Nigel Evans, Member of Parliament for the Ribble Valley and Member of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee has today welcomed David Cameron’s announcement that the Conservatives would like to see the BBC Licence Fee frozen and reviewed* on an annual basisMr Evans said, “I think that this is exactly the right thing to do. In this time of economic difficulty the BBC must get its own house in order. It cannot rely on cash strapped taxpayers to fund its extravagance. In 2007, the Corporation spent almost £14million on taxis and there are 50 executives that earn more than the Prime Minister. “The BBC should be taking a look at itself and the way it is run and I wholeheartedly agree that the Licence Fee should be frozen.” Nigel Evans MP tabled the below Early Day Motion on 10th March 2009. EDM 1047 BBC LICENCE FEE 10.03.2009 Evans, Nigel That this House notes that the cost of a colour television licence will rise to £142.50 as of 1 April 2009; further notes that the Director General of the BBC receives a salary of £816,000 and that in 2008 the top 10 directors at the BBC had their pay boosted by 17 per cent. whilst 1,800 jobs were lost at the Corporation; understands that up to £5.6 million tax free will be made available as a remote relocation allowance when jobs are moved from London to Salford which includes £1,900 a month for up to two years for accommodation and bills; is astonished that the BBC's taxi bill published in 2008 was £13.8 million which is approximately £36,500 per day, and that a further £5.2 million was spent on private car hire; and calls on the Government at this time of recession to freeze the licence fee at 2008 levels.
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