HL Deb 09 February 2000 vol 609 c89WA
Lord Stone of Blackheath

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In the light of the recent trial involving Gary Glitter, what steps they propose to take to implement the recommendations made by the National Heritage Committee in their Report on Press Activity affecting Court Cases. [HL975]

The Lord Chancellor (Lord Irvine of Lairg)

The Government announced on 27 February 1998 that they accepted in principle the recommendations of the National Heritage Select Committee. As I said in the House on 22 November,Official Report, col. 169, legislation will be brought forward when parliamentary time allows. I am setting up an inter-departmental 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 on Human Rights affect the law of contempt.