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Part of Consolidated Fund (Appropriation) (No.2) Bill – in the House of Commons at 3:00 pm on 3 March 2011.

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Photo of Jeremy Hunt Jeremy Hunt The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 3:00, 3 March 2011

I thank the hon. Gentleman for kindly reminding me of the first part of his question. There is no doubt that someone with a 39% shareholding in a company has significant influence in the way it is run. For example, ITV has a 40% shareholding in ITN. However, the independence that the new board will have is unprecedented. It is enshrined in the articles of association of the company in a way that the independence of ITN, for example, is not. Despite the fears of many people, Sky News has been run with pretty sound editorial independence for the past 20 years while under a much greater degree of potential control by News Corporation than has in fact been exercised. So it is possible to have confidence that Sky News will continue to be run with proper, full editorial independence. I thank the hon. Gentleman for his forbearance.