7 September 2011 Last updated at 09:22

Latest Ariel Letters

No hidden extras

I understand the BBC is 'embarrassed' (Daily Telegraph Sunday August 29) by the fact that UPA is paid as part of my salary. I for one am looking forward to the possibility of having the UPA element consolidated as it would then be part of my pensionable salary - a luxury afforded to many across the BBC, but not to most of its journalists.

It is being portrayed as an 'extra' payment, but as all who receive it know, it forms a cheap way for the BBC to bring salaries up to the level the job is worth without having to contribute to the pension fund.

Will London weighting also be considered a bonus payment?

Keith Francis Gooden, SBJ/Breakfast Show producer, BBC Hereford & Worcester

Ambridge on top

I never cease to be amazed by The Archers' determination to keep up with current technological trends. Witness Tom Archer's online strategy for counteracting the negative publicity generated by the Bridge Farm e-coli outbreak.

I tuned in the other evening to hear Tom and Brenda discussing how they could stuff the Bridge Farm website full of good news stories and use Search Engine Optimisation to give them greater prominence than the local paper's reports about contaminated ice cream.

Whether you're an Archers fan or not, Search Engine Optimisation (abbreviated to SEO) is worth knowing about, especially if you're trying to make your website rank higher than the competition on Google and the like.

The BBC College of Journalism has a handy video guide featuring a selection of top tips from news SEO expert Martin Asser and a quiz where you can test what you know. Have a look and you'll understand that what Tom and Brenda are trying to achieve isn't mysterious web wizardry; it's a dollop of old-fashioned common sense.

www.bbc.co.uk/journalism/skills/writing/search-engine-optimisation/

Simon Ford, senior content producer, BBC Academy Online

Point made

Having just read the item on page 3 of Ariel (September 6) on 'unconscious bias' I turned to page 4 to see a picture of the Scotland apprentices with all the women posing in the front row and all the men in the back row largely obscured by the women. Need I say more?

Bob Clary, contract project manager, Transmission & Distribution, WS

Ariel had a very interesting article on identifying unconscious bias. Overleaf (Page 4) there was a photo of five attractive young ladies who are participants in BBC Scotland's Apprenticeship scheme. I have no idea whether the other five young gentlemen are equally attractive as they have been almost totally obscured by putting all the young women at the front.

Daniel Meyer, BBC Symphony Orchestra

I want out of AVCs

As a result of the recent pay rise (for some of us) and the 1% cap on pensionable earnings, I am now in receipt of non-pensionable earnings. This has resulted in an AVC payment being deducted from my pay this month (the first in over 10 years, which is why I spotted it on my payslip). In my case, as an Old Benefits member of the pension scheme, this money is 'invested' with Santander at 0.5% interest.

As this is apparently not considered to be qualifying earnings, there is no matching contribution from the BBC. I do not consider this to be a wise investment, so have asked that these payments stop. I have been told by the Pensions and Benefits Centre that it is only possible to opt-out in April each year, unless one has experienced a 'lifestyle change' (as defined by the employer) - a consequence of Smart Pensions.

I do not recall this issue being raised during the pension change consultations, and staff were not reminded before April this year that they should opt-out if they anticipated a pay rise above 1% and didn't want to pay AVCs that would not be matched by contributions from the BBC.

I would recommend anyone who has ever paid AVCs to check their recent payslip to see if they are similarly affected. If you normally make AVC payments, I'm not certain how you check what proportion of the total payment is due to these pension changes or if you can just opt-out of the non-qualifying earnings bit.

In view of the apparent failure to make staff aware that the 1% cap could result in this situation arising, perhaps the BBC would consider the recent changes to the pension scheme to be a 'lifestyle change' and allow immediate opt-outs?

Adrian Chinery, senior investigations engineer

Jan Killick, head of Pensions, replies:

Old and New Benefi ts members can pay Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs) to boost their pension benefits. The Scheme offers two investment choices for AVCs. Santander where contributions are held on deposit, or Fidelity who provide a range of investment funds.

Any member who wants to stop or reduce their AVCs, as a result of the implementation of the 1% limit on increases in salary for pension purposes, can do from the next available payroll by contacting the pension service line (email: myPension@bbc.co.uk or call 01 22811).

I am sorry if you were previously told otherwise.