PRESS RELEASE

March 17th, 2010

Notice taken of public

Greenock and Inverclyde MSP Duncan McNeil has welcomed a u-turn by the Scottish Government over plans to withdraw public notices from local newspapers.

Under the proposals, public notices would have been advertised online rather than in local newspapers.

The MSP joined with UK Society of Editors, the National Union of Journalists and the Greenock Telegraph in campaigning against the proposals.

This week, the Scottish Government caved in to the pressure and agreed to drop the misguided plans because ‘the proposals would have had insufficient parliamentary support’.

Mr McNeil said: “I am glad that the SNP Government in Edinburgh has seen sense, although they appear to have begrudgingly accepted these plans were unfair and undemocratic.

“Local newspapers like the Greenock Telegraph play an important role in our community by providing information to the public and scrutinising decisions made by those in authority.

“These plans would have seriously undermined that role and would have denied those people without the internet access to public information they have the right to know about it.

“This is a victory for local newspapers and local democracy.”

ENDS

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2010/03/17120444