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

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to seek an assurance from appointees for the Chair of Ofcom that they are committed to the future of public service broadcasting in the UK; and if so, how they intend to seek such an assurance.

The government is supportive of a modern system of public service broadcasting that remains relevant and continues to meet the needs of UK audiences in the future.

The Chair of Ofcom is appointed by the DCMS Secretary of State following a fair and open competition and is assisted in this by an Advisory Assessment Panel. The preferred candidate will be required to attend a pre-appointment hearing with the DCMS Select Committee, following which a report will be published. Both the Advisory Assessment Panel and the DCMS Select Committee will have an opportunity to assess candidates against the published criteria for the role.