Phone Hacking Debate

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Department: Home Office

Phone Hacking

Lord Rosser Excerpts
Tuesday 6th December 2011

(12 years, 11 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Henley Portrait Lord Henley
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My Lords, my noble friend is right when he quotes the figure of 5,795 people who the police have said may—I stress, may—have had their phones hacked. The police stressed that at this stage they cannot give a figure, which is why I gave the other figure of 1,800 people who the police have identified as potential victims, and the 600 with whom they have been in contact. I note what my noble friend said about setting up some independent body as a result of these matters. At this stage, I cannot possibly comment and we must await the outcome of the inquiry by Lord Justice Leveson. When that happens, I am sure that we will act.

Lord Rosser Portrait Lord Rosser
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My Lords, when giving evidence recently to your Lordships’ Communications Committee inquiry on the future of investigative journalism, the Culture Secretary, Mr Jeremy Hunt, said that newspapers are likely to come under the auspices of a new regulatory body that is,

“better at enforcing standards of accuracy”,

than the Press Complaints Commission. Can the Minister confirm that this is now the policy of Her Majesty's Government?