IPSO decision for low-cost arbitration scheme "a significant step"

27 November 2017

The Chair of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee welcomes the details announced by IPSO (Independent Press Standards Organisation) of a lower-cost arbitration scheme for complaints.

Chair's comment

Responding to this announcement, Damian Collins MP, Chair of the Digital Culture Media and Sport Committee said:

"I welcome IPSO's decision to launch a new arbitration scheme which will now allow anyone to bring a claim against a newspaper for a one off fee of £50. This is a significant reduction from the previous £300 charge, when the initial pilot arbitration scheme was introduced.
One of the most important recommendations made in the Leveson Report was that there should be an affordable and accessible system of arbitration when people want to make complaints against the press.
This was also called for earlier this year by the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, in our response to the government's consultation of press regulation. There the committee said that 'we believe the costs of the pilot scheme should be reduced to meet the vision of low cost arbitration set out by Leveson, where complainants would face minimal fees for participation in the scheme'.
I believe that the announcement today is a significant step forward in making this a reality.
This new arbitration service means people, if they wish to do so, can seek redress against serious complaints, without the expense of going to court. It also sits alongside the existing, free, regulatory complaints handling service operated by IPSO under the Editors' Code of Practice."

Further information

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