HC Deb 16 February 1981 vol 999 cc21-2

The following questions stood upon the Order Paper:

16. Mr. Robert Adley (Christchurch and Lymington)

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade, what representations he has received about his decision not to refer to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission the proposed purchase of The Times.

24. Mr. loan Evans (Aberdare)

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade, what representations he has received regarding his decision not to refer the change of ownership of the Sunday Times to the Monopolies Commission; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Speaker

The Secretary of State has asked my permission to answer questions 16 and 24, and I have given my permission.

The Secretary of State for Trade (Mr. John Biffen)

I have received a number of representations on my decision to consent to transfer of the two newspapers without a reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. In view of the continuing interest in this matter, I am today placing in the Library of the House a memorandum setting out the material on which I reached my decision.

Mr. John Smith (Lanarkshire, North)

Is the Secretary of State aware that the responsibility rests very much on his shoulders, and on the so-called guarantees given by the new proprietor of the organisation with regard to editorial independence and integrity? What sanctions does the Secretary of State have in mind to ensure that the guarantees are observed in the future?

Mr. Biffen

Two of the conditions require changes in the articles of association of the companies concerned in order to safeguard the position of independent national directors and to preserve editorial independence. The enforcement of those conditions will lie essentially with the B shareholders of The Times and independent directors. Any breach of the remaining conditions would be subject to criminal sanctions under the Fair Trading Act 1973.

Mr. Jonathan Aitken (Thanet, East)

Whatever our past disagreements on the sale of The Times, we are now dealing with a fait accompli. Does not my right hon. Friend agree that we should all wish Mr. Rupert Murdoch and the new management good luck, because they will certainly need it?

Mr. Biffen

That was underhand bowling up to the best Australian standards. I realise that the decision that I took was controversial. By the nature of it, it could not have been otherwise. I am reinforced by the observation of the deputy editor of The Times, who said that these are stronger guarantees than we have ever had. I do not think that any other newspaper in the world has such guarantees.

Mr. Geoffrey Robinson (Coventry, North-West)

The right hon. Gentleman will not expect us to welcome the confirmation of his decision, but would it be possible for him to make available detailed financial information, so that the general public unease about the grounds on which he took the decision on The Sunday Times could be dispelled? That would do a great deal to give the sort of start that we would all like to see, in the best of spirits, to this buccaneering piece of entrepreneurship between the press and the Government, in the great tradition of those two organisations, the Tory press barons and Tory Governments? I am sure that if the right hon. Gentleman took it in that spirit and made available the information, it would be welcome in all parts of the House.

Mr. Biffen

The hon. Gentleman made clear his views when we debated this matter, and in that context I appreciate his remarks. There is now available to the House, in the Library, the data that was made available to me and on which I took the decision.

Mr. Peter Emery (Honiton)

Does my right hon. Friend realise that the House will be grateful to him for taking the unusual step of asking permission to answer these questions and for having given an assurance to the Opposition Front Bench?

Is my right hon. Friend aware that he has assisted in open government in allowing the information that was made available to him to be placed in the Library? Is he further aware that that will assist many hon. Members?

Mr. Biffin

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his comments.

Mr. Peter Bottomley (Woolwich, West)

Will my right hon. Friend take the opportunity, now or at a convenient time in the future, to deal with one of the basic issues concerning would-be buyers and would-be sellers—the fact that the Monopolies and Mergers Commission should be given a reasonable time to report?

Mr. Biffen

My hon. Friend properly identifies a disturbing aspect of the episode. I do not know whether we can adjust our legislation to overcome that problem. I do not wish to make any encouraging comments at this stage, but I take note of my hon. Friend's remarks.

Mr. Hooley

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Would it be possible to inquire whether hon. Members who tabled the questions that have just been answered were notified that they would be answered at the end of Question Time?

Mr. Speaker

I expect the Minister thought that those hon. Members assumed that their questions would be answered during Question Time.