MPs raised doubts on Friday over Dr Samir Shah’s appointment to be the new Chair of the BBC.
The Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee concluded that he was “appointable”.
But it expressed some worries following a pre-appointment hearing with the Government’s preferred candidate on Wednesday who will have a host of difficult issues with which to deal.
A 22-page report highlighted the Committee’s concerns about his “willingness to offer his opinions and insights on fundamental issues facing the BBC and his ability to provide robust challenge to its leadership”.
The senior MPs added that if the Government chooses to proceed with Dr Shah’s appointment, he should appear before the Committee within three months to “demonstrate that he has considered and addressed the concerns”.
Dame Caroline Dinenage, Chair of the CMS Committee, said: “We were disappointed that Dr Shah was unwilling to express a view on such fundamental principles as board level interference and political impartiality, nor demonstrate an appetite for the robust challenge that is needed at the top of the BBC.
“It is now for the Government to consider whether to go ahead with the appointment. If they decide to proceed, we expect Dr Shah to appear before us in the new year to demonstrate he has addressed our concerns."
When he appeared before MPs on Wednesday, Dr Shah answered questions including on Gary Lineker's social media use, but they said he "declined to express an opinion" about issues such as changes to local radio and cuts to Newsnight.
He was also pressed about his view on claims of alleged attempts to interfere in editorial matters by a board member and over the appointment of the head of media regulator Ofcom.
Dr Shah, 71, is an experienced BBC executive, having been head of television current affairs and head of political programmes.
The chairman's duties include leading the board to protect the Corporation's independence and to deliver its mission to inform, educate and entertain.
