§ Mr. Moonmanasked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) if, in order to assist his decision on setting up a Royal Commission on the Press, he will seek to ascertain the percentage of the operating costs of national newspapers which is met (a) out of sales, (b) out of advertising revenue, and (c) from other sources;
(2) if, in order to assist his decision on setting up a Royal Commission on the Press, he will seek to ascertain the extent to which advertising revenue has varied as a percentage of total national newspaper costs in the last 12 months; and how much such variation is due to increased costs or variations in the actual amount of advertising revenue;
(3) if, in order to assist his decision on setting up a Royal Commission on the Press, he will seek to ascertain how many national newspapers are at present operating in deficit;
(4) if, in order to assist his decision on setting up a Royal Commission on the
1972 1973 tonnes £thousand tonnes £thousand Manganese waste and scrap Nil Nil 15 4 Ash and residues wholly of nickel 650 70 513 56
§ Mr. Moonmanasked the Secretary of State for Trade whether, in his consideration of a Royal Commission on the Press, he will take into account the possibility of asking such a commission to examine the desirability of her Majesty's Government seeking powers to prevent the demise of national or regional newspapers.
§ Mr. DeakinsThis is, of course, one of the possibilities a commission could be asked to examine.