FoI request to the Department of Media, Culture and Sport

Screen Shot 2015-09-15 at 11.55.42Last year it was announced that the DCMS were looking for a new Chair of the BBC Trust, on the stepping down of Chris Patten. For suppliers in value of £10,000 or more the department is required to invite tenders. I have not found any record of any invitations to tender in this case.

The contract went to Saxton Bampfylde, a recruitment agency at which Tony Hall, BBC Director General’s wife is a partner. I have therefore, today sent a Freedom of Information Act request to the DCMS for details of where the invitation to tender was advertised:

Dear Sirs

Please treat this as a request under the Freedom of Information Act.

Last May (2014) it was announced that you were recruiting a new BBC Trust Chair. For all suppliers of over £10,000 in value you are required to invite tenders.

Please can you give me details of when, how and where the invitation to tender for the recruitment of the new Chair appeared.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully
Nicholas Wilson