§ Mr. Winnickasked the Prime Minister if the Government will consider proposing a system of public financing for the publication of The Times newspapers if present negotiations fail, on the basis of 414W a public service similar to the British Broadcasting Corporation.
§ The Prime MinisterI naturally regret the possibility that papers with the reputation ofThe Times or The Sunday Times may cease publication. Nevertheless, to finance publication of a newspaper from public funds would be unprecedented and the Government have no intention of putting forward proposals to do so.