A Labour MP has called on the government to delay the proposed takeover of BSkyB until the completion of a police investigation into phone-hacking at the News of the World.
News International, owner of the News of the World, had been given the go-ahead last month to purchase the 61 per cent of BSkyB it does not already own.
Culture secretary Jeremy Hunt told MPs he was "very concerned" about the phone hacking claims but the decision he had taken in regard to the Sky merger is about "media plurality".
Speaking during departmental questions, Sheila Gilmore called for the sale of BSkyB to be suspended until the investigation is completed.
The Edinburgh East MP asked the culture secretary: "In light of the considerable concerns which have arisen because of the ongoing criminal investigations about phone-hacking in the News International stable, is the secretary of state now minded to postpone any decision on the future of BSkyB until such time as the criminal investigation has been concluded?"
In response, Hunt said: "The decision I have to take in respect of the Sky merger is about media plurality. We are in the process of taking that decision."
But he added: "I am very concerned about the news to do with phone-hacking. It is a criminal offence, two people have already gone to prison and three people have been arrested.
"The police must follow their investigations wherever they lead. The public must have confidence that in a free press, the press uses that freedom responsibly."
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