Clause 8. — (Newspaper Mergers.)

Part of Orders of the Day — Monopolies and Mergers Bill – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 2 August 1965.

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Photo of Mr George Darling Mr George Darling , Sheffield, Hillsborough 12:00, 2 August 1965

I beg to move, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment.

This Lords Amendment would permit the Board of Trade by order to do two things: first of all, to vary the figure in Clause 8(1) which shows the level at which the total circulation of a newspaper or of a newspaper proprietor or group reaches a point where further acquisitions are to require consent—the figure stands in the Bill at 500,000 copies per day of publication; secondly, to vary the figure in subsection (1) showing the level of circulation of small newspapers—such as we have just been discussing—at or below which the Board of Trade may give consent to transfers without a reference to the Commission. The figure may be varied, but until it is, as the hon. Gentleman has just said, and as I said in moving the original Amendment, it stands at 25,000 copies.

10.45 p.m.

The Amendment reflects a suggestion made by the Opposition in another place, and the Government believe that it introduces a desirable element of flexibility into the Bill. As the House knows, in dealing with newspaper mergers we are entering into a completely new field. The figures in the Bill represent the best judgment that can be made in the light of the information available to us, but it may be that experience will suggest that some variation is desirable. This Amendment will give us the flexibility which I think the House will agree is necessary.