Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential economic benefits to the North West of relocating Channel 4 to Merseyside.

We have long been committed to Channel 4 moving out of London, and welcome Channel 4's agreement to move 300 staff out of London, rising over time. There are many creative locations across the UK, including in the North West, which could see a significant positive economic impact from Channel 4 relocating staff. The decision on new out of London locations will be taken by Channel 4, and Channel 4 has said it will take this decision in Q3 2018.