December 5, 2016

The evidence session, due to take place on Tuesday 6 December, follows the Committee’s meeting with the Independent Press Standards Organisation back in September 2016.

The Committee will hear evidence from: Edward Bowles, Daisy Cooper and Peter Jukes, representing Hacked Off; Jonathan Heawood, founder and Chief Executive, and Walter Merricks CBE, Chairman, IMPRESS; Sir Joseph Pilling, author of the external IPSO review; and David Wolfe QC, Chair, Press Recognition Panel.

In addition to taking evidence from witnesses, the Committee welcomes written submissions from interested parties relevant to the session. The deadline for written submissions is Friday 16 December 2016.

The evidence session is expected to consider whether there have been improvements in the behaviour of the press since the Leveson inquiry and will also be an opportunity for the Committee to cover the two areas in the Secretary of State’s consultation on Leveson on the questions of whether Part 2 of the inquiry should commence and on implementation of s 40 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013.

Since the Committee’s session in September 2016, IMPRESS has been formally recognised by the Press Recognition Panel as meeting the requirements under the Royal Charter process and Sir Joseph Pilling has completed an external review of IPSO. The Committee’s questioning is expected to consider the implications of both of these as well. To read the Committee’s news release and for information on how to submit views, click here.