Lords Dig In Over Foreign Ownership Provisions In UK Communications Bill

by Robin Pilgrim, LawAndTax-News.com, London

13 May 2003

Speaking at the weekend, former film-maker, Lord Puttnam warned that the UK government will need to give some ground on its Communications Bill, currently progressing slowly through the House of Lords, if it is to be passed by the Upper House.

The Lords were originally given just seven days to discuss over 400 amendments, but given the slow progress of the debate, the period permitted for discussion has been extended. However, according to Lord Puttnam, unless the government is willing to remove provisions permitting foreign ownership of TV stations such as ITV and Five, the Bill will be stalled anyway.

'If there is no movement by the Government, I can absolutely promise there will be a vote and they could lose that vote,' he explained, adding: 'If they want their bill, they are going to have to have it without foreign ownership.'

Lord Puttnam and Lord McNally are leading the drive to stop the so-called 'Murdoch clause' from making it into British law, supported by other 'rebel peers', such as TV presenter Lord Bragg and Planet 24 founder Lord Alli.

The two extra committee days after the Whitsun recess afforded to the Lords to debate the Bill mean that they are unlikely to vote on the amendments until mid-June. However, in order to become law, the Bill must complete its passage through Parliament by the third week in July.

If the process is still not completed following a small 'spill-over' period in early autumn, then the government's cherished Communications Bill will essentially be dead in the water, according to observers. Loveyed to death?

Recommended