Channel 4: Privatisation

Lord Christopher Excerpts

Wednesday 3rd February 2016 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Neville-Rolfe]

I could not agree more with my noble friend. Of course, Channel 4 is particularly tasked with serving diverse audiences, which is an important part of its remit that we want to maintain.

[Lord Christopher (Lab)]

The noble Lord did not quite say what I hoped he would say but he made a very important point. I digress slightly from the issue by saying that many major companies in this country have pension funds that are greater, in terms of their deficiencies, than the value of the company. I declare an interest in Channel 4, having been a member of the authority that set it up in the first place. Will the noble Baroness confirm that the Government’s ambitions here have nothing to do with the Chancellor’s growing need for funds?

[Baroness Neville-Rolfe]

We are very clear that we are looking at all the options to secure a good future for Channel 4. The sort of considerations mentioned are not the issue.