HC Deb 09 December 1974 vol 883 cc24-5
58. Mr. Skinner

asked the Attorney-General if he will introduce legislation to prevent courts from limiting Press reporting by the use of contempt powers.

57. Mr. Sedgemore

asked the Attorney-General if he will introduce legislation to prevent courts from limiting Press reporting by the use of contempt powers.

The Attorney-General

Legislation on the law of contempt must await the publication of the Phillimore Committee's report, which is due tomorrow, and subsequent consideration of it.

Mr. Skinner

Does my right hon. and learned Friend feel that it is the job of a Government legal spokesman to go to court, as in the Paul Foot case, on behalf of members of the establishment, and to become involved in these public perversions, in a way on behalf of the very people who created the market for which Janie Jones in the original case was sent to prison? Does he not think that it is wrong to represent people of that kind when they are wrong as well?

The Attorney-General

I represented nobody but myself in the application. I thought that it was right to go to the court, and so did the court.

Mr. Fry

Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman agree that far more dangerous to the freedom of comment of the Press are the activities of the National Union of Journalists and the legislation proposed by his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment on the closed shop?

The Attorney-General

That is an entirely different question.

Mr. Rose

Is it not unsatisfactory that the reporting of cases should be left to the vagaries of judicial decisions? Does my right hon. and learned Friend agree that it would be better for the House to lay down the limits on reporting, not least in order to provide protection for victims of blackmail or sexual assaults?

The Attorney-General

I entirely agree with my hon. Friend that there are many situations which one should consider in relation to the Phillimore Report and this aspect of contempt of court. It is for this reason that I said on a previous occasion that the Government will give careful consideration to the report and will take into account all possible views, including, I hope, those of hon. Members, and then decide what legislation is required.

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