Cross border

The BBC's "go-to" investigations guy, Ken MacQuarrie, had an exhausting three months, according to the latest release of expenses and travel claims. The Controller of BBC Scotland, asked by DG-at-the-time George Entwistle to investigate the Newsnight/Savile/Not-McAlpine mess, claimed £4,800 on travel to and from London, excluding taxis, but including hotels. Indefatigable Ken also found time for work visits to Berlin and Vienna. BBC Scotland is well managed indeed to do without his presence for so long. And, even at £4.8k, the costs pale into insignificance compared with those yet to be reported for Pollard. It's not clear whether this period also included Ken's investigation into whistleblowing in BBC Studios and Post-Production, at the behest of John Smith, currently figuring in an employment tribunal in London.

• The Guardian's apparent surprise that some BBC execs had hospitality to the Olympics is odd. Supremo Roger Mosey had a good, clear, public stance on the position well before the event. Nonetheless, looking at the wider picture, should the BBC/licence fee cough for a taxi to or from an event, or a hotel afterwards, if you been invited as a guest ?