§ Lord Coleraineasked Her Majesty's Government:
What plans they have to reform defamation law and proceedings.
§ The Lord Chancellor (Lord Mackay of Clashfern)I have today published a draft Defamation Bill which has been prepared to show in detail how the Government would implement proposals for a number of important reforms to bring defamation law up to date and to improve and simplify the procedures.
The proposals include a new summary procedure to allow judges to dispose quickly of straightforward and less serious defamation claims; a new defence of offer of amends; and a reduction, from three years to one year, of the time within which defamation proceedings can begin.
As drafted, most of these clauses would apply to England and Wales only. The Government will consider how far it may be appropriate for some or all of the reforms to be adopted in Northern Ireland and Scotland, taking into account the similarities as well as the 25WA differences which exist in the defamation laws and procedures applicable in those jurisdictions.