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The television licence fee could be cut under the government's public spending austerity drive, Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said.

In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, Mr Hunt attacked the ����ý's "extraordinary and outrageous" waste.

He said he could "absolutely" see viewers paying less than the current £145.50 after next year's negotiations between the ����ý and the government.

The ����ý recently announced plans to cut its top managers' pay bill.

The aim is to reduce their pay by a quarter over 18 months.

The ����ý Trust, which represents licence fee payers and governs the ����ý, said that it was operating in a period of "severe austerity".

Jeremy Hunt said the ����ý needed to recognise the "very constrained financial situation" the country is in.

the possibility of a reduction in the licence fee was a "discussion that we need to have".

'Tough decisions'

The culture secretary said: "The ����ý should not interpret the fact that we haven't said anything about the way licence fee funds are used as an indication that we are happy about it. We will be having very tough discussions."

The Telegraph reported that a lower levy could be in place for 2012 following next year's review process.

The culture secretary said the ����ý "will have to make tough decisions like everyone else".

"There are huge numbers of things that need to be changed at the ����ý. They need to demonstrate the very constrained financial situation we are now in," he said.

But shadow culture secretary Ben Bradshaw said: "It's sensible for the level of the licence fee to reflect economic conditions and people's incomes and for the ����ý to strive for better value for money.

"But this feels like part of a broader anti-����ý agenda.

"Most people value the ����ý and Britain's tradition of public service broadcasting and would not favour damaging or destroying the ����ý."

A Department of Culture spokesman said "no decisions about the level of the licence fee" would be taken ahead of the review process.

"Like all other public organisations, ministers expect the ����ý to demonstrate that they are operating efficiently and giving value for money," he added.

Mr Hunt also revealed plans for the National Audit Office to examine the ����ý's books.

Recent figures showed that ����ý Director General Mark Thompson and the Executive Board's total pay packet had increased.

'The message'

Total remuneration for the ����ý Executive board rose in 2009-10 to £4.769m from £4.601m in 2008/09.

And, overall, the number of ����ý staff increased from 17,078 to 17,238.

But ����ý media correspondent Torin Douglas said the ����ý already "seems to have got the message" being spelt out by the culture secretary.

"In recent weeks, it's proposed a substantial reduction in pensions for many staff, agreed to cut its top managers' pay bill by a quarter over 18 months, and said it will publish the names of its highest-earning stars," he said.

Sir Michael Lyons, who chairs the ����ý Trust, has outlined plans to cut pay, calling for greater transparency and saying every pound the ����ý takes from licence fee-payers must be shown to have been spent well.

In a statement, the ����ý Trust said: "The context in which the ����ý is now operating is one of severe economic austerity.

"We have said that when we come to the next licence fee negotiations the trust will enter those talks representing licence fee payers' interests alone, and that we will seek only what is necessary for the ����ý to fulfil its public purposes.

"The trust remains focused on the need to secure maximum value for money for licence fee payers."