To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps the Office of Fair Trading has taken to amend guidance on local and regional newspaper mergers and competition issues since publication of the Digital Britain Final Report. (294103)

[holding answer 19 October 2009]: Since publication of the Digital Britain Report, the OFT has published updated guidance on jurisdictional and procedural matters relating to merger control. The new 'Jurisdictional and Procedural Guidance' is available at:

http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/mergers_ea02/oft527.pdf

Paragraph 6.15 of the guidance sets out how the OFT will consult Ofcom on media mergers involving newspaper publishing and/or commercial radio or television broadcasting.