She said while it was easy to name some programmes of superb quality, others hardly qualified as public service broadcasting. |
| She asked how Mr Thompson could justify what she called the "extraordinarily large" management salaries. She said they were of immense concern to many people. | She asked how Mr Thompson could justify what she called the "extraordinarily large" management salaries. She said they were of immense concern to many people. |
| Mr Thompson said the BBC was competing with commercial companies for the best people to deliver the best programmes and services. | Mr Thompson said the BBC was competing with commercial companies for the best people to deliver the best programmes and services. |
| He said the controller of BBC One, who is responsible for an annual £1bn programme budget, took a pay cut to come to the corporation and that most managers received less than they would outside. | He said the controller of BBC One, who is responsible for an annual £1bn programme budget, took a pay cut to come to the corporation and that most managers received less than they would outside. |
| The expenses and salaries of the BBC's 50 top-earning managers were revealed in June. | The expenses and salaries of the BBC's 50 top-earning managers were revealed in June. |
| Additionally, the salaries and expenses of the BBC's top 100 executives and decision-makers will be published, quarterly, from September. | Additionally, the salaries and expenses of the BBC's top 100 executives and decision-makers will be published, quarterly, from September. |
| Mark Thompson's salary in 2008/9 was £834,000. Prime Minister Gordon Brown is paid £197,689. | |
| Today, Radio 4, 31 December at 0600 GMT. | Today, Radio 4, 31 December at 0600 GMT. |