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Proceeding contribution from John Whittingdale (Conservative) in the House of Commons on Monday, 23 May 2011. It occurred during Urgent question on Injunctions.


Injunctions

I welcome the report from the committee of the Master of the Rolls, which contains a number of sensible recommendations, and also the Prime Minister's decision to establish a Committee to examine all the issues surrounding the granting of injunctions and super-injunctions. Does my right hon. and learned Friend accept, however, that matters are developing very rapidly? Does he accept that the revelation on Friday of some of the details of the injunction granted to Sir Fred Goodwin raised important issues of public interest, and that that raises the question of why the injunction was granted in the first place? Does he agree that he would virtually have to live in an igloo not to know the identity of at least one premier league footballer who has obtained an injunction, and that the actions by thousands of people who posted details of it on Twitter are in danger of making the law look an ass? In the report by the Master of the Rolls, doubt is cast once again on the right of the press to report the proceedings of Parliament. Does that not have worrying implications for the rights of Members of the House of Commons, and for parliamentary privilege? More than a year ago, the Select Committee on Culture, Media and Sport called for the Parliamentary Papers Act 1840 to be replaced by a clear and comprehensive statute upholding the fundamental rights of the press to report what is said in this place. Will he ensure that that, too, is considered by the Prime Minister's Committee as a matter of urgency?


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
528 c634-5 
Session
2010-12
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Injunctions Disclosure of information Freedom of information Judiciary Internet Privacy Newspaper press Media Parliamentary privilege Goodwin, Fred
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk