Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to support local and regional newspapers.

The local press is a crucial source of information for local communities and a vital part of a healthy democracy.

In the March 2016 budget the government announced the introduction of a £1,500 business rates discount for local newspapers for two years from 1 April 2017. The government's response and guidance regarding the business rates relief was published on 2 December 2016. More information is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/the-case-for-a-business-rates-relief-for-local-newspapers

Following the BBC Charter Review, the BBC is also working in partnership with the local news industry to support local journalism. On 12 May 2016 the BBC and the News Media Association announced their plans for the partnership, including the BBC's funding of 150 local journalists from 2017. More information is available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2016/bbc-nma-partnership