§ Mr. Gerald BowdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will amend section 58(1) of the Fair Trading Act 1973 so that sales of newspapers with an average circulation of 500,000 copies or more outside the United Kingdom will be included in the calculation of a newspaper proprietor's circulation with regard to the need for obtaining this prior consent to make any further newspaper acquisitions.
§ Mr. RedwoodI have no plans to amend section 58 of the Fair Trading Act 1973. The Government's merger control policy is primarily concerned with the effects on competition in UK markets. The newspaper merger provisions are in addition concerned with the accurate presentation of news and free expression of opinion. Acquisitions by persons owning no newspaper interests in the UK should not raise the same concerns as acquisitions by those who already have a substantial share of the UK newspaper market.