BBC staff's Christmas party's over; pounds 25-a-head subsidy is scrapped.

Byline: Martin Shipton

BBC Wales employees have accused their bosses of Scrooge-like behaviour after the usual pounds 25-a-head Christmas party subsidy was withdrawn.

In some cases, groups of workers at the offices in Llandaff, Cardiff, had already paid deposits in the expectation that the subsidy would be available.

The news comes just weeks after expenses of BBC Wales executives were published in September showing that thousands of pounds were spent on "thank you" parties for programme makers, leaving dos and Christmas parties.

In one case, more than pounds 1,000 was spent on a leaving do for a member of the sports department.

The decision to scrap the employer's contribution to the Christmas party fund was taken by BBC executive members in London and passed down the line to Wales, where there are about 1,200 staff members.

A BBC Wales employee said: "It seems that ordinary members of the team are being punished for bad publicity over excesses like paying Jonathan Ross pounds 18m over three years."

Another said: "This seems very mean and is presumably designed to avoid negative headlines in the Daily Mail - pounds 25 a head is hardly a lot of money for a Christmas do.

"Each department tends to organise its own party, and in some cases deposits have been paid on the understanding that a portion of the bill would be made up by the BBC.

"People now have to make a choice between losing the deposit or paying the full amount themselves.

"This is hardly a morale booster, especially at a time when people's jobs are under threat again."

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has recently questioned the salaries paid to the likes of Ross, adding there was a feeling of "unfairness" over the sums of money being paid to some TV stars at the BBC.

When asked "Is it right that someone like Jonathan Ross gets pounds 18m from the BBC?", Mr Brown said: "The BBC has got to seriously consider its salary structure."

Two years ago, it emerged that pounds 120,000 of licence fee payers' money was spent on a BBC Christmas party in London for 2,500 staff, at a rate of nearly pounds 50 a head.

Last year, the BBC halved its staff party budget from pounds 50 a head to pounds 25.

A BBC Wales spokeswoman said yesterday: "In light of the current economic climate, the BBC has decided not to make contributions to staff Christmas parties this year."

Refuting rumours circulating among staff that editors were still to have a subsidised party, the spokeswoman added: "The BBC policy on contributions to staff Christmas parties applies equally to everyone.

"Our news and current affairs editors organise a Christmas lunch together, but this is paid for personally by those individuals attending."