Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede on 1 August (HL330), on what basis the Ministry of Justice made a payment to the Press Recognition Panel of £430,000 in April; and whether they intend to place in the House of Lords Library a copy of all correspondence between the Ministry of Justice and Press Regulation Panel relating to the payment.

The Royal Charter on Self-Regulation of the press sets out that The Exchequer (acting through the Lord Chancellor) will fund the Press Recognition Panel (PRP) until it becomes effective. It also sets out that in the event that the PRP considers its income is likely to be insufficient it will have a right to request further reasonable sums so it is not frustrated by a lack of funding. Whilst the Lord Chancellor is the conduit for the PRP with HM Treasury, they have no policy responsibility under the Royal Charter that created the PRP. The PRP publish their accounts on an annual basis, confirming their annual income of £430,000.