Leveson Inquiry

Baroness Boothroyd Excerpts

Monday 18th March 2013 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[Baroness Boothroyd]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress has been made in their response to the Leveson report.

[Lord Gardiner of Kimble]

My Lords, perhaps I may first remark on the noble Baroness’s extraordinary sense of timing.

[Lord Gardiner of Kimble]

The all-party talks have been a productive process. It is appropriate to acknowledge the many hours, day and night, that all parties and interests have devoted to these discussions. As your Lordships will appreciate, the Prime Minister hopes that Mr Speaker will allow him and the other party leaders an opportunity later this afternoon to set out what has been agreed. Until then, I can say little more but I know that my noble friend the Chief Whip proposes to make a short statement after Questions about our own business today.

[Baroness Boothroyd]

My Lords, as we have been told by the media during the course of the morning and by leading Members of Parliament that the cross-party talks have been successful, I feel entitled to put my Question and to have an Answer from the Minister today. Therefore, will the Minister assure the House that the proposed royal charter will be protected by statutory regulation? With great respect, I ask the Minister to answer me clearly on this point: will the charter be legally underpinned against future changes without the consent of Parliament?

Finally, last week, the Prime Minister told us:

“There’s no point in producing a system that the press won’t take part in”.

How many publishers or editors were kept informed of the proposals and have agreed to them? Can they opt out if they wish to do so?

[Lord Gardiner of Kimble]

My Lords, I am sorry to disappoint the noble Baroness but, as I said earlier, this will be the subject of debate in the other place, and it would be unreasonable to answer now. It would be a courtesy to the Prime Minister and the other leaders if those matters were left for later this afternoon.