Beating around Bush

If you worked in the BBC World Service, there are times you would shake your head in disbelief at the many and varying statements made about its financial future.   Today, BBC DG Mark Thompson told the Commons DCMS Select Committee that the current deal with the Foreign Office would mean making savings of 19% between April 2011 and April 2014.   Then, in an adjacent breath, he said there were still conversations going on with the Foreign Secretary about making those savings over a longer period.   It's hard to know how "a longer period" can be created.  From April 2014, the BBC takes responsibility for funding from the licence fee.

World Service staff will not be chuffed to learn their cuts are higher than the wider BBC because Bush House has to bear directly the costs of redundancy payments.  Though, again, in an adjacent breath, the DG said he was looking to see whether or not domestic services can help out before 2014.

Clear as mud.