HC Deb 20 April 1998 vol 310 cc465-6
6. Mr. Peter Viggers (Gosport)

If he will make a statement on the Government's policy on cross-border media mergers. [37410]

The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Mr. Chris Smith)

The Government have no plans to amend the media ownership rules revised by the Broadcasting Act 1996. These permit, of course, cross-border holdings within the European Union.

Mr. Viggers

On how many occasions in the past year has the Prime Minister personally intervened in such matters?

Mr. Smith

As far as I am aware, the Prime Minister has had one 30-second reference to the matter in a conversation with the Italian Prime Minister, and on no other occasion has he intervened.

Mr. Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield)

Is my right hon. Friend aware that many of us who live in the regions are more concerned about what happened to cross-border television and independent regional television services under the previous Government, when many of us lost our independent regional broadcasting? Is it not about time that we reminded the viewing public of that? Will the Labour Government make sure that there are independent news services and local community services when companies such as Granada Television, which took over Yorkshire Television, become part of a much greater sector?

Mr. Smith

My hon. Friend raises an extremely important point. The regional character and flavour of programme making, especially in the ITV network, has been one of the great strengths of independent television over the years. Sadly, it was put in some danger by the changes introduced by the previous Government, who seemed completely uninterested in quality and interested only in the price tag when they changed the franchising system. We have made it very clear to the Independent Television Commission that we regard it as one of its prime duties to uphold the regional character and the regional sourcing of programmes when it considers matters relating to ITV.

Mr. Owen Paterson (North Shropshire)

How predominant does an international multi-media group have to become before it triggers concern and intervention by this Government?

Mr. Smith

The rules are very clearly laid down in legislation passed by the Conservative Government.