HC Deb 02 February 1948 vol 446 cc1471-2
51. Mr. Eric Fletcher

asked the Attorney-General when the Committee on the Law of Libel is likely to present its Report.

52. Mr. Wilson Harris

asked the Attorney-General when the Report of Lord Porter's committee on the law of defamation, appointed in 1939, is likely to he issued.

The Attorney-General (Sir Hartley Shawcross)

The preparation of this Report has been unavoidably delayed; however, the draft is now almost complete and will, I understand, be presented before long.

Mr. Harris

Would not the right hon. and learned Gentleman agree that this is a quite elephantine period of gestation? Can it be accounted for in any way?

The Attorney-General

Yes, there has been a concatenation of circumstances for which nobody is to blame, and for which the Government are in no way responsible, and which unfortunately have delayed the final adoption of the Report; but I am told it will not now be long.

Mr. Harris

Is it likely to arrive in the course of the next decade?

Mr. Driberg

As soon as the Report is received, will the Government proceed to consider the changes in the law made necessary by the result of the Gaunt case?

The Attorney-General

We shall have to consider the Report.