LETTERS BBC business
Sir: Any business with a public policy dimen- sion will draw on skills also used in govern- ment (13BC launches new Labour channels', 7 February). Broadcasting is no exception. It is hardly surprising that the BBC corporate- ly employs economists and policy and corpo- rate affairs professionals, including some who have worked in Whitehall or Westmin- ster for each of the main parties. The only criteria are ability and a willingness to work the hours required of teams leaner than their counterparts elsewhere. For the BBC, the task goes beyond reflecting our accountability to Parliament and the government, and embraces also our special responsibility to licence payers, ranging from the Governors' Listening Strategy and our Statement of Promises to Viewers and Listeners to a wide-ranging public outreach programme of public meet- ings and other events, Unique funding means a unique level of accountability — as well as unique programmes.
Fortunately, the BBC has always been able to attract people of the highest quality — and with a wide range of political views — to discharge these tasks.
Colin Browne
Director of Corporate Affairs, BBC, Broadcasting House, Portland Place, London W1
Sion Simon writes: The BBC is not a 'busi- ness with a public policy dimension'. It is a public body funded directly by a hypothecat- ed tax. Nor are its 'teams leaner than their counterparts elsewhere'. As Colin Browne knows perfectly well, no public limited com- pany with under £2 billion turnover has a corporate and public affairs departnient of 150 staff. His embarrassment at having to defend the indefensible shines through his half-hearted letter.
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