CONTRIBUTION OF REGIONAL AND LOCAL NEWSPAPERS

Early day motion 425, tabled 9 December 2009 by Paul Burstow (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 99 members.

That this House believes that local and regional newspapers have a long track record of serving and being at the heart of their communities; notes that local media are widely acknowledged as the most trusted of all media; further believes that the independence of local media is vitally important to proper scrutiny and accountability; is concerned that local authority subsidy of news can create unfair competition, making local commercial media unviable and pose a threat to free speech; is further concerned that 100 local newspapers across the UK closed in 2009; further believes that the requirement to place statutory notices with publications independent of the placing authority should be preserved; and calls on the Competition Commission and Audit Commission to review the impact of the growth of local authority funded newspapers on the local media market and free speech.

Signatures by party: Labour 35, Conservative 31, Liberal Democrat 29, Independent 2, DUP 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.