BSkyB Debate

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Thursday 30th June 2011

(13 years, 4 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Jeremy Hunt Portrait Mr Hunt
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I can confirm that under these undertakings the board of the hived-off Sky News will have a majority of independent directors and that its chair will be fully independent. That is completely different from Sky News’s current situation.

Angela Smith Portrait Angela Smith (Penistone and Stocksbridge) (Lab)
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The Secretary of State has announced a consultation this morning, albeit a very short one. Will he give us a commitment not to make the final decision during the recess and to bring the matter back to the House for a debate when we reconvene in the autumn?

Jeremy Hunt Portrait Mr Hunt
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I will certainly bring the decision back to the House when it is made. With regard to timing, I am trying to do this as quickly as possible, while ensuring that we have proper consultation processes and a proper amount of time to consider the responses to the consultation. The fact that I have today strengthened the undertakings that were published on 3 March reflects the fact that we are taking the consultation very seriously.