MERIDIAN NEWBURY NEWSDESK

Early day motion 458, tabled 21 November 2001 by Jane Griffiths (Labour). Signed by 12 members.

That this House believes the provision of local news by journalists in their local community is very important; is concerned about Granada's losses of £69 million - largely as a result of its disastrous investment in OnDigital - and media reports of the proposed closure of the Meridian Newbury Newsdesk that would result in the loss of the nightly news programme for the economic powerhouse of the South East and the Thames Valley; notes that Reading and its hinterland receive a very poor service from BBC South; and is further concerned that these proposals from Granada would not only contravene their licence terms but result in a massive gap in news services to one of the most important parts of the United Kingdom.

Signatures by party: Labour 10, Liberal Democrat 2.