Newsprint Industry (Hansard, 13 December 1960)

§ 6. Mr. Jay
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now refer the newsprint industry to the Monopolies Commission.

§ 36. Mr. Lipton
asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will refer the newsprint industry to the Monopolies Commission.

§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade (Mr. Niall Macpherson)
No, Sir.

§ Mr. Jay
As the price of newsprint is nearly six times as high as it was prewar, and as one newspaper after another is going out of production because of high costs, is there not a special obligation on the Government at least to take some steps to prevent monopoly practices in this industry?

§ Mr. Macpherson
There might be several reasons for newspapers going out of production, but comparison with prewar prices is rather misleading. The newsprint commonly used nowadays is much lighter than that used pre-war.

§ Mr. Lipton
Is not the hon. Gentleman aware that democracy is in real danger—

§ Mr. Nabarro
With the hon. Gentleman around it is.

§ Mr. Lipton
—with free competition in newsprint as dead as mutton? Have not the Government heard about the tie-up between Anglo-Newfoundland and Bowaters? Are not the Government beginning to get concerned about the difficult situation which now prevails?

§ Mr. Macpherson
My right hon. Friend is not aware that the present arrangements are inimical to the public interest.