Parliament Charles

Parliament Elizabeth

Parliament James

PARLIAMENTARY PRIVILEGE

Ministers Of Parliament or peers can say what they like during parliamentary proceedings, without risk of being sued for slander or prosecuted for a breach of the Official Secrets Acts. No action for libel can be taken for anything written or said by MPs or members of the House of Lords, during parliamentary proceedings, this includes reports in the Hansard, with a limited privilege given to press reports, either in newspapers or delivered debates, provided the reports are without malice and published in good faith.

There is no privilege for anything said or written by MPs or peers which is not in the course of parliamentary proceedings. Breaches of parliamentary privilege are investigated by the Committee of Privileges which is made up of MPs or peers of all parties It reports and makes recommendations to the House of Commons .