HC Deb 18 October 1976 vol 917 cc936-8
15. Mr. Aitken

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the Government's proposals for implementing the interim report of the Royal Commission on the Press.

Mr. Dell

The initiative for implementing the report is with the industry. Managements and unions are working together at top level in the Joint Standing Committee for the National Newspaper Industry. The committee announced on 12th October that it had reached agreed recommendations on a range of matters which are central to the Royal Commission's findings. If the committee's recommendations are adopted by the organisations represented on it, discussions will he carried forward at house as well as industry level.

Mr. Aitken

Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that large parts of the report depend upon the Government taking some initiative? In particular, does he realise that since the production of the report, highlighting the industry's acute problems, the problems have worsened dramatically? The report was based on the assumption that sterling would remain at a rate of $2.4 but there has been a deterioration of that position. Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that all the figures in the report, which were then serious, are now desperate? When will he come off the fence?

Mr. Dell

There is no question of being, on the fence. The previous Secretary of State for Trade made a statement in the House in March about the interim report. He indicated a timetable for the industry and for house agreements regarding the introduction of new technology. That timetable has not been met. We have only just had the announcement of 12th October regarding the industry's conclusions, and we now have to see how the house negotiations proceed.

If the circumstances of the industry are so desperate, I suggest that it should get on with its house negotiations in the light of the statement of 12th Otcober with a view to introducing the new technology to the work. The whole essence of the interim report was that the new technology could be financed out of the savings made in most cases.

Mr. Rathbone

Would it be right to interpret the right hon. Gentleman's answer as a mean approach by the Government to the very great strides that both managements and unions have made in coming to new manning agreements so that new technology can be introduced? Does it not show too little appreciation of the fact that the future vitality of one leading independent daily and one leading independent Sunday paper is at stake because of the lack of action by the Government?

Mr. Dell

The hon. Gentleman says that the Government's approach is mean. It is not characteristic of the Opposition to urge the Government to spend public money on industry in general or newspapers in particular. Objection used to be taken to the idea on the ground that it would imperil the independence of newspapers. As soon as it can be arranged—the delay is not on my side—I propose to hold further meetings with the joint chairmen of the joint standing committee, but again I impress on the industry the importance of getting on with house agreements. The industry has lost the time schedule proposed by my predecessor in March. Let those house agreements now be made rapidly.

Mr. Skinner

Whatever my right hon. Friend does, may I ask him not to take advice from those young blades who advised Slater Walker in the run-up period to the wonderful success story which has ended in disaster?

Mr. Dell

I am always careful about any advice I am offered. Indeed, I sometimes do not take advice from my hon. Friend the Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner).