Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment she has made of the effect on local and regional newspapers in Northern Ireland of the pre-pack rescue of Johnston Press; and if she will make a statement.

My deepest sympathies go out to anyone facing uncertainty as a result of the changes at Johnston Press. The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has made an assessment of the challenges facing local and regional newspapers, both from the resale of Johnston Press and more broadly, in the whole of the UK including Northern Ireland. Details can be found at:

https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2018-11-19/debates/52FF3860-684F-4B20-AD52-2B9687FE4E2B/JohnstonPressAdministration?highlight=johnston%20press#contribution-4ECFBDD7-91BF-4FD0-9600-1473DFBD8C78.