We recognise that incidents of undue attention and harassment from the media cause significant distress to the public. We will always defend media freedom, but with this freedom comes big responsibilities. Publishers must operate ethically and within the bounds of the law. The Secretary of State has met families who have experienced press intrusion. We are now carefully considering the next steps to determine how to ensure that public trust and accountability in news media is maintained and improved.

We recognise that incidents of undue attention and harassment from the media cause significant distress to the public. We will always defend media freedom, but with this freedom comes big responsibilities. Publishers must operate ethically and within the bounds of the law. The Secretary of State has met families who have experienced press intrusion. We are now carefully considering the next steps to determine how to ensure that public trust and accountability in news media is maintained and improved.

Last month, a national newspaper intruded on the privacy of one of the families bereaved by the meningitis outbreak, publishing information that the family had asked to be kept private. In opposition, Labour promised independent regulation of the press to curb this awful behaviour, so when exactly will the Secretary of State keep that promise?

Last month, a national newspaper intruded on the privacy of one of the families bereaved by the meningitis outbreak, publishing information that the family had asked to be kept private. In opposition, Labour promised independent regulation of the press to curb this awful behaviour, so when exactly will the Secretary of State keep that promise?

The Secretary of State has been clear about this. In March she said, at the Society of Editors future of news conference, that the Government will

“will tread carefully and cautiously about regulation…as any right-minded Government should.”

Fearless journalists must be able to hold the Government to account, but there are also concerns that people are turning away from news and losing trust in issues that, as the hon. Member said, are very serious. I am happy to meet her to discuss such issues. The Government are closely following trends in media consumption. In an age of considerable increasing misinformation and disinformation, including press intrusion, we want to get this right.

The Secretary of State has been clear about this. In March she said, at the Society of Editors future of news conference, that the Government will

“will tread carefully and cautiously about regulation…as any right-minded Government should.”

Fearless journalists must be able to hold the Government to account, but there are also concerns that people are turning away from news and losing trust in issues that, as the hon. Member said, are very serious. I am happy to meet her to discuss such issues. The Government are closely following trends in media consumption. In an age of considerable increasing misinformation and disinformation, including press intrusion, we want to get this right.

What steps her Department is taking to help protect the public from press malpractice.

What steps her Department is taking to help protect the public from press malpractice.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 25 April 2025 to Question 45800 on Press: Misconduct, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that arbitration schemes operated by press regulators are available to provide timely and effective redress before...

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 25 April 2025 to Question 45800 on Press: Misconduct, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that arbitration schemes operated by press regulators are available to provide timely and effective redress before...

On Monday the BBC published the outcome of the independent review it commissioned from Change Associates into workplace culture. The review concluded that the BBC does not have a toxic culture. While the review observed that the majority of people working at the BBC enjoy their work and uphold its...

On Monday the BBC published the outcome of the independent review it commissioned from Change Associates into workplace culture. The review concluded that the BBC does not have a toxic culture. While the review observed that the majority of people working at the BBC enjoy their work and uphold its...

I am repeating the following Written Ministerial Statement made today in the other place by my Right Honourable Friend, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy MP:

On Monday the BBC published the outcome of the independent review it commissioned from Change Associates into workplace culture. The...

I am repeating the following Written Ministerial Statement made today in the other place by my Right Honourable Friend, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy MP:

On Monday the BBC published the outcome of the independent review it commissioned from Change Associates into workplace culture. The...

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that people affected by press wrongdoing have access to redress.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that people affected by press wrongdoing have access to redress.

Perhaps noble Lords would allow me to continue, as it has been quite a long evening. I am getting close to the end of my response to the debate on this group.

I turn to the issue of litigation costs being passed on to all clubs through the levy, as opposed...

Perhaps noble Lords would allow me to continue, as it has been quite a long evening. I am getting close to the end of my response to the debate on this group.

I turn to the issue of litigation costs being passed on to all clubs through the levy, as opposed...

I thank the noble Lord for giving way. I have bit my tongue for the last hour as I have watched the charade from the

Benches opposite, all using up their entire allocation while interrupting each other, repeating themselves and slapping each other on the back. This is meant to...

I thank the noble Lord for giving way. I have bit my tongue for the last hour as I have watched the charade from the

Benches opposite, all using up their entire allocation while interrupting each other, repeating themselves and slapping each other on the back. This is meant to...

Moved by

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay

42: Schedule 2, page 90, line 16, after “six” insert “or more than twenty”

Member's explanatory statement

This amendment limits the number of members of the Expert Panel.

Moved by

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay

42: Schedule 2, page 90, line 16, after “six” insert “or more than twenty”

Member's explanatory statement

This amendment limits the number of members of the Expert Panel.

My Lords, I rise to move Amendment 42 and to speak to Amendments 45, 47 and 49, which are grouped with it. I am grateful to my noble friend Lord Markham who has put his name to them. These amendments seek to provide greater guidance on the operation of the...

My Lords, I rise to move Amendment 42 and to speak to Amendments 45, 47 and 49, which are grouped with it. I am grateful to my noble friend Lord Markham who has put his name to them. These amendments seek to provide greater guidance on the operation of the...

My Lords, at the beginning, I said I would speak to my Amendments 47 and 49 in my winding-up speech, but I said what I wanted to say about them then, so I shall not elaborate on them now. I am grateful to my noble friends Lord Hayward and Lord...

My Lords, at the beginning, I said I would speak to my Amendments 47 and 49 in my winding-up speech, but I said what I wanted to say about them then, so I shall not elaborate on them now. I am grateful to my noble friends Lord Hayward and Lord...

I am grateful to the Minister for her responses to the points raised here. I am a little perplexed by the answer she gave on operational need, and her dismissing the argument for having an upper limit to the panel. It is not a party-political point. I said earlier that...

I am grateful to the Minister for her responses to the points raised here. I am a little perplexed by the answer she gave on operational need, and her dismissing the argument for having an upper limit to the panel. It is not a party-political point. I said earlier that...

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Mann, is right that we have had extensive discussion on the issue of cost, but if there has been lengthy dialogue on this point then it is because the answers have not been forthcoming in the way that the Committee has wanted.

I am particularly...

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Mann, is right that we have had extensive discussion on the issue of cost, but if there has been lengthy dialogue on this point then it is because the answers have not been forthcoming in the way that the Committee has wanted.

I am particularly...

I am happy to use the time before the Committee to return to this issue but, as my noble friends behind me have said repeatedly, and as I have agreed to each time they have, I know that they would have been raising these points with me had I been...

I am happy to use the time before the Committee to return to this issue but, as my noble friends behind me have said repeatedly, and as I have agreed to each time they have, I know that they would have been raising these points with me had I been...

My Lords, I much regret the tone that the noble Baroness has adopted and what she says. That is not what we are doing. I sat here and bit my tongue, like the noble Lord, Lord Watson of Invergowrie, when I saw the Government Chief Whip asking one of his...

My Lords, I much regret the tone that the noble Baroness has adopted and what she says. That is not what we are doing. I sat here and bit my tongue, like the noble Lord, Lord Watson of Invergowrie, when I saw the Government Chief Whip asking one of his...

My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for outlining the provisions that she thinks adequately cover this point. However, if discretion still exists on issues such as being guilty of serious misconduct, then I have a concern. I am not sure that there should be discretion in a case...

My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for outlining the provisions that she thinks adequately cover this point. However, if discretion still exists on issues such as being guilty of serious misconduct, then I have a concern. I am not sure that there should be discretion in a case...

Yes. That is why we need to protect the chief executive or anybody else by not giving them this kind of discretion, which might leave them open to any kind of pressure. I am

not sure it would be political pressure; it is quite likely to be internal political pressure...

Yes. That is why we need to protect the chief executive or anybody else by not giving them this kind of discretion, which might leave them open to any kind of pressure. I am

not sure it would be political pressure; it is quite likely to be internal political pressure...

My Lords, I will speak briefly. The middle two of these amendments are effectively a rehash of arguments we have already had—fair enough, so I will not comment on them. But, on the first one —about the numbers on the panel—and Amendment 49, what are the Government’s plans? Do they...

My Lords, I will speak briefly. The middle two of these amendments are effectively a rehash of arguments we have already had—fair enough, so I will not comment on them. But, on the first one —about the numbers on the panel—and Amendment 49, what are the Government’s plans? Do they...