Communications Bill - still bad news for Wales

The Communications Bill is now before the House of Lords where, perhaps
ironically, some small but useful amendments look likely to be made.
Following debate in the House of Commons Standing Committee, the
government agreed to include reference to the 'public interest' in the
bill - a small but potentially significant victory.

However, the Bill is as bad as ever from a Wales perspective, according
to Simon Thomas MP, who was a member of the House of Commons Standing
Committee on the Bill. The MP for Ceredigion told us that if it goes
through as it stands he intends to call on the National Assembly to set
up a panel to act as a Welsh advisory body. This could function as a
Communications Forum to discuss issues arising from Ofcom. It would be
hard, he suggested, for Ofcom to reject the view of a body enjoying the
backing of the National Assembly.

Lila Haines