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

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ashton of Hyde on 21 March (HL5834), whether the reason why the female candidate who was not approved for appointment by the Secretary of State was that the Department for Culture, Media and Sport targets of 50 per cent and 10 per cent for female and BAME candidates, respectively, had already been exceeded, that the female candidate was from a minority ethnic background, whereas the successful four men appointed were not, or for some other reason.

Non-executive members of the Channel 4 Corporation board are appointed by Ofcom with the approval of the Secretary of State. Ofcom advertised for four vacancies for candidates with specific sector skills and experience. The Secretary of State approved the four candidates on the basis that they met the skills and experience set out in the advertised job descriptions.