§ Mr. MullinTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information she collates about the concentration of ownership in(a) regional morning and (b) regional evening newspapers; and if she will make a statement. [70135]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonApplications for consent to a newspaper transfer under the Fair Trading Act 1973 address the effect the transaction would have on concentration of ownership in the relevant markets. In addition, the Department has access to the Joint Industry Committee for Regional Press Research (JICREG) and Newspaper Society databases, which provide information on local and regional newspaper circulation.
Competition Commission reports on newspaper transfers also address the issue of consolidation in the regional newspaper industry.