The BBC is set to spend up to £63million on taxis for programme guests and staff – equivalent to 361,000 Britons paying their TV licence fee.
The figure will fund a round-the-clock taxi service for employees, on-air contributors and equipment under a five-year contract.
The contracts, advertised on a Government website, have been split in two, with the first being for “ride-hail” app-based taxi bookings costing an estimated £42,600,000 including VAT.
The second is a pre-booked service across the UK and internationally, worth around £20,400,000 including VAT.
The contracts will run between July 1, 2027, and June 30, 2030, though there is a possibility of extension to 2032.
The total projected spend of £63million is the equivalent sum to 361,000 Britons paying their annual licence fee at £174.50 a year.
Shimeon Lee, policy analyst at The TaxPayers’ Alliance, said, according to The Sun: “It’s a perfect example of how the BBC treats licence fee-payers’ money as an open tab.
“While households are struggling to cover energy bills and food costs, the BBC is lining up app-based ride-hailing and international chauffeured travel for its own staff.
The planned taxi service contract is set to run for five years
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PA
“These perks should be scrapped, and so should the licence fee.”
The BBC said the £63million figure is the “maximum potential value” and therefore “not the final cost”.
The broadcaster said in a statement: “This contract will cover global taxi services for both the BBC’s public service and commercial arm, including transport for staff, productions, contributors and equipment.
“We have strict guidelines in place around the use of taxis and when their use is and isn’t acceptable.
“The figure quoted is the maximum potential value of the contract over a five-year period, not the final cost.”
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