Payments made by the BBC to Sandi Toksvig of the Women's Equality Party

The request was refused by British Broadcasting Corporation.

On 08/05/2015, Sandra Birgitte (“Sandi”) Toksvig founded the Women’s Equality Party. The BBC has since employed Toksvig on a regular basis (not as an occasional guest) as the host of the BBC2 quiz show QI.

As a publicly funded organisation, the BBC has an obligation towards political neutrality. The Women’s Equality Party is contesting the constituency of Shipley in the forthcoming general election. The BBC are using public funds to provide financial support to a senior member of a political party at a time when that party is actively engaged in an election campaign. It is clearly in the public interest that the BBC should disclose these payments in full.

The Information Commissioner has ruled that salaries paid by public sector bodies fall within the scope of FOI requests. See the “Salaries and Bonuses” section of
https://ico.org.uk/media/1187/section_40...

The BBC Trust has also previously found it appropriate to enquire into payments made to politicians by the BBC. See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-19...

This freedom of information request is for two figures;

1. Please provide the total amount of money (including all expenses) the BBC has paid in return for services rendered by Sandi Toskvig from 08/05/2015 to 17/04/2017 inclusive.

2. Please also provide the total amount of money (including all expenses and anticipated payments) the BBC has paid in return for services rendered by Sandi Toksvig from 18/04/2017 to 08/06/2017 inclusive. In the event that this figure is calculated before 08/06/2017, please include all anticipated payments (e.g. regular royalties) due to be made within the same date range.

Please note that this request is not limited to money paid directly to Sandi Toksvig as a salary. It includes all payments made by the BBC in return for services rendered by Toksvig (for example, payments made to production companies owned or controlled by Toskvig).

FOI Enquiries, British Broadcasting Corporation

Dear Mr Blades,

Thank you for your request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Your request was received on 22 May 2017. We will deal with your request as promptly as possible, and at the latest within 20 working days.

If you have any queries about your request, please contact us at the above address.

The reference number for your request is RFI20170789.

Yours sincerely

Information Rights, BBC Legal
BC2A4, Broadcast Centre
201 Wood Lane, London W12 7TP

-----Original Message-----
From: Mr Blades [mailto:[FOI #408100 email]]
Sent: 22 May 2017 21:33
To: FOI Enquiries
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Payments made by the BBC to Sandi Toksvig of the Women's Equality Party

On 08/05/2015, Sandra Birgitte (“Sandi”) Toksvig founded the Women’s Equality Party. The BBC has since employed Toksvig on a regular basis (not as an occasional guest) as the host of the BBC2 quiz show QI.

As a publicly funded organisation, the BBC has an obligation towards political neutrality. The Women’s Equality Party is contesting the constituency of Shipley in the forthcoming general election. The BBC are using public funds to provide financial support to a senior member of a political party at a time when that party is actively engaged in an election campaign. It is clearly in the public interest that the BBC should disclose these payments in full.

The Information Commissioner has ruled that salaries paid by public sector bodies fall within the scope of FOI requests. See the “Salaries and Bonuses” section of
https://ico.org.uk/media/1187/section_40...

The BBC Trust has also previously found it appropriate to enquire into payments made to politicians by the BBC. See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-19...

This freedom of information request is for two figures;

1. Please provide the total amount of money (including all expenses) the BBC has paid in return for services rendered by Sandi Toskvig from 08/05/2015 to 17/04/2017 inclusive.

2. Please also provide the total amount of money (including all expenses and anticipated payments) the BBC has paid in return for services rendered by Sandi Toksvig from 18/04/2017 to 08/06/2017 inclusive. In the event that this figure is calculated before 08/06/2017, please include all anticipated payments (e.g. regular royalties) due to be made within the same date range.

Please note that this request is not limited to money paid directly to Sandi Toksvig as a salary. It includes all payments made by the BBC in return for services rendered by Toksvig (for example, payments made to production companies owned or controlled by Toskvig).

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #408100 email]

Is [BBC request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information requests to British Broadcasting Corporation? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/change_re...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/offi...

For more detailed guidance on safely disclosing information, read the latest advice from the ICO:
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/ico-...

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------
http://www.bbc.co.uk
This e-mail (and any attachments) is confidential and
may contain personal views which are not the views of the BBC unless specifically stated.
If you have received it in
error, please delete it from your system.
Do not use, copy or disclose the
information in any way nor act in reliance on it and notify the sender
immediately.
Please note that the BBC monitors e-mails
sent or received.
Further communication will signify your consent to
this.
-----------------------------

hide quoted sections

FOI Enquiries, British Broadcasting Corporation

2 Attachments

Dear Mr Blades,

 

Please find attached our response to your request for information
reference RFI20170789.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Information Rights, BBC Legal

BC2A4, Broadcast Centre
201 Wood Lane, London W12 7TP

[1]Description: \\BBCFS2025\UserData$\myrien01\Documents\My
Pictures\BBC.png

 

 

References

Visible links