HC Deb 03 February 1977 vol 925 cc257-8W
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what arrangements there are in his Department to monitor regional news programmes on television and local radio, to keep him, and senior civil servants, informed of regional news and opinion.

Mr. Clinton Davis

The Department uses an agency which provides a daily report of items of interest broadcast on regional news programmes. The service is shared with the Departments of Industry and of Prices and Consumer Protection. Additionally, regional offices of the Department draw our attention to local issues of interest on TV and radio.

Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many copies of each of the following newspapers are purchased each day by his Department, in order to keep himself and senior civil servants informed and how many copies of each paper purchased are northern editions; The Guardian, Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail, Daily Express and Daily Mirror, respectively.

Mr. Clinton Davis

The following newspapers are purchased each day for Ministers and senior civil servants in the Department:

The Guardian … … … 11
Daily Telegraph … … 5
Daily Mail … … … 4
Daily Express … … … 6
Daily Mirror … … … 5

None of these are northern editions.

Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many copies of each weekly and bi-weekly newspaper published within Greater Manchester are purchased by his Department to keep himself, and senior civil servants, informed of regional news and opinion.

Mr. Clinton Davis

The Department does not itself purchase any evening papers published in the North-West of England but is kept informed on regional news and opinions by the regional office of the Department of Industry which also undertakes work for the Department of Trade.

Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many copies of each evening newspaper published in the North-West of England are purchased by his Department to keep himself, and senior civil servants, informed of regional news and opinion.

Mr. Clinton Davis

The Department does not itself purchase any weekly or biweekly papers published within Greater Manchester but is kept informed on regional news and opinions by the Regional Office of the Department of Industry which also undertakes work for the Department of Trade.