§ Mr. George HowarthTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will refer to the Director General of Fair Trading the current practice of certain newspaper publishers in deliberately narrowing the options of newsagents in terms of wholesale distribution; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MaudeI understand that the Director General of Fair Trading has the distribution of newspapers under review, including recent developments in distribution introduced by certain newspaper publishers.
§ Mr. George HowarthTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has received from newsagents about the trend towards a virtual monopoly of distribution on the part of certain newspapers; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MaudeMy Department has received a number of representations from newsagents about recent developments in newspaper distribution. They have been referred to the Director General of Fair Trading, who is monitoring such developments.