§ Lord Harris of Greenwichasked Her Majesty's Government:
What action the Secretary of State for Scotland proposes to take against those local authorities in Scotland which have withdrawn News International newspapers from public libraries, following that Company's dispute with the printing unions.
§ The Minister of State, Scottish Office (Lord Glenarthur)My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Scotland deplore the decision by certain local authorities not to stock the publications of News International. He has received a request to intervene. The statutory position in Scotland differs from that in England and he has therefore concluded that it would not be appropriate for him to do so. This does not of course preclude News International from seeking a judicial remedy if they believe that the authorities concerned are in breach of their statutory obligations; but my right honourable friend hopes that what is essentially a misguided political decision will be corrected by the good sense of the authorities concerned.