The Minister for Competition and Consumer Affairs
has given consent to the transfer to Regional Independent Media
Holdings (“RIM”) of several regional newspapers owned
by Scottish County Press (“SCP”), including Musselburgh
News, East Lothian News and Peebles Times.
The consent was given pursuant to sections 58(4) of
the FTA 1973. On the basis that the circulation of each of the
seven newspaper titles was less than 50,000 copies for each paper,
the Minister used his discretion to consent to the transfer without
requiring a report from the Competition Commission. Under the
special rules contained in the FTA in relation to the transfer of
newspaper titles, a transfer of titles whose circulation exceeds
500,000 copies per day will be void without the consent of the
Secretary of State. In usual circumstances, this will require a
reference to the Competition Commission.
(DTI Press Release P/2000/55)