Parliamentary privilege

[LewPaper]

Is it only in the debating chamber that parliamentary privilege is granted or is it anywhere within the building? I was thinking in terms whether it's extended to the committee rooms.

[Buenchico]

It is entirely up to the House of Commons as to determine what, and what does not, fall within 'Parliamentary privilege'. (i.e. they make their own rules).

However 'Erskine May's Treatise on the Law, Privileges, Proceedings and Usage of Parliament' is accepted as the 'bible' of the House. It was originally written in 1844 and has been updated (often by the Clerk to the Commons) periodically since then. The House currently works within the rules laid out in the 23rd edition, but the 24th edition (updated by Malcolm Jack, the current Clerk) is due to be published shortly.

'Erskine May' (as the document is usually known) states that Parliamentary privilege is extended to the proceedings of all Select Committees, and to all evidence laid before those Committees. (However such evidence only acquires Parliamentary privilege at the point when it is accepted as evidence by a Select Committee. Parliamentary privilege does not apply to evidence which is intended to be put before a Committee at a future date).

Chris

[LewPaper]

Wow! Thanks for that Chris.