Learning

The latest expenses details for BBC executives show occasional wearing of the hair shirt - but some staff lower down the ranks will still be surprised at what's claimed.

Let's start with the good girls and boys. Tim Davie is staying in much cheaper hotels - his five nights in London this last quarter include the Holiday Inn, Regent's Park; the Strand Palace, beloved of coach parties - and three nights in the Langham Court, once a hospital specialising in gynaecological procedures. But his workers will be surprised at London-based staff needing to stop over - they'd be expected to get a taxi home (and then only if working later than 10.30pm).

New boy George Entwistle looks exemplary - but, wait, here's a £30.94 claim for business entertainment internal to discuss Royal Wedding co-ordination.  Isn't that a meeting ?  Let's hope it wasn't with former Gold Commander Mark Byford.

Helen Boaden is pretty sharp - no e-expenses, and no hotel over £89.  Ralph Rivera's return flight to San Francisco looks a little high at £4,533.

One's never sure who signs off Mark Thompson's exes - there are two odd claims. One says "Hotel"; reason "Mark", which I'd have thought looks a bit weak to auditors. The other says "Room"; reason "s38".  If this is an exemption under the Freedom of Information Act, it applies when disclosure might threaten someone's physical or mental health.

Now to the two who ought to be doing better. COO Caroline Thomson can't wean herself off taxis. For her, (and Alan Yentob) it seems like an expectation of travel to, from and around work.  It's not good.

CFO Zarin Patel is in no way profligate, but there are some lovely round numbers in her claims - perhaps they help reduce the keystrokes on processing. £50 hospitality to Mark Thomas, £100 to Tim Senior, £100 for dinner with KPMG (one might have thought they'd have paid, given the amount they get from the licence-fee). And then, a rather specific £57.81, to brief an incoming non-executive director on BBC finances.  Money well spent, I'm sure.