Local Press: Government Assistance
Culture Media and Sport
Written answers and statements, 5 November 2009
Greg Mulholland (Leeds North West, Liberal Democrat)
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he plans to introduce to provide assistance to regional newspapers.
Stephen Timms (Financial Secretary, HM Treasury; East Ham, Labour)
I have been asked to reply
The measures the Government have taken during and following the development of the Digital Britain White Paper to help regional newspapers include:
1. An OFT review of the merger regime for newspapers. This concluded that the existing merger framework as it applies to media in general and local and regional newspapers in particular, is sufficiently robust and flexible to take into account the various considerations that need to be brought to bear;
2. An Audit Commission study of the prevalence and value for money of local authority publicity; and
3. The introduction of independently funded news consortia initially on a pilot basis in England, Wales and Scotland.
The Government are committed to a strong, viable and diverse news media in the nations, locally and in the regions. Ministers continue to welcome meetings from representatives from all parts of the press to discuss their issues at first hand.