§ Q9. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Prime Minister whether, in the light of increasing anxiety about the concentration of newspaper ownership, he will consider the need for implementing urgently the recommendation contained in paragraph 244 of the Report of the Royal Commission on the Press 1961–62, Command Paper No. 1811, namely, that arrangements whereby newspaper undertakings having controlling interests in 281W certain independent television companies should be terminated at the earliest possible moment.
§ The Prime MinisterAs my hon. Friend will recall the Government of the day did not act upon that recommendation directly, but instead sought the powers contained in Section 12 of the Television Act, 1964. I know of no widespread desire to reverse that decision, but if my hon. Friend has any new evidence to present I would be happy to have it considered.