§ Mr. Sedgemoreasked the Attorney-General (1) how many cases of contempt he has investigated or sought to investigate against journalists from 28th February;
(2) how many cases of contempt his office has investigated against journalists during (i) the past five years, (ii) the past 10 years, and (iii) the past 30 years;
(3) how many contempt cases during the past 100 years have been issued against journalists naming witnesses who have appeared in court when the journalist disclosing the names of such witnesses has not been present in the court and when the disclosure of such names has not been prohibited by statute.
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The Attorney-GeneralI have considered allegations of contempt of court arising out of two cases since 28th February. My predecessors have considered 24 allegations in the past five years and 40 in the past 10 years. Records are not available for any earlier period. Some allegations of contempt, including one arising since 28th February, have involved several journalists. They have involved several newspapers.