BBC must decide cash row - Jowell

Tessa Jowell has said the BBC licence fee will remain for 10 years

Tessa Jowell says she understands the "disquiet and unease" sparked by the BBC's payment to convicted burglar Brendan Fearon for an interview.

But the culture secretary said BBC governors should decide what action to take about the reported £4,500 payment.

The BBC says it paid the burglar, shot by Norfolk farmer Tony Martin during a raid on his farmhouse, for information that was in the public interest.

This meant the payment met the BBC's guidelines, the corporation said.

Ms Jowell told BBC One's Breakfast with Frost programme that as culture secretary it was her job to ensure a distance was maintained between government intervention and the actions of the BBC governors.

She added: "I am perfectly sure that they [the BBC governors] are aware of the importance of maintaining public confidence and public trust in the proper way in which the licence fee is spent."

Last week Ms Jowell announced plans to replace the 77-year-old BBC board of governors with a BBC trust.

She also said the license fee would remain for at least 10 years.