Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness and independence of the Independent Press Standards Organisation, in light of its record on upholding complaints, conducting standards investigations and issuing sanctions against member publishers.

The UK has a self-regulatory system for the press, which is independent from Government. An independent press is important for press freedom and to ensure the public has access to accurate and trustworthy information from a range of different sources.

We expect all publishers to operate within the bounds of the law and adhere to high ethical and professional standards, as well as ensure appropriate routes to redress if these standards are not met. However, the Government does not intervene in or evaluate the work of regulators, including the Independent Press Standards Organisation. Since the findings of the Leveson Report in 2012 there has been a substantial shift in the regulatory landscape, including the establishment of two regulators, IPSO and Impress, as well as the Press Recognition Panel, to ensure these high standards are met.