Parliamentary activity

That this House notes the significant consequences for local, regional and national publications if the Government was to commence section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013; recognises that the state should have no role in regulating publications; believes that the commencement of section 40 would curtail the freedom of the press in the UK by creating a chilling effect on journalism and would stifle investigative journalism; further notes that the commencement of section 40 would be an atte...

That this House notes with concern the recent controversy over allegations of serious criminal offences committed by Jimmy Savile and the subsequent questions that have been raised over the culture, practices and ethics of the BBC; further notes the calls for an independent inquiry; agrees that the BBC should not dictate the terms of an inquiry into itself; further notes that the Leveson Inquiry is not yet concluded and that Lord Justice Leveson himself said that he would look into anything t...