THE PHILLIMORE REPORT ON CONTEMPT OF COURT

HL Deb 17 January 1978 vol 388 c84WA

Lord LLOYD of HAMPSTEAD

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What progress they have made in their consideration of the Phillimore Report on Contempt of Court (Cmnd. 5794).

The LORD CHANCELLOR

The recommendations of the Phillimore Committee raise difficult and important issues of public policy about the proper balance between the freedom of the press and the right of the citizen to a fair trial. After careful study of these and related issues, the Government have decided that satisfactory conclusions cannot be reached on them without informed Parliamentary and public discussion. In order to provide a basis for such discussion, the Government propose to prepare and publish a Green Paper on the subject.