§ Mr. Shinwellasked the President of the Board of Trade how many daily newspapers are owned and jointly owned by the Thomson Press organisation in the United Kingdom; and if he will refer this organisation to the Monopolies Commission for investigation.
§ Mr. JayI understand that the Thomson Organisation at present own 15 daily newspapers, of which the circulation is insufficient to satisfy the test of monopoly conditions under the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Acts. As the right hon. Gentleman may know, I have asked the Monopolies Commission to investigate the proposed acquisition ofThe Times by the organisation.