BECTU 'Waits On BBC Review Details'

The broadcast union, BECTU has been commenting on the BBC Trust's findings in its Strategy Review - about 'Putting Quality First'.
A statement from BECTU said that some familiar and important statements are made but said "we'll have to wait to learn what new and real changes are planned".
BECTU said that the final conclusions document recommits to the BBC's central mission 'to inform, educate and to entertain' and centres on four key, but familiar objectives for the remainder of this Charter period to 2012.
These are about distinctiveness and quality of its output, value for money, new standards of openness and transparency and to do more to serve all audiences.
"But where is the detail about what this comprehensive research exercise means to services?" asks a BECTU statement.
"The report confirms that 6 Music will continue unchanged but that the future of the Asian Network remains uncertain; this much has been clear since the summer.
"We can also expect proposals to cut the online budget by 25% and a buyer is being sought for Worldwide's magazine business.
"The signs are that it will be the New Year before proposals are tabled to reveal the full planned impact on staffing and services of the Strategy Review," continued the BECTU comments.
Adding an overview, Gerry Morrissey, General Secretary, said: "The BBC Trust, under Michael Lyons, has completed the task it set itself earlier this year.
"However, there is little doubt that the licence fee settlement for the next Charter period, negotiated in haste as part of the coalition's October spending plan, means that this Strategy Review is just phase one of a much bigger exercise."
(BMcC/KMcA)