§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the Metropolitan Police are issuing their own Press cards to journalists and photographers; how many applications for such cards have been refused; what are the criteria for issuing such cards; and what consultation has taken place between the Metropolitan Police and the National Union of Journalists on this matter.
§ Dr. SummerskillIt is a long-standing practice of the Commissioner of Police to issue Press cards in order to facilitate access to incidents and the provision of information to journalists concerned with police affairs. Cards are issued at the request of editors; no application for a current card has been refused in recent times. From time to time the commissioner has had consultatons on this matter with the National Union of Journalists.