Purnell airs concern on ITV1 regional cuts

Culture secretary James Purnell has warned ITV1 that plans to merge regional newsrooms risk "the heart of what people value" about it.

He was quizzed in Parliament over the broadcaster's cost-cutting proposals.

Purnell indicated his concern about the plans and said it may contravene ITV1's public service commitments.

"Local and regional news is at the heart of what people value about ITV," he commented. "It would clearly be the best approach for ITV to find a way of making that remit profitable."

"This house made very clear in the Communications Act we expected that regional television be right at the heart of what ITV does.

"Ofcom will have to look at this next year, and I am sure they will take account of the strong feelings that are being expressed in this house about the matter."

More than 50 MPs have backed a campaign to reject the plan and Labour's Austin Mitchell, chairman of the NUJ parliamentary group, said: "The cuts envisaged by ITV run directly contrary to the commitments made by ITV companies when they took on these contracts."

He said the Government should not leave the issue "to the market or a nervous Ofcom" but step in.

Purnell responded: "He is absolutely right to say this would be a change in the terms under which they got their licences."