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The Times/The Sunday Times: application to release undertakings

Documents relating to the application by News UK requesting that the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport release undertakings agreed in 2019

On 1 February 2020 News UK submitted an application requesting the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to release in full the Undertakings accepted in 2019. The 2019 undertakings were accepted in place of the conditions put in place when the newspapers were acquired by News International in 1981.

On 24 June DCMS issued an invitation to comment, which includes a redacted copy of the application, and the written views received from the Editors and INDs. This ran until 15 July. On 30 July, DCMS requested Ofcom and the CMA to advise by 24 September on the public interest considerations and market circumstances, respectively.

After receiving advice from Ofcom and the CMA, the Secretary of State has come to a minded decision to accept the application. DCMS will now run a statutory consultation on the proposed release in accordance with Schedule 10 to Enterprise Act 2002, before the Secretary of State makes a final decision.

Documents

Published 24 June 2021
Last updated 10 February 2022 + show all updates
  1. Documents added.

  2. First published.