Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Oral Answers to Questions

Harriet Harman Excerpts
Thursday 3rd July 2014

(9 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Vaizey of Didcot Portrait The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Mr Edward Vaizey)
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The National Audit Office conducted an inquiry. I am confident that BT is doing its job incredibly effectively. We are passing a total of 20,000 premises a week with broadband, and that figure will soon be up to 40,000 a week. More than £60 million has been allocated to Lancashire and more than 130,000 homes there will get superfast broadband as a result.

Harriet Harman Portrait Ms Harriet Harman (Camberwell and Peckham) (Lab)
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The evidence before the Leveson inquiry laid bare the pain and suffering caused to victims of press abuse. The press felt they could act with impunity as there was no proper complaints system, and all parties in both Houses agreed to a new system of independent self-regulation for the press. Will the Secretary of State join me in welcoming the appointment of David Wolfe as chair of the recognition board for the new press complaints system? Does he agree that the rest of the board should be appointed as soon as possible, and will he join me in encouraging the press to establish and put forward for recognition a Leveson-compliant, independent regulator so that there is an effective complaints system that is independent of both politicians and the press?