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Iraq Committee of Inquiry: Mass Media

Volume 506: debated on Monday 1 March 2010

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) what arrangements are in place for the provision of footage obtained from the broadcast pool camera at the Iraq Inquiry to news agencies and news providers; (314411)

(2) if she will make it her policy to ensure that all video news agencies providers have access to low-resolution footage from the broadcast pool camera at the Iraq Inquiry.

[Official Report, 9 February 2010, Vol. 505, c. 894-95W.]

Letter of correction from Tessa Jowell:

Errors have been identified in the response give to the hon. Member for Maldon and East Chelmsford (Mr. Whittingdale) on 9 February 2010, relating to the cost and availability of broadcasts from the Iraq inquiry.

The correct answer should have been:

The Cabinet Office is not responsible for the broadcast footage of the Iraq inquiry. The UK Broadcasting Pool, a partnership between the BBC, Sky News and ITN, is responsible for distributing footage from their cameras in the inquiry's hearing room. Other broadcasters would need to make arrangements with the pool, not the Government or the inquiry. There is already an agreement to provide footage to all Iraqi broadcasters at reduced cost.

The Cabinet Office, as the sponsoring Department for the inquiry, has a contract with the pool to receive footage for use on the Iraq inquiry website, which can be viewed by the public for free.