HC Deb 31 March 1994 vol 240 cc1006-7W
Mr. Benn

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what inquiries his Department conducted into the financial position of Newspaper Publishing plc, owner of The Independent and The Independent on Sunday; what representations were received during the consultation phase, and from whom, which led him to conclude that the newspapers were not economic as going concerns; and if he will place in the Library copies of the documentation considered;

(2) what inquiries his Department conducted into the financial position of Newspaper Publishing plc, owner of The Independent and The Independent on Sunday; what representations were received during the consultation phase, and from whom, which led him to conclude that, if the papers were to continue, the case was one of urgency; and if he will place in the Library copies of the documentation considered;

(3) if he will list and place in the Library the documentation considered in relation to inquiries made and representations received by him and his Department which led him to conclude that the public interest did not require him to stipulate conditions, including in relation to editorial independence, on his consent to the MGN-led consortium's bid for a controlling interest in Newspaper Publishing plc.

Mr. Heseltine

[holding answers 30 March 1994]: In assessing whether The Independent and The Independent on Sunday were not economic as going concerns, the case for urgency, and the public interest issues which were raised by the applications for my consent, I sought views from all interested parties. As part of that process my Department received representations from, held meetings with, or sought information from the following:

  • Newspaper Publishing plc;
  • Lloyds Bank plc;
  • The founders of Newspaper Publishing, Mr. Whittam Smith, Mr. Symonds, Mr. O'Neill;
  • Espresso International Holding SA;
  • Promotora de Informaciones SA;
  • Mirror Group Newspaper plc;
  • Independent Newspapers plc;
  • The Department of National Heritage;
  • The National Union of Journalists;
  • The National Union of Journalists, Independent Newspapers Chapel;
  • The International Federation of Journalists;
  • Newspaper Publishing Employee Council;
  • The Editorial Council of The Independent and The Independent on Sunday;
  • United Newspapers;
  • The Today Newspaper;
  • Nine advertising companies; and
  • 54 individual, including Members of Parliament.

Representations and information were given to the Department in confidence and I shall not therefore be placing copies of the documentation considered in the Library of the House.