MSP backs weekly papers

Jul 1 2009 by Colin Paterson, Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser

A MONKLANDS MSP has condemned Scottish Government plans to remove public notice advertising from local newspapers.

Elaine Smith believes the cost-cutting initiative would be a “backward step” for democracy.

Under the proposals, Holyrood officials would set up a Public Notices Information Portal on the internet for all councils to use.

The site would contain details of job opportunities, roadworks and property developments and mean local authorities could avoid spending money on advertising in newspapers.

But many people in Lanarkshire would find it difficult to access this information as more than half of the county’s residents don’t have access to the web.

And the project would have dire consequences for the local newspaper industry which is trying to cope with falls in advertising revenue caused by the credit crunch.

It’s believed the web portal could save councils £3 million per year but Holyrood require a change in legislation in order to force through their plans.

But Ms Smith is urging the government to have a rethink and says the plans would be detrimental to residents and the Press.

The Coatbridge and Chryston politician said: “I am in no doubt that this will have a negative impact on local newspapers and instead provide the information via the internet.

“I am in no doubt that this will have a negative impact on local newspapers as it will lead to a considerable loss in advertising revenue at a time when the industry is particularly vulnerable.

“More importantly, it will mean that public notices are less accessible to local people.

“This is another example of the SNP Government’s failure to understand the realities of many people’s lives.

“Only 40 per cent of people in this area have access to the internet compared with the national average of 64 per cent, which means that the majority of my constituents would not have access to key announcements which affect our community.

“The Scottish Government must reconsider this decision as any reduction in accessibility would be a backward step for the democratic process in my view.”

Central Scotland SNP MSP, Alex Neil, blamed budget cuts from London and the prioritising of frontline services like the NHS as being the reasons for the portal project.

He said: “We are under enormous pressure to save money because of the cuts imposed on us from the Labour Government in Westminster.

“We have no choice but to try and save every possible penny we can. We are between a rock and a hard place.”