Internet companies such as Google and Yahoo have criticised the clause as it could give power to ministers to change the copyright law.

Music and film industries on the other hand are unhappy because if the clause is not sanctioned, it prevents fast-track legislation on websites that host pirated content. They are worried about non-peer-to-peer file-sharing which is growing at an alarming rate.

The clause is necessary to prevent emerging methods of piracy, says the Government.

Jeremy Hunt, the Conservative Shadow Culture Secretary said that though the Government wants a wide ranging and unconstitutional power, it cannot tell what it will be used for.