Times Newspapers (Hansard, 27 October 1983)

§ Mr. Ian Wrigglesworth (Stockton, South)

I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House, under Standing Order No. 10, for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration, namely, new information concerning the Government's and the House's decision in 1980–81 regarding the acquisition of Times Newspapers by Mr. Rupert Murdoch. In January 1981 the House debated the takeover of Times Newspapers by Mr. Rupert Murdoch. Despite opposition from both sides of the House, the House agreed to accept the then Secretary of State's recommendations that the takeover should be allowed and that the matter should not be referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. It did so because of the alleged financial position of the newspapers at that time and because of eight conditions that were given to the House and attached to the consent by the Secretary of State.

The former editor of The Sunday Times and The Times has alleged today that the then Secretary of State grossly misled the House in 1981 in that the financial position of the newspapers was not as he stated and, therefore, that the matter should not have been exempted from reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission as required under the Fair Trading Act 1973. Secondly, he has alleged that the undertakings that were given to the House in 1981 by the then Secretary of State have been broken.

If these allegations are true, the House is being treated with utter contempt by Mr. Rupert Murdoch and his company. The then Secretary of State, who is now the Leader of the House, is the person to whom we look to protect the interests of this place. He is a fair man in the House and he is known for his honourable action in this and many other matters. Surely he should have an opportunity to say whether he was misled in 1981 and whether the House should take action to ensure that the undertakings that were then given are being carried out.

The House is the guardian of the public interest, especially in respect of newspaper power. I hope that you will think it appropriate, Mr. Speaker, that an early Adjournment debate should be held to provide an opportunity for the Government to say what they feel about the allegations that have been made and their actions in 1981, and to provide the House with an opportunity of casting comment and judgment upon the undertakings that were given by Mr. Rupert Murdoch, which apparently have been broken.