North

While we're on about transport costs, BBC staff spent £1.3m on flights booked through the Corporation to and from Manchester over the last 30 months. (An earlier version of this post said it was 1,300 flights, which was wrong).

Still, they were all probably cheaper than Peter Salmon's June trip to San Francisco, from Heathrow, at just over £3,300. One presumes this sort of money acquires at least a business class seat, and that Peter and his travelling companion, Director of Operations, Dominic Coles, hit the ground running, as the expenses rules require.

BBC organ Ariel says the "pair went to look at new broadcasting technology not available in the UK over four days."  Technology chums will recognise them as absolutely the right team to carry out that sort of investigation, and look forward to reading their joint paper.