Lord Cormack
Main Page: Lord Cormack (Conservative - Life peer)
Lord Wallace of Saltaire
My Lords, I am well aware of the strong feelings that many people have about the broader issues involved in this matter. The noble Lord raised the issue of payments to the police. Clearly they would have been illegal and I know that some have now been admitted. Of course it is necessary for the police to have a close relationship with the media, because the media can help to solve crimes, but payments for information are clearly illegal. I should add that the two senior journalists arrested yesterday have been bailed.
Lord Cormack
My Lords, do not these very regrettable events underline the need for a statutory Press Complaints Commission?
Lord Wallace of Saltaire
My Lords, that is very much one of the larger issues that it would be appropriate for the sort of general inquiry for which the noble Lord, Lord Fowler, is calling to look at once the current investigations are complete.