To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on what dates since 1 January 2007 (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department and its predecessors have had discussions with (i) Lord Rothermere, (ii) Matthew Freud and (iii) Freud Communications, with particular reference to ownership of the London Evening Standard. (282270)

[holding answer 25 June 2009]: Neither Ministers nor officials have had discussions with Lord Rothermere, Matthew Freud and Freud Communications in reference to the ownership of the Evening Standard.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what written and oral contacts (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department and its predecessors had with (i) Lord Rothermere, (ii) Matthew Freud and (iii) Freud Communications in connection with the sale of the London Evening Standard to Alexander Lebedev before the decision was taken on whether to issue an intervention notice under the Enterprise Act 2002. (282271)

[holding answer 25 June 2009]: There have been no written or oral contacts by Ministers or officials with Lord Rothermere, Matthew Freud or Freud Communications regarding the sale of the Evening Standard.