Cost of quality

The transparent BBC is wonderfully loose about how much the Delivering Quality First exercise is costing. A Freedom of Information response says the Executive has spent £530,309 - up to 6th October. "Workstream" costs were £67,248. £145,510 was spent on audience research. £317,551 was paid to accountants Deloitte. It claims the DQF logo was "designed internally by a member staff so there was no cost incurred". Presumably they did it as homework; if only Strictly Come Dancing or Dr Who could be made on the same basis. The salary of only one member of staff is included in these figures - others on workstreams were "paid for by their divisions". Office space for the DQF team was deemed "free", as there was space in White City. There's no indication of staff time taken for five months of "engagement". The NAO would undoubtedly take a different view of this lackadaisical cost allocation.

The BBC Trust has, up to 6th October, spent £171,900 with Ernst & Young (presumably to challenge the work of Deloitte) and £37,300 on "targeted research among industry leaders to gather an external perspective on the savings exercise". £22,309 has gone on "legal advice and other costs".

Meanwhile Mark Thompson continues to firefight. He's meeting Mike Whitby, leader of Birmingham City Council next week, attempting defend the decision to move network production out of the "second city", after previous pledges of undying love and support.  Presumably, this will be a "free" visit, undertaken on Mr Thompson's way home.  Otherwise, his hourly rate is around £333, plus mileage.