HL Deb 19 October 1994 vol 558 cc204-5

3.10 p.m.

Lord Thomson of Monifieth asked Her Majesty's Government:

When they propose to introduce changes in the law relating to cross-media ownership.

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, the Government's review of cross-media ownership raises a number of important issues which require careful consideration. An announcement about the outcome will be made once the Government have determined the best way forward.

Lord Thomson of Monifieth

My Lords, is the Minister aware that the long delay on the Government's part in making clear their intentions in the matter is now causing great uncertainty and speculation? Has she noticed that in Scotland the Daily Record and the Daily Mail, which belong to the Mirror Group Newspapers and dominate the tabloid press in Scotland, have bought themselves into being the biggest single shareholder in Scottish Television? That company dominates commercial television in Scotland. Is that not a dangerous threat and a warning to the Government that they must make their policy clear on the matter?

Baroness Trumpington

; My Lords, it is better to have a little delay and get it right in the end. The Mirror Group shareholding in Scottish Television is within the 20 per cent. limit prescribed by the current ownership rules. Scottish Television remains bound by the positive programming and consumer protection measures enforced by the ITC. Those help to ensure that Scottish viewers will continue to receive high quality programming and impartial news coverage.

Lord Donoughue

My Lords, I am sure that we all acknowledge that the technological changes taking place in the industry and the convergence of the various sectors of the media mean that existing systems of controls are not always appropriate. Will the Minister confirm, however, that the basic purposes of those controls—the protection of the quality of the product, the reasonable dimension in our media and the diversity of ownership—will be maintained in any future government proposals?

One point may be of interest to the rest of the media who seem to assume that ahead of them lies a bonanza from a Murdoch-style deregulation. Is the Minister aware that the future Labour Government will protect those basic principles of quality, regionalism and diversity through the most severe application of monopolies and media regulations?

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, the noble Lord has raised a rather wide-ranging supplementary. The review was necessary and timely in view of the rapid technological change. It is important that we are not rushed into decisions on media ownership. I cannot be drawn into speculation about the outcome of the review, but one of the issues which the review has had to consider is, I agree, that any changes must bear in mind the importance of maintaining a sense of national and regional identity.

Lord Marsh

My Lords, following the question of the noble Lord, Lord Donoughue, are not some of the arguments becoming a little tired, old-fashioned and outdated? The number of different sources of broadcast and printed information available now to the public is so vast and varied that many people would regard further regulation as pure bureaucratic indulgence, to no sensible purpose.

Baroness Trumpington

No, my Lords.