What recent discussions she has had with the Department of Trade and Industry regarding the employment rights of media workers.

There have been no recent discussions between the Secretary of State and the Department of Trade and Industry regarding the employment rights of media workers.

Given the increased casualisation of media employment, does the Minister concede that there is a danger to employment rights, particularly in smaller-scale broadcast organisations in areas such as mine in north-west Wales? Does he therefore agree that there is a duty on the BBC to ensure that employee rights are guaranteed when it awards contracts?

Those matters must rightly be for the BBC governors. The hon. Gentleman will note that the BBC had hoped not to make compulsory redundancies in the course of its restructuring, and we share its regret that it has to make some. It is important to note that as part of that exercise, the BBC is hoping to invest in and to increase programming across the regions. That should benefit Wales and, indeed, small production companies.

My hon. Friend will be aware of the recently announced enforced redundancies by Trinity Mirror. Employees and consumers are extremely worried about that, particularly as regards papers such as the Daily Record, which is recognised as a national paper for Scotland. The service that it provides may be diluted so that it is no longer a national but a regional newspaper.

I can imagine that that is a great concern in Scotland, but such matters must rightly be for the management of Trinity Mirror. One hopes that the investment and support that is being provided for the wider economy means that people will find alternative employment.