§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if his Department's presentation of the accounts of The Sunday Times for 1980 excluded £4.6 million revenue and £700,000 profit.
§ Mr. TebbitThe £4.6 million was excluded for the reasons given by my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal in answer to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris) on 31 October.—[Vol. 47, c. 299–300.] The £700,000 profit attributable to this revenue was excluded for the same reason.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the same criteria were adopted when considering the reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission of the acquisition of The Observer newspaper by Lonrho and The Sunday Times by Mr. Murdoch.
§ Mr. TebbitYes. The criteria were those in the newspaper merger provisions of the Fair Trading Act 1973.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how, in his Department's presentation of the accounts of The Sunday Times of 1980, he determined the overheads of a stand-alone Sunday Times as an additional £2.6 million by 1983; if he will provide an annual breakdown for stand-alone overheads; and if he will explain the basis for the retrospective increase in the rent charged against The Sunday Times for 1977 and 1978.
§ Mr. TebbitThe Department of Trade memorandum of 16 February 1981, copies of which were again placed in the Library of the House by my right hon. Friend on 31 October, explained these matters. I have nothing to add.