§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission, what steps are being taken to490W protect the copyright of parliamentary papers in the creation of an agency to run HMSO. [677]
§ Mr. BeithBy virtue of sections 165 to 167 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, the copyright in any work made by, or under the direction or control of, the House of Commons is owned by the House. The functions of the House as owner of copyright are exercised by the Speaker on the House's behalf. I can assure my hon. Friend that the Commission is well aware of the importance of protecting the House's control of that copyright and will do so vigorously. The statutory provisions I have cited are not affected by the Government's proposals to privatise HMSO.