Parliamentary Activity

Parliamentary Summer Recess started on Tuesday 21st July, with the House not returning until Monday 12th October 2009.

Week commencing: Monday 17th August

The media this week have been reporting that Business Secretary Lord Mandelson has developed plans to cut the internet connection of illegal file sharers, just days after having dinner with record producer David Geffen while on holiday in Corfu.

Elsewhere Tom Watson, Labour MP for West Bromwich East, wrote an article in the Independent on Sunday, criticising the Government for planning to introduce legislation to combat illegal file sharing. The former Digital Engagement Minister suggested that any sanctions would ultimately criminalise large sections of the UK population.

Week commencing: Monday 10th August

Elsewhere, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport announced this week that a number of international creative businesses, including Walt Disney and Spotify, are to take part in the forthcoming Business International Network taking place in October. The Network will form part of the Government’s strategy to help businesses tackle IP crime through international dialogue. In other news, Sweden’s Pirate Party, set up to lobby for free content on the internet, has been officially registered as a political party in the UK.