Lads mags are still too exposed - Foster

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 1st Aug 2006

Britain's leading magazine retailer, WH Smith, is flouting its own laws on the display of 'lads mags', the Liberal Democrats have revealed.

Following a recent parliamentary debate on the display of the magazines in shops, Bath's MP and Liberal Democrat Shadow Culture, Media, and Sport Secretary, Don Foster today challenged magazine retailers to clean up their act.

He said:

"I have a strong belief that self regulation should be given a fair chance, so it's deeply disappointing to see a leading magazine retailer breaching its own guidelines so blatantly.

"It's important that parents are given a choice as to whether their children are exposed to this type of material, but that won't happen while it remains on the bottom shelf.

"It's hardly surprising that other retailers are failing to meet industry standards on the display of 'lads mags', when WH Smith seem unable to keep to their own."