The Times/The Sunday Times: proposed undertakings to vary 1981 conditions
Documents relating to the application by News UK requesting that the Secretary of State accept proposed undertakings in place of undertakings 1981 conditions attached to the then Secretary of State for Trade’s consent to the transfer of The Times and The Sunday Times.
On 10 January 2019 News UK submitted an application to DCMS requesting that the Secretary of State accept proposed undertakings in place of conditions attached to the then Secretary of State for Trade’s consent to the transfer of The Times and The Sunday Times in 1981.
The changes requested by News UK would permit a greater sharing of resources and services, including journalists, between the two papers. News UK believes that such sharing is a necessary step to mitigate the financial challenges that the two titles will face in the future.
The Department issued a statement in response on 18 January 2018 and published an Invitation to Comment.