Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when his Department last reviewed the laws protecting children from press intrusion; and if he will commission such a review before the end of the present Parliament.

Under the civil law, a claim may be brought to protect the privacy of children under the tort of misuse of private information. Remedies available include damages for the breach of privacy and an injunction to prevent any further publication. While the publication of images of children without parental consent is not itself a criminal offence, a number of criminal offences exist dealing with specific circumstances - for example the taking, distributing, publishing and possession with a view to distribution of any indecent photograph of a child under 18 is an offence under the Protection of Children Act 1978.

The civil and criminal law generally is kept under review to ensure that it is appropriate.