The Digital Economy Bill will go into wash up

Along with the Finance Bill and the Crime and Security Bill

Harman tells parliament that Digital Economy Bill is to go into wash up

Leader of the House of Commons Harriet Harman has this afternoon announced that the Digital Economy Bill, the Finance Bill and the Crime and Security Bill will go into a process called the wash-up.

This process will see the bills rushed through parliament over the next three days as the government tries to make them law before it is dissolved prior to the General Election to be held on May 6.

The Digital Economy Bill will be debated tomorrow [07/04/10]. It is arguably the most controversial of the bills mentioned, and still contains Clause 120a as added by Liberal Democrat Peers Lords Razzall and Clement-Jones. The clause defends traditional copyright law and could see internet users cut off for file sharing.

The Finance Bill, also due to be debated tomorrow, contains a similarly controversial element, that of the 50p phone tax which the government hopes will raise funds for high speed broadband rollout. Opposition to this clause comes from the Tories who argue that the high-speed broadband rollout would be best left to market forces.

Finally, the Crime and Security Bill will be presented to the commons on Thursday [08/04/10] and contains a clause that will allow the police to retain DNA on its database for as long as six years, both the Liberal Democrats and Tories will oppose this.

The next few days will see furious horsetrading between party whips as they attempt to push the bills through in a form that is acceptable to their parties.