Philip Collins has been appointed chairman of the OFT taking over from John Vickers. The new position of chief executive has been filled by John Fingleton.

According to the PPA, the appointees have indicated that they are willing to review the evidence submitted by opponents of the proposed overhaul of the newspaper and magazine distribution system.

"There is no indication that the OFT is going to do a u-turn," said a PPA spokesman. "But the new regime is prepared to meet the industry and that can only be an improvement from our point of view."
A response by the OFT to the resubmitted evidence is not expected for over a month.

The secretary of state for culture, media and sport Tessa Jowell has written to the OFT to oppose the break up of the existing distribution system. Other high profile lobbyists include Lord Heseltine, chairman of PrintWeek publisher Haymarket, and the Mayor of London Ken Livingstone.