- In a move likely to cause a further headaches for the UK Government, the Office of Fair Trading has said it is to step up its inquiry into allegations of predatory pricing by the Rupert Murdoch owned Times and Sunday Times.
The Government is already in the spotlight over its relations with Rupert Murdoch and faces trouble from its backbenchers in the Commons next week over its decision to reject a Lords amendment to the Competition Bill that was intended to curb newspaper price cutting campaigns.
Seven rebel Labour MPs are set to force a debate of the issue.
A spokesman for the OFT said the inquiry was being widened following complaints against News International, which owns the Times and Sunday Times, by the Daily Telegraph, the Independent and the Guardian.
News International has been asked to hand over information concerning pricing strategies, profitability, and the fixed and variable costs of producing the two papers. It has been given six weeks to respond.
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