Mark Thompson, the director general of the BBC, is to take a pay cut of around 25% in a bid to avert a strike over changes to the BBC's pensions arrangements.

The cut could also see 30 other senior staff members waive generous pension top-up payments. According to the National Union of Journalists last year Thompson received a top-up payment of £163,000, while deputy director general Mark Byford stood to receive £400,000 under the pension arrangements.

Thompson said that the funded unapproved retirement and benefit (Furb) scheme payments currently made to executive pensions would be under review during a question and answer session held with 150 BBC staff to discuss the proposed reforms to the pension scheme.

Thompson said: "One of the frequent points in consultation is surely if we are reviewing pension arrangements we should review these Furbs as well, we think that is right. We will review them and review them on the principle that pension contributions should be as consistent and fair as they can be irrespective of seniority or juniority of the staff member involved.

"My expectation is these payments will be changed and all those who get them will be moved onto same pension arrangements as those we are now proposing. I am expecting that we will make changes."

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