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BBC director general Tim Davie vows to 'get a grip' BBC director general Tim Davie vows to 'get a grip'
(35 minutes later)
The acting director general of the BBC has vowed to "get a grip" at the corporation following the resignation of George Entwistle over a Newsnight broadcast on child abuse allegations.The acting director general of the BBC has vowed to "get a grip" at the corporation following the resignation of George Entwistle over a Newsnight broadcast on child abuse allegations.
Tim Davie said he had set up a "clear line of command" in news.Tim Davie said he had set up a "clear line of command" in news.
The director and deputy director of news have been asked to "step aside" pending an internal review into the way claims about Jimmy Savile were handled.The director and deputy director of news have been asked to "step aside" pending an internal review into the way claims about Jimmy Savile were handled.
Mr Davie said Mr Entwistle's pay-off was a matter for the BBC Trust.Mr Davie said Mr Entwistle's pay-off was a matter for the BBC Trust.
'Justified and necessary''Justified and necessary'
He was appointed to the role on Saturday after Mr Entwistle announced he was resigning. Mr Entwistle left after eight weeks in the post with a year's salary of £450,000.He was appointed to the role on Saturday after Mr Entwistle announced he was resigning. Mr Entwistle left after eight weeks in the post with a year's salary of £450,000.
Amid criticism from Downing Street of the pay-off Lord Patten, chairman of the BBC Trust - the corporation's governing body - has written to Commons culture, media and sport committee chairman John Whittingdale, describing the decision as "justified and necessary".Amid criticism from Downing Street of the pay-off Lord Patten, chairman of the BBC Trust - the corporation's governing body - has written to Commons culture, media and sport committee chairman John Whittingdale, describing the decision as "justified and necessary".
His letter says the sum was what the BBC would have had to pay if they had fired Mr Entwistle and that the trust was considering sacking him if he had not volunteered his resignation.His letter says the sum was what the BBC would have had to pay if they had fired Mr Entwistle and that the trust was considering sacking him if he had not volunteered his resignation.
Culture Secretary Maria Miller said it was "very difficult to justify the decision that's been taken... to really be able to justify to the licence fee payer value for money and this is going to have to happen". In a Commons statement, Culture Secretary Maria Miller said it was "difficult to justify" the size of the pay-off to Mr Entwistle and suggested the National Audit Office may review it.
Answering an urgent question tabled by deputy Labour leader and shadow culture secretary Harriet Harman, Mrs Miller added: "The trust needs to act swiftly. It is clear... the BBC is looking seriously at what went wrong, where responsibility lies and how to address this in the long term."
In other developments:In other developments:
  • Mr Davie, told staff by email on Monday that there would be "no handbrake turn" in implementing work started by Mr Entwistle on "getting rid of anything that gets in the way of delivering the best of British creativity to our audiences"
  • Fran Unsworth, head of newsgathering, and Ceri Thomas, editor of Radio 4's Today programme have been asked to fill the respective roles of director and deputy director of news, for the time being, while "to address the pressure on the Newsnight team" Karen O'Connor will become acting editor of the programme
In his first televised interview since taking the role, Mr Davie said: "If the public are going to get journalism they trust from the BBC I have to be, as director general, very clear on who is running the news operation and ensuring that journalism we put out passes muster.In his first televised interview since taking the role, Mr Davie said: "If the public are going to get journalism they trust from the BBC I have to be, as director general, very clear on who is running the news operation and ensuring that journalism we put out passes muster.
"The first decision I have made is to get a grip of that, take action and build trust by putting a clear line of command in."The first decision I have made is to get a grip of that, take action and build trust by putting a clear line of command in.
"Separately, we are going to look at the individual process, and there may be disciplinary action. But I want to be fair to people. I don't subscribe to the view that you should act very quickly in that regard and be unreasonable.""Separately, we are going to look at the individual process, and there may be disciplinary action. But I want to be fair to people. I don't subscribe to the view that you should act very quickly in that regard and be unreasonable."
Mr Entwistle resigned following a Newsnight report which led to former Tory treasurer, Lord McAlpine, being wrongly accused of child abuse in north Wales in the 1980s.Mr Entwistle resigned following a Newsnight report which led to former Tory treasurer, Lord McAlpine, being wrongly accused of child abuse in north Wales in the 1980s.
Mr Davie told BBC Radio 4's The World At One that he he hoped to talk to Lord McAlpine personally about Newsnight broadcast.Mr Davie told BBC Radio 4's The World At One that he he hoped to talk to Lord McAlpine personally about Newsnight broadcast.
Ken MacQuarrie, director of BBC Scotland, was asked to investigate how Newsnight was allowed to broadcast its report and his findings were presented to the acting director general on Sunday.Ken MacQuarrie, director of BBC Scotland, was asked to investigate how Newsnight was allowed to broadcast its report and his findings were presented to the acting director general on Sunday.
The BBC said it found that neither director of news Helen Boaden nor her deputy Steve Mitchell "had anything at all to do with the failed Newsnight investigation into Lord McAlpine".The BBC said it found that neither director of news Helen Boaden nor her deputy Steve Mitchell "had anything at all to do with the failed Newsnight investigation into Lord McAlpine".
However, they were in the chain of command at the time that Newsnight shelved an earlier investigation into abuse claims against former BBC presenter Jimmy Savile.However, they were in the chain of command at the time that Newsnight shelved an earlier investigation into abuse claims against former BBC presenter Jimmy Savile.
They had removed themselves from making decisions on some areas of BBC News output while a separate inquiry, by former head of Sky News Nick Pollard, was held into that decision.They had removed themselves from making decisions on some areas of BBC News output while a separate inquiry, by former head of Sky News Nick Pollard, was held into that decision.
The BBC said once the Pollard Review reports, Ms Boaden and Mr Mitchell "expect to then return to their positions".The BBC said once the Pollard Review reports, Ms Boaden and Mr Mitchell "expect to then return to their positions".
Mr MacQuarie said: "To address the lack of clarity around the editorial chain of command, a decision has been taken to re-establish a single management to deal with all output, Savile-related or otherwise."Mr MacQuarie said: "To address the lack of clarity around the editorial chain of command, a decision has been taken to re-establish a single management to deal with all output, Savile-related or otherwise."
Meanwhile, MP Chris Bryant says there should be one overall inquiry looking into the child abuse scandal and subsequent BBC row rather than nine separate investigations.Meanwhile, MP Chris Bryant says there should be one overall inquiry looking into the child abuse scandal and subsequent BBC row rather than nine separate investigations.
The BBC is also looking into the culture and practices at the corporation during Savile's career and its handling of past sexual harassment claims.The BBC is also looking into the culture and practices at the corporation during Savile's career and its handling of past sexual harassment claims.
Also, inquiries have been set up by the government to look into the way the original investigation into the abuse in Wales was handled and separate inquiries have been launched by the Department of Health and Director of Public Prosecutions.Also, inquiries have been set up by the government to look into the way the original investigation into the abuse in Wales was handled and separate inquiries have been launched by the Department of Health and Director of Public Prosecutions.