Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what his Department's policy is on the European Council's modernisation of European copyright rules.

The Government supports the modernisation of European copyright rules, and wants to achieve reforms that benefit both the creative and digital economies, and promote creativity, innovation and investment.

In negotiations within the Council of the European Union, the Government has sought a Copyright Directive which is balanced and proportionate, providing clarity of rules for rights holders, business and consumers alike. The Government considers that the Council’s legal text meets these objectives and looks forward to future negotiations with the European Parliament.