---

Digital Economy Bill [HL]

I am grateful to the noble Baroness for indicating that this is a probing amendment. We do not think the amendment would improve the Bill since, while it attempts to make the contents of a copyright infringement report clearer, it would have the effect of reducing the flexibility afforded by reference to the initial obligations code. We discussed in previous amendments the advantages of elements of flexibility introduced by the code which we would not want the rigidities of primary legislation to control. We all appreciate that primary legislation has great difficulties with a situation prone to change as rapidly as this industry and this technology. I accept the noble Baroness’s point that the amendment was drafted before we had made progress with regard to the code. That is the basis for our position and I hope she will feel reassured that it is in that context that I am asking her to withdraw the amendment.