§ Mr. FisherTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) by what date he has asked the review body on privacy and related issues, announced on 21 April,Official Report, column 593, to report to him;
(2) how many people will be appointed to serve on the body appointed to review privacy and related issues, announced on 21 April, Official Report, column 593;
(3) whether he will publish the detailed terms of reference of the review of privacy and related issues, announced on 21 April, Official Report, column 593;
(4) whether he will publish the report of the review of privacy and related issues, announced on 21 April, Official Report, column 593;
303W(5) whether the membership of the body appointed to review privacy and related issued, announced on 21 April, Official Report, column 593, will include representatives of (a) the churches, (b) the press trades unions, (c) working journalists, (d) consumer groups and (e) media rights groups;
(6) whether the review of privacy and related issues announced on 21 April, Official Report, column 593, will be able to (a) invite evidence from organisations and (b) commission research and surveys;
(7) whether the review of privacy and related issues, announced on 21 April, Official Report, column 593, will take evidence (a) in public session, (b) at regional meetings, (c) in Scotland, (d) in Wales and (e) in Northern Ireland;
(8) whether the review of privacy and related issues, announced on 21 April, Official Report, column 593, will inquire into (a) ownership and control of the press, (b) the future of the Press Council, (c) the right of reply, (d) freedom of information and (e) alternative means of address to the public.
§ Mr. RentonAs my right hon. Friend announced in reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Winchester (Mr. Browne) on 5 July at column193, the terms of reference of the committee to review privacy and related matters will be as follows:
In the light of recent public concern about intrusions into the private lives of individuals by certain sections of the press, to consider what measures (whether legislative or otherwise) are needed to give further protection to individual privacy from the activities of the press and improve recourse against the press for the individual citizen, taking account of existing remedies, including the law of defamation and breach of confidence; and to make recommendations.The chairman, Mr. David Calcutt, QC, has been asked to complete his report speedily. We hope it will be published by next summer. The membership is being considered. The task of the committee will be to concentrate on privacy and recourse for the citizen in respect of the press. This includes recourse against inaccuracies as well as intrusion. The committee will be able to consider any matter that it regards as relevant to that task and to seek what evidence it wishes.