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Ben Bradshaw: Digital Economy Bill published

Alastair | 20 Nov 2009, 13:11

There’s a lot of process in politics. The Digital Economy Bill was announced in the Queen’s Speech on Wednesday. Lord Young of Norwood Green introduced it in the House of Lords yesterday (on behalf of Lord Mandelson). We published the Bill in full on the BIS website this morning.

It will be debated in the Lords, examined line by line in committee stage, debated again, amended, debated again. Then same again in the Commons. Then it plays ping pong between the Houses until the exact wording is agreed before Royal Assent is given and it becomes an Act.

That’s a lot of process. But fundamentally politics is about choices.
The choice to publish the Bill now, to get legislation on the statue books as soon as possible to make sure Britain is one of the global digital and creative leaders. The choice to tackle unlawful file sharing and other copyright complications, while others argue it’s too difficult. To open up large volumes of previously unusable ‘orphan’ content. To protect children through age markings on video games.

The choice to ensure there’s plurality of independent, impartial news on TV in the nations, locally and regionally – and a future for the public service broadcasters that people love and which provide a platform for our world-leading creative industries.

That everyone in this country has a choice to be digital, with access to high speed broadband.
With Lord Mandelson, I’ll be making sure we use the process to get the product right.