All 1 Debates between Robert Halfon and Louise Mensch

Local Newspapers

Debate between Robert Halfon and Louise Mensch
Wednesday 25th April 2012

(12 years, 7 months ago)

Westminster Hall
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Louise Mensch Portrait Louise Mensch
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The hon. Lady is right. I intend to mention local accountability later.

Robert Halfon Portrait Robert Halfon (Harlow) (Con)
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I congratulate my hon. Friend on securing this important debate and for kindly giving way. In Harlow, we have gone down from three local newspapers to one in the past few years. Unlike the BBC, which has the licence fee, local newspapers do not have a compulsory subsidy. Does my hon. Friend agree that it would be fair for the Government to continue to put transport and traffic notices in local newspapers to ensure that they survive?

Louise Mensch Portrait Louise Mensch
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I agree. Later, I will mention substantively the remedy for falling circulation and the lack of a good business model for local newspapers.