11 November 2012 Last updated at 22:34 ET
George Entwistle's payment criticised by committee head
Lord Patten: ''I didn't try to argue him out of it because I think he'd made his mind up''
The decision to pay a year's salary to George Entwistle, who quit as BBC director general on Saturday, has been criticised by the chairman of the culture, media and sport committee.
John Whittingdale MP said he wanted to know why the BBC Trust regards the £450,000 payout as "appropriate".
Mr Entwistle resigned after a Newsnight report led to a former Tory treasurer being wrongly accused of child abuse.
Acting director general Tim Davie is to set out his initial plans later.
He has urged senior corporation managers to "pull together" in the BBC's interests.
Inquiry helpMr Whittingdale said: "A lot of people would be very surprised that somebody who was in the job for such a short period of time and then had to leave in these circumstances should be walking away with £450,000 of licence fee-payers' money.
"And certainly I would want to know from the Trust why they think that's appropriate."
In a statement regarding the director general's departure settlement, a BBC Trust spokesman said: "The BBC reached a consensual termination agreement with George Entwistle last night [Saturday] and agreed to pay him 12 months pay, in lieu of notice.
"This reflects the fact that he will continue to help on BBC business, most specifically the two ongoing inquiries."
But Mr Whittingdale also said that he was not convinced by this argument.
"I wouldn't have thought that just because you have to help any inquiry into the Savile allegations you necessarily need to be paid such a large amount of money.
"A lot of people will be giving evidence, I hope, to the inquiry into the culture and practices within the BBC and I shouldn't imagine they'll all be paid for it."
The BBC's Norman Smith says it is understood the decision to give Mr Entwistle a full year's salary was taken on Saturday night in order to reach a swift resolution to his departure.
Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman also criticised the payout.
"It is not justifiable for the BBC to pay double the contractually required sum to the director general on his resignation," she said. "It looks like a reward for failure.
"George Entwistle should decline to accept any more than is required under his contract. This is not the way to restore public confidence in the BBC."
Restore confidence
Speaking earlier, BBC Trust chairman Lord Patten said a "radical, structural overhaul" of the corporation is now necessary.
He said a new director general would be chosen within weeks.
Tim Davie was appointed acting director general immediately after Mr Entwistle's resignation The BBC Trust said it had a discussion with Mr Davie on Sunday and was "looking forward" to him setting out his plans on Monday for dealing with some of the issues arising from the 2 November Newsnight broadcast "as a first step in restoring public confidence".
Before his departure, Mr Entwistle had commissioned a report from BBC Scotland director Ken MacQuarrie into what happened with the Newsnight investigation.
Earlier, Mr Davie held an hour-long meeting with members of the BBC Trust, during which Mr MacQuarrie's report is understood to have been discussed.
On 2 November Newsnight reported abuse victim Steve Messham's claims against a leading 1980s Tory politician being an abuser in north Wales, but he withdrew his accusation a week later, saying he had been mistaken.
Lord McAlpine, although not named on Newsnight, was identified on the internet as the subject of the allegations. He said the claims were "wholly false and seriously defamatory".
The BBC issued an unreserved apology for the Newsnight report on Friday evening.
Source : bbc[dot]co[dot]uk
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