Past events & meetings
All party Writers Group and All Party Publishers Group - Author Dialogues evening
Tuesday 6th March 2012
All Party Writers Group Winter Reception
Tuesday 6th December 2011
Nearly 150 people attended The All Party Writers Group Winter Reception which was held on the Terrace at the House of Commons this year. The reception also played host to the presentation of the 2011 Educational Writers Award.
John Whittingdale MP presented the award to Stewart Ross, who was announced as the winner for his shortlisted book Moon: Apollo 11 and Beyond…The Ultimate Guide to Our Nearest Neighbour.
The shortlist also included Nick Baker’s Bug Zoo by Nick Baker; Gorilla Journal by Carolyn Franklin and Mission: Explore by The Geography Collective.
The Educational Writers’ Award was created by the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society and the Society of Authors in 2008 in celebration of educational writing that inspires creativity and encourages young people to read widely and build up their understanding of a subject beyond curriculum requirements. It is the only award in the UK focusing on educational non-fiction.
For the full story see here.
APWG AGM and summer reception
29 June 2011
The AGM of the All Party Parliamentary Writers Group took place on 29 June. All current officers were re-elected unopposed. Notes from the meeting can be downloaded here.
All Party Parliamentary Writers Group Winter Reception
7th December 2010
The All Party Parliamentary Writers Group Winter Reception took place on 7th December and included the presentation of the 2010 Educational Writers’ Award.
John Whittingdale welcomed all to the reception, and Lord Hill, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Schools, presented Bill Bryson and Felicia Law with the award, for an abridged version of A Really Short History of Nearly Everything.
Over 140 guests attended the APWG winter reception, held on the Terrace at the House of Commons, among the writers who came were Bill Bryson, Mavis Cheek, Maureen Duffy, Sarah Waters, Margaret Drabble, Michael Holroyd, Mal Peet, Stella Duffy as well as Baroness Rendell and Lord Archer.
The Educational Writers’ Award was created by the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society and the Society of Authors in 2008 in celebration of educational writing that inspires creativity and encourages young people to read widely and build up their understanding of a subject beyond curriculum requirements. It is the only award in the UK focusing on educational non-fiction.
This year’s shortlist, described as “highlighting humour, scholarship and lateral thinking” also included Ben Crystal for Shakespeare on Toast, John Farndon for Do You Think You’re Clever? and Liz Strachan for A Slice of Pi.
For the full story please see the ALCS website here. For some more pictures of the event, click here.
All Party Writers’ Reception Roundup
19 October 2010
The All Party Parliamentary Writers Group met on 19 October to discuss potential lobbying for a Year of Writing and to discuss the future of the Public Lending Right (PLR) in the light of the spending review. The meeting was followed by a drinks reception which was well attended by writers who came to Parliament on the eve of the announcement of PLR cuts (for further information on the cuts please see the ALCS website).
Chaired by Mr John Whittingdale MP, the meeting centred around potential cuts to PLR. 4,750 writers recently signed a petition against further cuts to PLR and this was presented to Parliament by crime novelist PD James.
Writers who attended the reception included Helen Fielding, Margaret Drabble, Sir Michael Holroyd, Mavis Cheek, Tracy Chevalier and Louise Bagshawe MP.
Maureen Duffy, writer and Honorary Chair of the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS) gave a speech after the APWG meeting to comment on some of the decisions made so far.
She said,
“When we planned this event, we had no suspicion that we were to be holding a wake instead of our usual celebration of PLR… To replace this with a body that has no expertise in this field of data collection and micropayments will mean expensive new IT systems, equipment, staff hire and training premises, all at huge cost and with absolutely no benefit in efficiency or savings.”
Ms Duffy campaigned tirelessly in the 70’s for the Public Lending Right. She also said “PLR is not a subsidy or a charity. It is a payment for use, a right under British and EU law, and backed by decisions of the European Court of Justice.” She added that the UK had the best PLR system in Europe and expressed her disappointment to the news last week that PLR was to be absorbed by another body, going on to explain that although it has been promised PLR will not be axed totally, the uncertainty writers face over the cuts is disappointing. To many writers who see it as a pension, PLR is “lifeblood to thousands of writers”.
Maureen Duffy thanked Dr Jim Parker and his team of specialists at PLR who have worked hard over the years to make sure writers are paid for the borrowing of their works, and have provided us with useful data on what books are borrowed and where in UK libraries for the last thirty years.
To see her full speech click here.
Political Party Conferences 2010
The ALCS and the All Party Writers Group have held two debates during party conference season on: What is the future of the Book?
The What is the future of the book? debates were held at both the Labour and Conservative fringe conferences and have been hailed a success after delegates and MPs turned up in force to listen to the panel discussion.
Click here to see the ALCS update from the debate at the Conservative Party Conference.
Click here to see the ALCS update from the debate at the Labour Party Conference.
8 July 2010
All Party Writers Group elects new chair
The All Party Writers Group (APWG) is pleased to announce that John Whittingdale MP has been elected as the new Chair of the Group.
Press release
2nd December 2009
The All Party Writers Group AGM and Winter reception
The All Party Writers Group winter reception and AGM was held on Wednesday 2nd December at the House of Commons. The reception also incorporated the presentation of the Educational Writers' Award - Sponsored by the ALCS and administered by the Society of Authors.
The reception, buzzing with writers such as Mavis Cheek, Anthony Beevor, Joanne Harris, Sarah Waters, Tracy Chevalier, Joan Smith and Mal Peet to name but a few, provided ample opportunity for writers to speak to MPs and Lords about their concerns and the current Digital Economy Bill, at the same time as the Lords were actually debating the issue.
24 November 2009
How does filesharing affect jobs and investment? Why is the proposed digital economy bill necessary?
A joint meeting of the All-Party Intellectual Property Group, the All-Party Group on Publishing, the All-Party Music Group, the All-Party Film Group and the All-Party Writers Group.
Speakers included:
• Huw Jennings, Fulham FC’s Academy Director
• Francis Keeling, Universal Music Group,
• Maureen Duffy, Writer and Poet
• Fionnuala Duggan, Publisher, Random House
• Paul Hayes, Construction Manager, Leavesden Film Studios
26 October 2009
APWG Meeting
House of Commons - Janet Anderson was officially voted Chair of the All Party Writers Group.
7 October
APWG sponsors event at the Conservative Party Conference
The debate entitled ‘Writers & the Web: creativity & the digital economy’ took place at the Party Conference on 7 October. The All Party Writers Group (APWG) sponsored this timely debate on the same day as US court discussions over the fairness of the Google Settlement – a settlement that potentially will see writers paid for the unauthorised digitisation of their works.
© Social Market Foundation
Panellists included Conservative MP John Whittingdale, Chair of the Culture, Media & Sport Select Committee and APWG member; Louise Bagshawe, author and Conservative Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Corby & East Northamptonshire; the Guardian News & Media’s Director of Digital Content, Emily Bell; freelance journalist and publishing commentator Danuta Kean and National Literacy Trust Director, Jonathan Douglas.
Familiar arguments were wrestled with an array of differing opinions on electronic formats versus the traditional book. The panel was also clear that whilst the digital publishing process is far easier than for traditional formats, the protection of copyright is far harder.
It was unanimously agreed that the creators and Intellectual Property must be protected in order that they can make a living from their work; and that educating consumers is vital to ensure they understand the value of digital content.
For the full press release please click here.
9 June 2009
APWG Celebrates PLR 30TH
Rt Hon Denis MacShane MP, Vice Chair of the All Party Writers Group gave an introduction at the event held on the terrace at the House of Commons. Over 150 guests showed their support, among them Babette Cole, Jenny Colgan and Tracy Chevalier.
Speakers in cluded Dr James Parker, Registrar of Public Lending Right and Maureen Duffy, writer and authors’ rights campaigner.
Denis Macshane speaking at the terrace event on 9 June 2009.
Click here for the full press release.
17 March 2009
Papers for the meeting are available for download here:
Journalism + Publishers
(1785 – present)
PLR Paper
11 December 2008
All Party Writers Group AGM and Christmas Drinks reception
The documents for the All Party Writers Group Annual General Meeting can be downloaded here:
Agenda
PLR Briefing Paper
Achievements so far
Question from Ian Gibson to David Lammy MP - 20 November 08.
See the press release from the event here.
8 July 2008
Writers meet the Secretary of State to discuss their rights
At a meeting of the All Party Writers Group (APWG) on the 8th July, The Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport met with writers and representatives from the Authors’ Licensing & Collecting Society (ALCS), the Public Lending Right (PLR) Advisory Committee and the National Union of Journalists (NUJ).
The meeting provided an opportunity for writers and their representatives to raise various issues with the Secretary of State and discuss the challenges faced by writers in securing a fair return for the use of their work in an ever-more challenging environment.
Representatives from the NUJ described the coercive practices that often govern relationships between freelance writers and newspaper and periodical publishers, highlighting the fact that contracts requiring global rights for all media have become the norm. They also noted that the contract law operating in some other EU Member States provides greater certainty for creators by establishing a right for authors to share in the future commercial success of their work.
The Secretary of State acknowledged the success of the PLR scheme, noting that the UK model had become recognised as the template for similar schemes under development within Europe. Representatives from PLR Advisory Committee registered their disappointment at the cuts suffered in the last funding round and suggested that, to mark the 30th anniversary of enactment of the Public Lending Right Act (1979), the DCMS may wish to consider a review of the present regulations. The Secretary of State noted that the current legislation only dealt with the lending of printed books and that in a changing digital environment, where various works may be accessed through public libraries, a review would be an appropriate way to mark this anniversary.
The Secretary of State spoke about the importance of the forthcoming cross-departmental consultation concerning the unauthorised use of creative content on-line and the role played by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in this process. The representatives from ALCS welcomed government activity in this area, noting the vast amount of works created by their members that are currently used on-line without acknowledgement or payment. They suggested that a holistic solution to these issues needed to address education, proportional enforcement measures, support for legitimate access through licensing and, where necessary, support for compensation schemes.
Andy Burnham demonstrated his support for writers and the issues they wish to see addressed by government, when he took up the offer of APWG membership.
“We are delighted that the Secretary of State has become a member of the APWG,” said the Group’s Chair, Dr Ian Gibson MP. “The voice of writers, and all other creators needs to be taken seriously at the highest level in government if as a nation we are to remain competitive in the global creative economy.”
The Secretary of State also kindly agreed to join a panel debate at the Labour Party Conference on 22nd September to be hosted by ALCS and British Music Rights (BMR): Standing at the cultural crossroads: is the digital environment supporting or subverting the rights of creative individuals?
2 June 2008
Summer drinks reception on the terrace
Sponsored by Dr Ian Gibson MP and the All Party Writers Group, a drinks reception with speakers Margaret Hodge and poet Wendy Cope, was held on the terrace of the House of Commons.
Dr Ian Gibson MP with Ben Okri and Philippa Gregory at the Summer drinks reception
6 May 2008
A Fair Approach?
On 6 May 2008, the APWG met with representatives from other All Party Groups and industry experts representing a broad range of interests to discuss the common issues facing different types of creators.
The briefing document for the meeting and the presentation given can be downloaded below:
Briefing document
Presentation
21 February 2008
How Big is your Cultural Footprint?
On 21 February 2008, the APWG met to discuss some recent research into consumer attitudes to the remuneration of writers.
Click here for more information about the research and the presentation given by the Authors' Licensing & Collecting Society Ltd (ALCS).
The Group also discussed the recent funding cut on Public Lending Right (PLR). Dr Ian Gibson MP has tabled an Early Day Motion, to view this please click here.
The APWG supported this EDM and would encourage all interested parties to review it and if they feel able, add their name in support.
The EDM number is 932.
Inaugural meeting at Portcullis House
The full list of group members
13 November 2007
Launch party at the House of Commons
Briefing note
Information on Maureen Duffy - Authors' Rights champion