The BBC faced heavy criticism for the pay packets given to a number of its top talent stars when it published a list of its highest earners earlier this year.
But it appears bosses are showing no signs of tightening the purse strings after the corporation handed out ten per cent pay rises to 1,800 members of staff last year, costing the taxpayer £13.9million.
The figures, which have come to light through a freedom of information request, found that 1,763 workers were awarded a pay rise of more than 10 per cent.
The corporation, which employs 19,357 members of staff in the UK, paid out £13,933,500 on the extra pay packets – averaging to a rise of nearly £8,000.
The BBC, which employs 19,357 members of staff in the UK, paid out £13,933,500 on the extra pay packets – averaging to a rise of nearly £8,000
The BBC stressed that many of the pay rises were as a result of promotions or extra responsibilities.
But Tory MP Andrew Bridgen told the Sun: ‘It underlines why so many people despair of the BBC. The gravy train continues to roll. The BBC talks about austerity but they have clearly never experienced it.’ John O’Connell, chief executive of The TaxPayers’ Alliance, told the publication: ‘The licence fee is a serious hit on ordinary families’ finances, and the BBC must ensure that every penny of it is spent responsibly.
The corporation’s highest paid star was BBC Radio 2 presenter, Chris Evans (pictured), who earns around £2.2million
‘Ten per cent is over three times the current rate of inflation, so how can the BBC justify giving their staff a pay rise that most licence-fee payers can only dream of?’
In July the BBC published a list of staff who were all earning £150,000 or more for the first time.
The corporation’s highest paid star was BBC Radio 2 presenter, Chris Evans, who earns around £2.2million.
The second highest paid star was Gary Lineker, who presents Match of the Day, and earns around £1.79million.
A row over a gender pay gap at the BBC emerged following the release of the salaries after it was revealed that the corporation’s highest paid female star, Claudia Winkleman, was paid between £450,000 and £499,999.
Last night a spokesperson for the BBC said: ‘BBC staff received a one per cent pay rise last year but in any large organisation – especially when making significant back office savings like the BBC – there will be people who are promoted or take on significant extra responsibilities which will be reflected in their salary.’