Publishing News reports on the inaugural meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Publishing (APPG) which took place at the House of Commons this week. Chairman Gordo Banks, the Labour MP for Ochils and South Perthshire, haild it as “a very important development” that would enable questions to be raised in both Houses in order that politicians make a positive contribution to “the challenges facing your industry”. The formation of the APPG, which was registered with the Committee on Standards and Privileges last month, was the initiative of Sonny Leong, Executive Chairman of Routledge-Cavendish who, as Chairman of the Independent Publishing Guild, can be credited with greatly raising the game and aspirations of that group of publishers. The aim is to ensure the book trade’s views and needs are properly represented at Westminster, with political clout applied to issues where necessary.
Issues on the table included territorial copyright, piracy and digital initiatives. A second meeting was set for June 13, when piracy and sustainability issues will be on the agenda. Leong praised Banks as “a brilliant chairman” who will fight on publishers’ behalf.