In his first parliamentary debate as culture secretary, Bradshaw, who previously headed up the government's recycling and waste strategy at Defra, responded to questions on the soon to be published Digital Britain report, which will address issues on newspaper mergers.

The major newspaper publishers claim that regional monopolies in print are no longer relevant, because of the dispersion of news services through the internet, television and radio.

At a meeting of the house on Monday 8 June, Bradshaw was asked by MP David Taylor if he felt a relaxation of media ownership rules should be accompanied by a strengthened public interest test to "ensure that in the event of media mergers, the resources devoted to journalism and news gathering are not diluted or weakened".

Bradshaw said: "That is certainly something that we shall have to think about carefully as we address the problem of regional news and the issue of the merger and acquisitions legislation in the context of the very difficult times that some of our excellent local and regional newspapers are going through.

"Members in all parts of the House recognise and value the role played by regional and local newspapers not only in informing the public in their local areas, but in holding us and locally elected officials to account. It would be very sad to see the demise of local and regional newspapers."

Bradshaw also said that this would be one of the key areas covered in the Digital Britain report, which is to be published "shortly".