Public Confidence in the Media and the Police

Baroness Scotland of Asthal Excerpts

Wednesday 20th July 2011 Lords Chamber

[Lord Lloyd of Berwick]

My Lords—

[Baroness Scotland of Asthal]

My Lords—

[Noble Lords]

Scotland!

[Baroness Scotland of Asthal]

My Lords, I commend what the noble Lord the Leader of the House has said in relation to the willingness to look at the revision to the law that may be necessary in the short term. Does he agree that it is very important for this House and the other place to do what we can immediately to cure the flaws that this bid has now given voice to? If the negative resolution procedure is available to us and we could, over the summer, plug the gap and fill it by September, should we not seize that opportunity? Making provision to prevent anyone taking adventitious advantage of a misrepresentation, bad faith or a mistake is essential; having the public interest at the forefront is also critical and we should move swiftly together to fill that gap without any further delay.

[Lord Strathclyde]

My Lords, we are very happy to work closely with the noble and learned Baroness and others in her party to plug that gap if we can identify it.