§ Ms Oona KingTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps he proposes to take to implement the recommendations made by the 225W National Heritage Committee in its report on press activity affecting court cases (HC 292, Session 1996–97). [109573]
§ Mr. LockThe Government announced on 27 February 1998 that it accepted in principle the recommendations of the National Heritage Committee. As my noble Friend the Lord Chancellor said in another place on 22 November 1999,Official Report, House of Lords, column 169, legislation will be brought forward when Parliamentary time allows. The Lord Chancellor is setting up an interdepartmental working group of officials to review the law relating to the payments to witnesses in criminal proceedings and the publication of information in advance of criminal trials. The review will inform the Government's decisions about the form of legislation required to implement the National Heritage Committee's recommendations. The review will consider how the requirements of the European Convention of Human Rights affect the law of contempt.