§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Trade how many applications have been made for newspaper acquisitions under the terms of the Fair Trading Act 1973 since the report of the Royal Commission on the press was published and how many of these have been refused.
§ Mr. ParkinsonSince the final report of the Royal Commission on the press was published in July 1977 nine applications for consent to newspaper transfers under the terms of the Fair Trading Act have been made. Of these, six were granted consent without requiring a reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, two following a report by the commission, and one application was refused consent following a report by the commission.