MPs 'seeking media ban on issues of national security'
Monday, 10 November 2008 12:00 AM
The security services and police could be handed legally-binding powers to ban the media from reporting matters of national security in new proposals reportedly being discussed in Whitehall.
The new proposal is said to be included in a report by the intelligence and security committee due before the end of the year.
The Independent newspaper suggests that the committee will call on ministers to set up a commission to look into the proposal.
The committee is appointed by the prime minister and reports directly to him. It is currently chaired by former Foreign Office minister Kim Howells.
The Independent claims that the committee wants ministers to introduce legislation preventing news outlets from reporting on stories which the government believes to be against the interest of national security.
Under the current voluntary code of conduct, the DA-Notice system, the government can request that the media does not report a story.
The paper suggests, however, that committee members are considerably worried about the leaking of information which could potentially scupper investigations.
A spokesman for the human rights group Liberty is quoted as adding: "There is a difficult balance between protecting integrity and keeping the public properly informed.
"Any extension of the DA-Notice scheme requires a more open parliamentary debate."
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