§ Mr. Mellorasked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he has received the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's report on the proposed transfer of The Observer to Lonrho Ltd; when he will publish it; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BiffenI have today laid before Parliament and published the Commission's report. Seven members of the Commission find that if the transfer is made subject to conditions designed to protect editorial independence, it may be expected not to operate against the public interest. One member of the Commission concludes that the transfer should not be permitted. I have accepted the view of the majority of the Commission and have decided to consent to the transfer subject to conditions.
The attachment of formal conditions to the acquisition of a newspaper is clearly a matter of considerable public concern; I am anxious that any conditions should be no more than the minimum necessary to provide adequate guarantees for the newspaper's continuing editorial independence. For this reason, I am prepared to take account of the views which interested parties may form on the subject of conditions, when they have read the report.
I am, nevertheless, anxious to minimise any uncertainty which may arise in the period following publication of the report. For this reason I intend to reach a final decision on the conditions I shall impose within the next few days.