CONSERVATIVE
New Forest East

BUSINESS QUESTION – JOURNALISTS' IDENTITIES - 02 July 2009

BUSINESS QUESTION – JOURNALISTS' IDENTITIES - 02 July 2009

Dr Julian Lewis: May we have a statement, or at least something in writing, from a Culture, Media and Sport Minister on the question of what duties journalists have to disclose their credentials when challenged? That would help three of my nearest neighbours, who yesterday were surprised to encounter a person purporting to be a journalist who was trying to find out information about my constituency home. That person refused to give his identity or the name of his newspaper. When asked why he were trying to contact me at home when I must be up in Parliament, he turned tail and ran from the scene. Such harassment of our neighbours, if not of ourselves, needs some attention.

[The Leader of the House of Commons (Ms Harriet Harman): The hon. Gentleman may wish to draw that issue to the attention of the Press Complaints Commission. If that was indeed a journalist, the media organisation for which they work will be subject to regulation by the PCC, and it should be prepared to look into the matter and take action.]