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

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she had made of the implications for her policies of the submission to the Government's consultation by ISBA and the Advertising Association that privatising Channel 4 would weaken competition in the TV advertising market.

Channel 4 is one of this country’s greatest broadcasting assets but we must think long-term about the challenges ahead and make sure it has the capital it needs to continue to contribute to the UK’s success in public service broadcasting.

We have consulted on the best ownership model to support Channel 4 into the future. Our public consultation closed on 14 September. We are carefully considering the views and evidence we have received, including from advertising stakeholders, to inform the government’s policy-making and final decision.

Whatever decision is made about Channel 4’s ownership model, any reforms will not compromise our commitment to the wider creative economy.