UK Newspapers and News Magazines: Foreign Investment

Lord Forsyth of Drumlean Excerpts

Thursday 27th March 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

The noble Viscount raises exactly the type of complex issue that requires careful consideration. I am committed to bringing this matter back to your Lordships’ House in the near future—I have been told that I can continue to say “in the near future”—and we will bring an SI to your Lordships’ House shortly thereafter.

[Lord Forsyth of Drumlean (Con)]

My Lords, I sympathise with the Minister’s position. Later today, we are going to discuss the Employment Rights Bill. Are the Government considering the position of the employees of the Telegraph and the uncertainty that is occurring, as well as the important issue of the newspaper? She gave a commitment to the House today that they would table the necessary secondary legislation. Will that be soon, shortly, in due course, or before the Summer Recess?

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

I reassure the noble Lord that it will be very shortly—though how you define “very” in that context is probably open to interpretation. As noble Lords will know, I did go back and press the point, having been told that I could say “very shortly” last time, as to whether that was still the case. On staffing, I do not underestimate how unsettling this would be for staff. I note the noble Lord’s commitment to the Government’s legislation that is being discussed later this afternoon, which is welcome. Staffing is clearly a matter for the paper itself, but we hope that all decisions made in the interim would be in the best interests of both the paper and the staff.