HL Deb 19 June 1978 vol 393 cc807-9
Lord ORR-EWING

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress is being made in putting into effect the recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Press (Cmnd. 6810) presented in July 1977.

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, the Government are studying the report and recommendations. An announcement of our conclusions will be made in due course.

Lord ORR-EWING

My Lords, here is another case where a Royal Commission has sat with great thoroughness, much pressure and speed; over a year has now elapsed since this report was made available to the Government, and virtually no progress has been made. Could the Government at least say whether they accept the Royal Commission recommendation that mergers between newspaper companies should be negatived unless positive justification was proven?

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, I cannot agree. Admittedly the Royal Commission's report was presented by the Prime Minister on July 7th last year, but the noble Lord will remember that responses to and comments upon the recommendations were asked for by 31st December last year. The period since then is just under six months. In view of the fact that there were 70 recommendations, 25 to the Government and 45 to the industry, it is not surprising that an immediate response is not available.

Lord HUNT

My Lords, is the Minister aware that it is now 18 months since responsibility devolved on his right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Employment to produce a charter to be laid before both Houses of Parliament, following the failure of managements and the National Union of Journalists to agree on the essential safeguards for editors and journalists in the name of the freedom of the Press? Would he agree that the statement of his right honourable friend in another place on 18th May revealed no progress in the production of that charter beyond the point where deadlock had been recalled 18 months ago? Finally, would the Minister assure the House that the safeguards proposed by the Royal Commission in Chapter 14 of the report are being taken, and will be taken, very fully into account ?

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, as regards the last point, of course they will be taken into account, but this is not an easy matter at all. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Employment explained the present position in some detail during the debate in another place on 18th May, which is not long ago. He has held a series of meetings with various parties aimed at producing the broadest possible measure of agreement, but consultations about the charter are not yet complete. I prefer not to prejudge my right honourable friend's decision.

Lord WIGODER

My Lords, can the noble Lord reassure the House that the report in this morning's Guardian is accurate and that the Government have at last realised that, in order to secure the freedom of the Press, it is necessary to ensure that journalists should have the right not to join a trade union?

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, I have seen that cutting from the Press. I do not think that in this matter this is yet evidence of an expression of opinion.

Lord LEATHERLAND

My Lords, will my noble friend bear in mind that there is probably a good deal to be said for the Government interfering as little as possible in the affairs of the Press?

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, I thought that the freedom of the Press was one of the basic foundations of a democratic society, and therefore I agree with my noble friend.

Lord ORR-EWING

My Lords, if the noble Lord takes that view, can he say why the Royal Commission was ever set up? Surely, the whole point of setting up a Royal Commission was to ensure the maximum degree of freedom of the Press and all who work in the Press. If the Government cannot come forward with their conclusions on all 70 recommendations, can they at least accept certain of the recommendations which must be agreed by all Parties in both Houses? Would the Government at least say that the minority report which recommended the setting up of a National Printing Corporation to be financed by subsidy from the taxpayers to assist in the launching of new publications has been rejected?

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, the noble Lord has asked some piercing questions. Might I ask him in return why the Conservative Party, invited to give evidence to the Royal Commission, did not do so?

Lord BROCKWAY

My Lords, how can there be complete freedom of the Press when one man owns 50 newspapers in this country and 100 newspapers in America?

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, there are many other newspaper organisations besides that one.

Lord DERWENT

My Lords, is it not clear that the Government set up the Royal Commission so as to avoid making up their own mind?

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