§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the President of the Board of Trade when he proposes to announce further proposals concerning the supply of newspapers; what representations he has received on his Department's final inquiry up to 31 March; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Neil Hamilton[holding answer 9 May 1994]: The Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on the supply of national newspapers in England and Wales identified certain practices of wholesalers as operating against the public interest. I have therefore proposed making a statutory order prohibiting these practices. A wide range of views has been received during the period for submission of written representations on the proposed order, which ended on 31 March. My officials are now holding a final series of meetings with representative parties from the industry to discuss their representations, both on the order and on the possible alternative of an industry code of practice backed by statutory undertakings. I hope to announce my final decision as soon as possible, once I have had an opportunity to consider the outcome of the consultation process.