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Jimmy Savile: MPs to question BBC director general Jimmy Savile: MPs question BBC director general
(35 minutes later)
  
BBC director general George Entwistle will be questioned by MPs later about the corporation's handling of sexual abuse claims against Jimmy Savile. BBC director general George Entwistle is being questioned by MPs about the corporation's handling of sexual abuse claims against Jimmy Savile.
The culture, media and sport select committee is expected to ask why a Newsnight report was dropped last year.The culture, media and sport select committee is expected to ask why a Newsnight report was dropped last year.
On Monday, in a BBC Panorama report on abuse claims and the axed Newsnight report, one alleged victim expressed anger her interview had not aired.On Monday, in a BBC Panorama report on abuse claims and the axed Newsnight report, one alleged victim expressed anger her interview had not aired.
Meanwhile, two charities set up in Savile's name are to close.Meanwhile, two charities set up in Savile's name are to close.
The Jimmy Savile Charitable Trust and the Jimmy Savile Stoke Mandeville Hospital Trust say their funds will be distributed to other charities, after deciding against continuing under new names because they felt they would always be linked in the public's mind with the late presenter.The Jimmy Savile Charitable Trust and the Jimmy Savile Stoke Mandeville Hospital Trust say their funds will be distributed to other charities, after deciding against continuing under new names because they felt they would always be linked in the public's mind with the late presenter.
Police have described the late DJ and television presenter as a predatory sex offender, and believe he may have abused many people, including young girls, over a 40-year period.Police have described the late DJ and television presenter as a predatory sex offender, and believe he may have abused many people, including young girls, over a 40-year period.
Mr Entwistle will appear before the Commons committee at 10:30 BST. BBC political correspondent Norman Smith called it a "huge day" for the BBC, with "much hanging" on Mr Entwistle's performance before the Commons select committee.
He is expected to be asked about a reported conversation with BBC director of news Helen Boaden at an awards lunch on 2 December, in which she told him about the Newsnight investigation and its possible impact on planned tribute programmes to Savile. He would be facing "key questions about what he actually knew about the original Newsnight investigation, and the decision to pull it - but also I think questions about his judgement and handling as director general once the scandal erupted".
John Whittingdale, chairman of the culture, media and sport committee, said: "He was in the process of commissioning the most fulsome tributes to Jimmy Savile, which went out on the BBC over that Christmas, and I just find it very surprising that, having been told by the director of news, given a warning, he didn't think it appropriate at least to ask what the investigation was about."
MPs will want to ask Mr Entwistle about the decision by Newsnight's editor Peter Rippon to pull his programme's investigation into Jimmy Savile last December.MPs will want to ask Mr Entwistle about the decision by Newsnight's editor Peter Rippon to pull his programme's investigation into Jimmy Savile last December.
Was he subjected to pressure from BBC managers? Was his decision affected by the knowledge that the BBC had a special tribute to Jimmy Savile scheduled over Christmas?Was he subjected to pressure from BBC managers? Was his decision affected by the knowledge that the BBC had a special tribute to Jimmy Savile scheduled over Christmas?
Mr Rippon spelt out the reasons for his decision in a blog earlier this month; but former members of his team gave a rather different account to Panorama, and the BBC has now admitted that some of the details in the Rippon version of events were "inaccurate or incomplete". Mr Rippon spelt out the reasons for his decision in a blog earlier this month; but former members of his team gave a rather different account to Panorama, and the BBC has now admitted that some of the details in Mr Rippon's version of events were "inaccurate or incomplete".
So MPs may also want to ask why the BBC's managers accepted what their editor told them, rather than probing more deeply. All of these questions the BBC hopes will be answered in due course by an internal inquiry.So MPs may also want to ask why the BBC's managers accepted what their editor told them, rather than probing more deeply. All of these questions the BBC hopes will be answered in due course by an internal inquiry.
But the toughest question of all for George Entwistle may be one that only he can answer. Why, when he was told in advance in his previous job as head of television that Newsnight was investigating Jimmy Savile, did he not scrap that Christmas special?But the toughest question of all for George Entwistle may be one that only he can answer. Why, when he was told in advance in his previous job as head of television that Newsnight was investigating Jimmy Savile, did he not scrap that Christmas special?
The BBC was being "damaged very badly by the stream of revelations and by the apparent mishandling of them" in recent weeks, Mr Whittingdale said.
BBC political correspondent Norman Smith called it a "huge day" for the BBC, with "much hanging" on Mr Entwistle's performance before the select committee.
He would be facing "key questions about what he actually knew about the original Newsnight investigation, and the decision to pull it - but also I think questions about his judgement and handling as director general once the scandal erupted".
BBC Newsnight editor Peter Rippon has stepped aside amid an inquiry into why the programme dropped its investigation into sex abuse allegations against Savile.BBC Newsnight editor Peter Rippon has stepped aside amid an inquiry into why the programme dropped its investigation into sex abuse allegations against Savile.
On Monday evening, Panorama showed for the first time an interview Newsnight had filmed last November with Karin Ward, an ex-pupil at Duncroft approved school for girls in Middlesex, when she had been ill with cancer. On Monday evening, Panorama showed for the first time an interview Newsnight had filmed last November with Karin Ward, an ex-pupil at Duncroft approved school for girls in Staines, Surrey, when she had been ill with cancer.
Ms Ward said she had been abused by Savile and recalled seeing Gary Glitter, now a convicted paedophile, having sexual intercourse with a girl from the school in Savile's dressing room. Glitter denies the latest allegations.Ms Ward said she had been abused by Savile and recalled seeing Gary Glitter, now a convicted paedophile, having sexual intercourse with a girl from the school in Savile's dressing room. Glitter denies the latest allegations.
Ms Ward told Panorama she had been angered when her interview was not aired.Ms Ward told Panorama she had been angered when her interview was not aired.
"The fact that I'd gone through all that stress when I really needed to concentrate on getting well, and then they never used it - because somebody higher up didn't believe me," she said."The fact that I'd gone through all that stress when I really needed to concentrate on getting well, and then they never used it - because somebody higher up didn't believe me," she said.
'No action'
Panorama reported allegations that the Top of the Pops programme had been a centre of abuse - and Savile was not the only person involved.Panorama reported allegations that the Top of the Pops programme had been a centre of abuse - and Savile was not the only person involved.
Liz Dux, a lawyer for some of the victims, told Panorama: "The stories that I'm hearing from some of the victims are that they did report the abuse and that no action was taken."Liz Dux, a lawyer for some of the victims, told Panorama: "The stories that I'm hearing from some of the victims are that they did report the abuse and that no action was taken."
She added: "There are some quite serious allegations that a paedophile ring was operating."She added: "There are some quite serious allegations that a paedophile ring was operating."
Earlier this month, in a blog, Mr Rippon explained the editorial reasons behind his decision to axe the Newsnight report. He said it was "totally untrue" he had been ordered to do it by bosses as part of a BBC cover-up.Earlier this month, in a blog, Mr Rippon explained the editorial reasons behind his decision to axe the Newsnight report. He said it was "totally untrue" he had been ordered to do it by bosses as part of a BBC cover-up.
On Monday the BBC issued a correction to some specific elements of the blog, calling it "inaccurate or incomplete in some respects", although it did not suggest he had been put under pressure. On Monday the BBC issued a correction to some specific elements of the blog, calling it "inaccurate or incomplete in some respects", although it did not suggest he had been put under pressure to drop the report.
In response to Panorama, a BBC spokesman said an internal inquiry it had launched, the Pollard inquiry, was the forum to "resolve detailed issues relating to BBC programming and the Newsnight investigation". Following the Panorama broadcast, a BBC statement added: "We should also make it clear we now accept that the Newsnight investigation did not start out as an investigation into the Surrey police's handling of the case against Mr Savile."
Meanwhile, a spokesman for former BBC director general Mark Thompson, said Mr Thompson was asked by a journalist at a party last year about a Newsnight investigation into Savile which he had until then been unaware of.
He later mentioned the conversation "to senior colleagues in BBC News and asked if there was a problem with the investigation" but was told it had been dropped by Newsnight for journalistic reasons.
The Metropolitan Police have launched a criminal inquiry into the allegations against Savile, who died last October aged 84.The Metropolitan Police have launched a criminal inquiry into the allegations against Savile, who died last October aged 84.
The Panorama programme, Jimmy Savile - What the BBC Knew, can be seen again on the BBC iPlayer.The Panorama programme, Jimmy Savile - What the BBC Knew, can be seen again on the BBC iPlayer.