MPs have expressed dissatisfaction after the BBC claimed that it could not provide a breakdown of the legal costs it incurred in opposing equal-pay and race-discrimination claims in employment tribunals.

The digital, culture, media and sport committee had asked BBC director-general Tim Davie to provide further information about the broadcaster’s spending on lawyers to fight such cases.

Committee chairman Julian Knight said that he was disappointed by the BBC response, given during an evidence session in September.

He had asked Mr Davie, one of the senior executives being questioned, to say how much time BBC in-house lawyers had spent on countering claims and what their average salaries were.

Mr Knight also enquired how much time external lawyers had spent on opposing the claims and what they charged the BBC.

The corporation said it was unable to provide a breakdown because in-house lawyers were salaried and worked on a range of employment-law issues.

It was also unable to provide a total sum for external counsel fees.

Mr Knight advised the BBC to respond to his letter with figures that it is certain of, even if they cover less than the total costs that the BBC is unable to calculate, so that MPs can see what the minimum costs were.

He said: “We know that the broadcaster has comprehensive internal accounting procedures and find it difficult to understand why it is unable to provide a such a breakdown.”

The BBC must reply by January 15, his letter said.

A corporation spokesperson said: “The BBC is committed to being a truly inclusive employer. While we aim to manage costs efficiently and proportionately, the complexities of these cases mean they need to be managed by qualified professionals – not least to ensure fairness. We will respond to the letter in due course.”