The excuse for the delay centres on an argument about the form to be taken by any regulation of the media. The media have consistently and strenuously objected to the form of statutory regulation the Government appears to favour, although having heard the Minister today I am not so sure, namely the commission or press council whose members would be appointed largely by the Government itself. I understand their reservations, but I cannot help feeling they are becoming unduly hung up on this issue. Nor can I help feeling that it has suited various Governments in the past, as it has suited every Government for the past ten years, to drag this issue out for as long as they possibly could. Even a press council, a regulated body appointed by the Government, would be much better than the unreconstructed libel laws in place at the moment. In opposing the kind of regulation that is proposed, the media may be looking for the best when they should be prepared to settle for what is good.