Got the T-shirt ?

Did the Army offer funny hats and sweeties to new recruits learning to strip an Enfield ?

I think not. Apparently BBC hacks needed freebies to cajole them into training on their new newsroom computer system. The Times has discovered that the BBC bought 1,500 Open Media mugs and 1,100 T-shirts for £9,000, according to a response to a Freedom of Information request, “to ensure staff knew the system was changing”. It also spent £2,000 on 30 banners.

A BBC spokesman said “The roll out has required a substantial and intensive programme of face to face training for 10,000 journalists and the items purchased were required as part of our internal communications and training.”