§ Mr. Whitakerasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the crisis facing several newspapers, he will recommend the setting up of a Royal Commission on the Press to report urgently on what steps should be taken to preserve the variety of opinion and newspapers essential to a free Press, and to examine the situation regarding labour-manning, the price of newsprint, and the spread of advertising together with the possibility of State printing presses being leased to papers of every opinion.
§ Mr. Will Owenasked the Prime Minister if he is aware of the difficulties being experienced by some British daily and weekend newspapers, in view of lack of advertising revenue: and whether he will set up an inquiry into the industry.
§ The Prime MinisterI would refer my hon. Friends to the Answer I gave on 20th December to a similar Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Carlisle (Mr. Ron Lewis).—[Vol. 738, c.295.]