§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the exclusive arrangements for the supply and distribution of newspapers.
§ Mr. Neil HamiltonThe Director General of Fair Trading referred the supply of newspapers from publishers to wholesalers and wholesalers to retailers in England and Wales to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on 19 August 1992. The commission was asked to report back to the President of the Board of Trade within 12 months.
The terms of reference exclude Scotland and Northern Ireland primarily because their newspaper distribution arrangements are different. The Office of Fair Trading continues to keep the market for the supply of newspapers in Scotland and Northern Ireland under review.