Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury
Main Page: Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Baroness Garden of Frognal
My Lords, the independence of the shareholders and the fact that they will not all be members of the Murdoch family are written into the undertakings. The competition aspects were ruled on by the EU Commission, so at the moment issues of plurality rather than competition are to be discussed. However, if the Secretary of State has any misgivings, he can refer the matter to the Competition Commission.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
My Lords, it is a rule of the House that for it to be in order only one person should be on their feet at one time. I am sure that noble Lords on all Benches wish to abide by that. I am aware that my noble friend Lord Fowler has recently spoken. Perhaps we should hear from the noble Baroness, Lady Bonham-Carter, before we hear from the noble Lord, Lord Grade, unless another Member of the House wishes to speak first.
Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury
My Lords, the Secretary of State said last week that the existing check on media plurality,
“may not be as robust as it should be”.
Does the Minister agree that in the upcoming communications Bill rules on media plurality and the merging of media companies should be strengthened?
Baroness Garden of Frognal
My noble friend asks another key question on this. Certainly, the Secretary of State has indicated that there is a potential weakness in media plurality. The forthcoming Bill will indeed provide an occasion to consider this again.