Communications Bill

Part of the debate – in the House of Lords at 7:15 pm on 8 July 2003.

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Photo of Baroness Howe of Idlicote Baroness Howe of Idlicote Crossbench 7:15, 8 July 2003

My Lords, I believe that it was I who raised this issue in Committee in the first place. The noble Lord, Lord Phillips, has not only explained the matter much more succinctly than I did but has added other complications that could easily occur if the circumstances that he described arose.

It is absurd that there should be a double let-out, in that the clause says,

"is not excused by economic or market conditions", in a specific sense, before moving down to the,

"general economic and market conditions", which are part of the general aspects to which Ofcom must have particular regard.

I am absolutely behind the amendment, and am worried that the Government have not seen fit to take note of it and remove what appears to be a bias in favour of the broadcaster under these circumstances.