Telecoms giant BT is set to face a row at its annual meeting next month over "fat cat" pay and the exporting of jobs to India.

The company disclosed chief executive Ben Verwaayen was paid £2.17 million in the last financial year and a deferred bonus payable in three years worth a further £849,000.

He was also given a one-off payment of £200,000 and an annual £250,000 housing allowance, payable over three years, to pay for his move from New Jersey to a mansion in Surrey.

An official at the Communication Workers Union described the pay package as "ludicrous", especially at a time when the company was in dispute over the creation of call centre jobs in India.

Friday June 6, 2003