Email Newsletter
Since becoming Minister for Pensions I've become a
lot busier and it is even more important that I update my constituents
with news on what I am doing for Thornbury and Yate in Westminster and
beyond. I've begun sending out a regular newsletter by email and
will also reproduce it on this webpage. Last time though I sent
out a consultation instead of a newsletter, and I appreciateed hearing your views.
If you'd like to be added to my email list and
receive the newsletter please send me a message
with your email address.
I'm always keen to hear from all my constituents
and I read every response sent to the newsletter!
LATEST CONSULTATION RESULTS: PHONE
HACKING SCANDAL
As you may recall, last month I e-mailed my
consultation group to ask for your views about the regulation of the
press following the ‘phone hacking’ scandal. I am very grateful to more
than five hundred residents who kindly gave me their views. This e-mail
provides a summary of the response that I received and what I now plan
to do.
The question was:
“Should the press be allowed to regulate their own activities, or should
there be some sort of statutory regulation?”
The balance of replies was:
Statutory Regulation 307 (61%)
Self-regulation 171 (34%)
Don’t know 26 (5%)
Almost everyone who responded expressed their anger and disgust over the
phone hacking scandals and the violation of privacy of many families. A
clear majority of people believed that statutory regulation would be the
most suitable response on the basis that these abuses were a result of
too much freedom and little regulation.
Whether supporting self-regulation or statutory regulation a majority of
respondents felt that the Press Complaints Committee was not fit for
purpose, and that it was important an independent body regulated media
activity. Many suggested a variety of figures, including members of the
public, could form part of this independent body to oversee the media
and ensure all agencies adhere to the laws and regulations set out, and
enforce penalties when necessary.
Those who supported self-regulation felt that the freedom of the media
should not be threatened as it is a key part of democracy. They were
worried about the level of involvement the government took in any new
regulatory bodies and monitoring. It was suggested a journalist ‘code of
conduct’ should be established for all media agencies to sign up to,
which would also involve penalties if broken.
The few who replied ‘don’t know’ mostly felt that further investigation
into the scandal is needed before any regulations are put into place.
They felt that there should be some type of regulation of the media but
are conscious of maintaining the right to freedom of speech.
Whilst there was some concern over the risk of restricting freedom of
speech and the freedom of the media, the overall balance of views was
that we need proper regulation of the media by an independent body,
albeit perhaps one that was arms-length from government.
As promised, I will be passing on a summary of these views to the
judge-led inquiry which has now been set up to look at the future
regulation of the media. Thank you to all who responded.
With best wishes,
Steve Webb MP
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