WEST Aberdeenshire & Kincardine MSP Mike Rumbles has called on the Scottish Government to safeguard the "vital role" carried out by The Deeside and Donside Piper.
Scottish Government plans to stop publishing Public Information Notices in local newspapers were the subject of a debate in the Scottish Parliament.
Speaking during the debate, Mr Rumbles said: "In my constituency, although there is a high lev
el of internet access, people still read the Deeside Piper and the Donside Piper. They want to make sure that they get information from their weekly newspapers; it is not the subsidy that is important. Does the minister not recognise that members right across the chamber will not pass the order? It would save a lot of time, money and angst if the minister just dropped it now."
Responding to Mr Rumbles, Enterprise Minister Jim Mather said that he noted Mr Rumbles comments.
MSPs voted against the SNP government's plans by 76 votes to 48.
Speaking after the debate Mike Rumbles said: "Local newspapers such as The Piper have a vital role to play in keeping the public informed of the activities of local and national government . Not everyone has internet access, and the proposals by the Scottish Government to stop publishing Public Information Notices in the press would be detrimental to the democratic process.
"MSPs have voted by a clear and overwhelming majority to reject these plans from the SNP government. These plans will have a serious and detrimental effect on local newspapers and Ministers now know that they will be defeated if they are brought before the Scottish Parliament.
They should stop wasting their time and taxpayers' money on this and get on with the things that matter to the Scottish people."
Tory MSP Alex Johnstone also opposed the removal of public information notices from local newspapers.
He said: " While the Scottish Conservatives are keen to encourage savings in public spending, we remain strong supporters of the local newspaper industry. We must make sure that local authorities continue to advertise public notices in newspapers rather than posting them solely online for two important reasons, firstly, to ensure that as many people as possible can view them and secondly to provide continued financial support of Scotland's newspaper industry. If First Minister Alex Salmond really takes this issue seriously, he must commit to continue using newspapers to advertise public notices as a matter of urgency."
"The Scottish Conservatives will continue to question the Scottish Government on these proposals and the impact they could have on the newspaper industry. In the meantime, local newspapers and other interested parties can respond to the consultation which closes on February 12 and I would encourage everyone who supports their local newspaper to do so."
