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Injunctions

I thank the Attorney-General for his answer to the urgent question. I also thank the committee chaired by the Master of the Rolls for its report. Will the Committee that the Prime Minister is to establish be a Joint Committee consisting of the Culture, Media and Sport and Justice Committees, and how soon will it report? Until now, the Government's position on this issue has been a muddle. The Attorney-General may be aware that I raised the issue last week during Justice questions, when I reminded the Lord Chancellor about the importance of balancing freedom of expression with an individual's right to privacy. I also asked the Government to give clarity and guidance on an issue that has become increasingly confusing and where Parliament has been slow to act. In response, the Lord Chancellor said that"““it is probably right that Parliament passing a privacy Act might well be the best way of resolving the issue””.—[Official Report, 17 May 2011; Vol. 528, c. 137.]" However, on the following day the Culture Secretary said:"““I don't believe a privacy law is the way forward.””" The Government appear to be at sixes and sevens on their policy on privacy injunctions and freedom of the press. Will the Attorney-General clarify their position? Does the Attorney-General believe that a new privacy law is needed? If so, how will it differ from article 8 of the Human Rights Act 1998? He will be aware that super-injunctions and anonymised orders should apply only in exceptional cases. There is a concern that they are being applied for, and granted, too readily. Does the Attorney-General believe that this report will address those concerns, and how soon will the Committee report? Does the Attorney-General believe that the sanctions for those who break injunctions are sufficient? What are the Government's views on how the right to privacy can be balanced with the growing usage of internet-based communications such as Twitter? Finally, being able to speak freely in the House of Commons and House of Lords is an essential part of parliamentary scrutiny. Can the Attorney-General confirm that the Government will not allow this principle to be undermined in any way?