§ Mrs. Bainasked the Secretary of State for Industry what, from published figures, he estimates to have been the total profit made by daily newspapers in Scotland at the last convenient date; and what was the value of Government and other public sector advertising as a percentage of this profit.
§ Mr. Gregor Mackenzie,pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 7th November 17W 1974; Vol. 880, c. 214], gave the following information:
Information is not available from published accounts showing separately profits made by daily newspapers in Scotland; the nearest information available is the total profits from all activities of the seven companies which publish the 11 mam Scottish daily newspapers. According to their latest accounts filed with the Register of Companies in Edinburgh, relating mainly to accounting years ending in 1973, their total profits before tax and extraordinary items were £8.1 million. Expenditure on advertising by the public sector is not known centrally. Questions on advertising carried out on behalf of Government Departments are the responsibility of the Civil Service Department.