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BBC Trust chief accused of 'obstruction and secrecy' BBC Trust chief accused of 'obstruction and secrecy'
(about 4 hours later)
MPs have accused the BBC Trust chairman Lord Patten of "obstruction and secrecy" for stopping the corporation publishing key documents about a failed £100m IT project. MPs have accused the BBC Trust chairman, Lord Patten, of "obstruction and secrecy" for stopping the corporation publishing key documents about a failed £100m IT project.
Patten ordered the corporation not to disclose sensitive material in response to a freedom of information request from the Guardian, warning that its release would cause damage and prompt a "trial by media". Patten ordered the corporation not to disclose sensitive material in response to a freedom of information request from the Guardian, warning its release would cause damage and prompt a "trial by media".
The BBC had been asked to publish briefing material prepared for the former director general, Mark Thompson, before he gave evidence to parliament in 2011. MPs later claimed the briefing notes "just weren't true". The BBC had been asked to publish briefing material prepared for the former director general Mark Thompson before he gave evidence to parliament in 2011. MPs later claimed that BBC executives' statements "just weren't true".
The BBC's ambitious Digital Media Initiative (DMI) was designed to do away with videotape and digitise the BBC's archives , but it was axed in May 2013, wasting £98.4m of licence fee-payers' money. The BBC's ambitious Digital Media Initiative (DMI) was designed to do away with videotape and digitise the BBC's archives, but it was axed in May 2013, wasting £98.4m of licence fee-payers' money.
Thompson, now chief executive of the New York Times, has been recalled to parliament in the new year to answer claims he misled parliament by claiming the scheme was already up and running when it wasn't. He later said he gave evidence "honestly and in good faith" and on the basis of information provided by his executives. Thompson, now chief executive of the New York Times, has been recalled to parliament in the new year to answer claims he misled parliament by claiming the scheme was already up and running when it wasn't. He later said he gave evidence "honestly and in good faith" based on information from his executives.
In a rare personal intervention, Patten said the BBC should withhold the briefing material because it could result in a "partial and potentially incoherent picture" and cause damage to "various accountability mechanisms already in place". In a rare personal intervention, Patten said the BBC should withhold the briefing material because it could result in a "partial and potentially incoherent picture" and cause damage to "various accountability mechanisms in place".
Patten said in a letter to the Guardian: "There is public interest in the BBC being as open and accountable as possible about its management of funds received via the licence fee. However, I consider that this is outweighed by the damage that would be done by disclosure of this information to the various accountability mechanisms already in place."Patten said in a letter to the Guardian: "There is public interest in the BBC being as open and accountable as possible about its management of funds received via the licence fee. However, I consider that this is outweighed by the damage that would be done by disclosure of this information to the various accountability mechanisms already in place."
He added that there was a public interest in independent reviews into the DMI failure proceeding as planned and "not being encumbered by a 'trial by media' in the interim". He added that there was a public interest in independent reviews into the DMI failure proceeding as planned and "not be encumbered by a 'trial by media' in the interim".
However, his decision was attacked by MPs on the Commons public accounts committee, which is scrutinising the BBC's handling of the DMI project.However, his decision was attacked by MPs on the Commons public accounts committee, which is scrutinising the BBC's handling of the DMI project.
Tory MP Guto Bebb said: "Not for the first time the BBC under Lord Patten prefers obstruction and secrecy to confronting real concerns about waste within the BBC. His leadership is damaging the good name of the BBC."Tory MP Guto Bebb said: "Not for the first time the BBC under Lord Patten prefers obstruction and secrecy to confronting real concerns about waste within the BBC. His leadership is damaging the good name of the BBC."
Stephen Barclay, a Tory MP on the committee, said there was a "clear conflict of interest" in Patten deciding whether the BBC should release material. He called for Patten to be stripped of the responsibility and said: "This is briefing material prepared at the expense of the public for people whose salary is paid for by the public and who have a duty to be open and honest with parliament. It is difficult to see why they will say one thing in private but be unwilling to say the same thing before parliament.Stephen Barclay, a Tory MP on the committee, said there was a "clear conflict of interest" in Patten deciding whether the BBC should release material. He called for Patten to be stripped of the responsibility and said: "This is briefing material prepared at the expense of the public for people whose salary is paid for by the public and who have a duty to be open and honest with parliament. It is difficult to see why they will say one thing in private but be unwilling to say the same thing before parliament.
"We are repeatedly told by the BBC that they are bringing in a new culture yet time and time again – with Savile, DMI, talent pay – at every stage – there is withholding of information. It's very difficult to reconcile that with their public assurances.""We are repeatedly told by the BBC that they are bringing in a new culture yet time and time again – with Savile, DMI, talent pay – at every stage – there is withholding of information. It's very difficult to reconcile that with their public assurances."
The National Audit Office is investigating the BBC's management of the project. Accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers is preparing a separate report on behalf of the BBC Trust. The National Audit Office is investigating the BBC's management of the project. Accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers published a separate report last week on behalf of the BBC Trust.
In response to the freedom of information request, the BBC released a 10-page executive briefing document wthat included biographies of the MPs and notes as to whether they have any ties to BBC employees. In response to the freedom of information request, the BBC released a 10-page executive briefing document that included biographies of the MPs and notes as to whether they have any ties to BBC employees.
The memo made reference to Margaret Hodge MP, the chair of the committee, noting that "Margaret's daughter works for the BBC as a producer" and that Richard Bacon MP was "married to Victoria, a BBC news producer". Of the Labour MP Austin Mitchell, the document said: "His second wife is the television director and journalist Linda McDougall and one of his daughters is a Radio 4 producer."The memo made reference to Margaret Hodge MP, the chair of the committee, noting that "Margaret's daughter works for the BBC as a producer" and that Richard Bacon MP was "married to Victoria, a BBC news producer". Of the Labour MP Austin Mitchell, the document said: "His second wife is the television director and journalist Linda McDougall and one of his daughters is a Radio 4 producer."
The BBC Trust said: "The Trust published a report last week by PwC which covered all aspects of the DMI issue and the NAO will also be doing a full report with access to all relevant material."
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