Newsquest Local Democracy Reporter pay

That this House is concerned that publisher Newsquest is failing to provide decent salaries for its Local Democracy Reporters despite allocated funding provided by the BBC from licence fee payers; notes that Newsquest has failed to account for a £10,000 surplus per post even after salary and usual employers' costs of National Insurance and pension contributions are considered; regrets that low pay risks the loss of talented journalists providing local councils and communities with wholly relevant, accessible news through their public interest journalism; further notes that other publishers pay their reporters a fair wage with one rival setting a £31,200 minimum salary for senior reporters compared to £24,056 offered by Newsquest; commends the efforts of the National Union of Journalists to achieve pay increases for reporters using ringfenced money; condemns Newsquest’s failure to address adequately the union's reasonable concerns; and implores the publisher to use licence fee payers’ funds appropriately by introducing salary increases and conditions reflective of the immense value of Local Democracy Reporters.