Injunctions
Mr Whittingdale: I welcome the report from the committee of the Master of the Rolls, which contains a number of sensible recommendations, and also the Prime Minister’s decision to establish a Committee to examine all the issues surrounding the granting of injunctions and super-injunctions. Does my right hon. and learned Friend accept, however, that matters are […]
BBC Expenditure
Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon) (Con): Although I welcome the moves to increase the NAO’s access to the accounts of the BBC, the Secretary of State will be aware that the Comptroller and Auditor General has written to him to say that he will still not have the ability to decide what to do and when to […]
Press regulation
Mr Whittingdale: Does my hon. Friend recognise that the revelations that have streamed out over the past six months have probably led to a greater loss of confidence in the self-regulation of the press than there has been at any previous time? I strongly support self-regulation, but if the public are to regain confidence in that […]
Reforming Civil Justice
Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon) (Con): Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee received considerable evidence that the massive increase in the cost of libel actions that can result from the use of conditional fee arrangements is having a seriously chilling effect on investigative journalism? Does he accept […]
War Memorial – Stow Maries Aerodrome
John Whittingdale attended the unveiling of the war memorial at Stow Maries Aerodrome. Situated within the Parish of Cold Norton, the Aerodrome was the home of 37 (Home Defence) squadron of the Royal Flying Corps and then aftrer 1st April 1918, 37 Squadron Royal Airforce. A number of the buildings remain intact and the Aerodrome […]
Her Majesty the Queen Visits Maldon
Police lined the river bank and a crowd assembled outside the Maldon Crystal Salt Company building as anticipation before her arrival increased. Shortly after 12.20pm, a helicopter carrying Her Majesty landed near the building, the first place she was visiting on her busy agenda. Wearing a grey hat with a red trim and matching […]
Talking tots
John Whittingdale joined the mothers and children at Talking Tots at West Maldon Community Centre. A national initiative, Talking Tots is run in Essex by Amanda Smith and helps children to communicate with confidence. It also supports the Government’s Every Child a Talker initiative, which aims to improve language and communication skills in under 5s. […]
Barclays Southminster
John Whittingdale joined local residents and Councillors for a meeting with representatives of Barclays bank to urge them to reconsider the decision to close the Barclays Branch in Southminster. Attending the meeting from Barclays were Jon Clowes, Barclays Regional Network Area Manager, and Irene East, Corporate Affairs Manager, as well as the Branch Manager, Jo […]
Exclusion of Journalist
Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon) (Con): I endorse the concerns expressed by the hon. Member for Rhondda (Chris Bryant). Does my right hon. Friend the Minister agree that we in this House have always recognised that, although freedom of the press is sometimes uncomfortable, it is absolutely vital to a free society? Does he also agree that the […]
Localism
Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon) (Con): I very much welcome my right hon. Friend’s comments earlier about the Localism Bill. Can he confirm that its provisions will apply to applications for onshore wind farms such as those on the Dengie peninsula in my constituency? One of them has already been described as harmful to the local environment, […]