A wide range of international submissions to the Government inquiry into the Press Complaints Commission has been welcomed by PCC acting chairman Robert Pinker.

He told the Commonwealth Press Union that his organisation had received strong support from media self-regulating bodies throughout Europe and beyond.

Letters to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee inquiry into the PCC had come from foreign press councils and media ethics experts.

He said: "Taken as a whole three main themes emerge from these submissions: the high regard in which the PCC is held for the job it does in the UK; the importance of our work in promoting self-regulation and freedom of expression elsewhere; and the dangers that attacks on self-regulation in the UK may undermine individuals' rights to freedom of expression in other countries.

"These are powerful submissions from well-respected individuals and institutions, and they must not be ignored."

Submissions covered the dangers of attacking self-regulation in the UK, praise for the PCC's role in Europe, in bringing together its overseas counterparts, and its role in helping other countries establish self-regulatory systems to underpin freedom of expression.

There was also praise for the British system from Switzerland, Italy, Belgium, Sweden and Germany.

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