Open and above board

Your editorial (12 May) suggests BBC director general Mark Thompson's acceptance of cooking lessons from chef Raymond Blanc "must be open to misinterpretation" in light of Mr Blanc's BBC presenting role. What it fails to make clear is this was a birthday present from a personal, longstanding friend, which Mr Thompson thought prudent to declare, rather than a gift he was given in his professional capacity.

The directorate of the BBC takes its responsibilities in this area very seriously indeed. The circumstances in which business hospitality can be accepted are strictly limited by the BBC's rules and we declare everything, so licence payers can have confidence in how the BBC makes decisions.

ED WILLIAMS

Head of Corporate Communications BBC Television Centre

Wood Lane, London