§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the President of the Board of Trade when he intends to meet representatives of the National Federation of Retail Newsagents to discuss the Government's response to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on national newspaper distribution.
§ Mr. Neil HamiltonFollowing publication on 9 December of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission (MMC) report on the supply of national newspapers I announced that the Secretary of State had decided to prohibit by order certain restrictions on wholesale supply which the MMC had found to be against the public interest. A notice of the Secretary of State's intention to lay an order before Parliament was published on 21 December.
Written representations were invited from any persons whose interests are likely to be affected by the order. At this early stage of consultation no meetings with any individuals or organisations have been arranged.