BBC Savile move 'inappropriate' (From Hampshire Chronicle)
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BBC Savile move 'inappropriate'
4:23pm Monday 15th October 2012 in National News © Press Association 2013
Culture Secretary Maria Miller said she was confident the BBC was treating the Jimmy Savile allegations 'very seriously'
The BBC "inappropriately" pulled an investigation by Newsnight into sex abuse allegations against Jimmy Savile, Culture Secretary Maria Miller has said.
Speaking in the Commons for the first time since the allegations surfaced, she said she was confident the corporation was treating the allegations "very seriously".
But Labour Deputy Leader Harriet Harman told MPs that Savile's "exulted" status within the corporation allowed him to act with impunity.
Mrs Miller said: "The BBC has launched three separate investigations, as the House will be aware. The first will look particularly at the allegations with regard to the item on Savile which was inappropriately pulled from Newsnight.
"The second review to be undertaken when the police advise us that it is appropriate to do so, will focus on Jimmy Savile himself. And although the BBC's child protection policy was overhauled in 2002, the review will also focus on whether its policy is fit for purpose and what lessons can be learnt. That will be assisted by an independent expert.
"There is also an additional piece of work that will look at the very troubling allegations of sexual harassment at the BBC that have come to light in recent weeks as well and the Director-General (George Entwistle) will give further details of this later in the week.
"These are undoubtedly very serious matters that have wide-ranging implications for a number of public institutions, not just the BBC.
"It is now crucial we understand what went wrong and how it can be put right."
