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"Licence fee payers rightly look to the Trust to ensure that the impartiality of the Â鶹ԼÅÄ is not put at risk, and this is an issue that we consider of the utmost importance. As the Â鶹ԼÅÄ editorial guidelines make clear, the public must be able to trust the integrity of Â鶹ԼÅÄ programmes, and audiences must be confident that the outside activities of programme makers or presenters do not undermine Â鶹ԼÅÄ impartiality.

"In this context, questions have been raised about the dual role played by Lord Sugar - as star of the Â鶹ԼÅÄ's The Apprentice while also a Labour peer advising the government as Enterprise Champion. The Trust's Editorial Standards Committee has judged that there has been no breach of the Â鶹ԼÅÄ editorial guidelines. However, in one aspect of this case – the appearance by Lord Sugar with the Children's Secretary Ed Balls at an event to promote apprenticeships - the Committee has criticised some failings by the Executive. We look to the Executive to learn the appropriate lessons for the future.

"The Committee also notes that there is now less than a year before the next general election and that this increases the sensitivity caused by Lord Sugar's dual role. Scheduling decisions are a matter for the Executive. But the Trust is clear that when scheduling next year's transmission of The Apprentice and Junior Apprentice the Executive must give due consideration to the implications of showing the programmes in the months immediately before a general election."