The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Maria Miller)
On 18 March 2013, we reached agreement about how we could deliver a new system of independent and robust self-regulation for the press as recommended in the report of Lord Justice Leveson. I want to update the House on developments since then.
The cross-party agreement, which continues to have cross-party support, included a royal charter to set up a verification body for a new independent press regulator; elements of legislation needed to secure the incentives for newspapers to participate; and a “no change” provision that protects the charter from future political interference. We have delivered those incentives through the provisions included in the Crime and Courts Act 2013 and the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013.
On 30 April 2013, the Press Standards Board of Finance (PressBoF) formally petitioned the Privy Council Office with an alternative draft royal charter. When any petition for a royal charter is received by the Privy Council Office (PCO) it asks for an initial view from relevant Government Departments. This guides whether the royal charter should go forward for Privy Council consideration. On this occasion, Government have also taken advice from Counsel to ensure the procedure they follow is robust.
I will be requesting that the petition is added to the list of Privy Council business.
Cross-party discussions on the royal charter concluded on 18 March and a copy of that charter was deposited in the Libraries of both Houses. Work has continued to prepare the charter published on 18 March for formal submission to the Privy Council. Following the vote in the Scottish Parliament on 30 April, discussions have been held with the Scottish Government about the technical changes necessary to ensure its application in Scotland. The Commissioner for Public Appointments, who carries specific responsibilities under the charter, has also been consulted. Finally, a legal technical review of the charter has been undertaken as part of an overall assurance process. I will be publishing an updated version of the cross-party charter in due course.
We continue to support implementing the system of tough, independent self-regulation that Lord Justice Leveson recommended that protects a free press and delivers for the public and, especially those who are victims of press abuse. The press are making progress on setting up their self-regulator, which is an integral part of the process outlined by the Leveson report.