PARLIAMENT (POWERS AND PRIVILEGES) ACT.

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS.

   Section

PART I
INTERPRETATION.

   1.   Interpretation.

PART II
PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES.

   2.   Immunity from legal proceedings.

   3.   Freedom from arrest for civil debt during session.

   4.   Exercise of civil process.

   5.   Entry to Parliament.

   6.   Regulation of admission to Parliament.

   7.   Order for withdrawal of strangers.

PART III
EVIDENCE.

   8.   Power to order attendance of witnesses.

   9.   Attendance to be notified by summons.

   10.   Power to issue warrant to compel attendance.

   11.   Witnesses may be examined on oath.

   12.   Objection to answer question or to produce papers.

   13.   Privileges of witnesses.

   14.   Evidence of proceedings in Parliament or committee not to be given without leave.

   15.   Questions relating to evidence and production of documents before Parliament or committee to be determined in accordance with usage of Parliament of the United Kingdom.

PART IV
OFFENCES AND PENALTIES.

   16.   Proceedings to be deemed judicial proceedings for certain purposes.

   17.   Offences and penalties relating to admittance to Parliament.

   18.   Other offences and penalties.

   19.   Acceptance of bribes by members.

PART V
MISCELLANEOUS.

   20.   Commons journals to be prima facie evidence in inquiries touching privilege.

   21.   Journals printed by order of Parliament to be admitted as evidence.

   22.   Penalty for printing false copy of Act, journal, etc.

   23.   Protection of persons responsible for publications authorised by Parliament.

   24.   Publication of proceedings without malice.

   25.   Exercise of jurisdiction by courts.

   26.   Powers of officers.

   27.   Power of arrest.

   28.   Sanction for prosecutions.

CHAPTER 258
PARLIAMENT (POWERS AND PRIVILEGES) ACT.

Commencement: 24 February, 1955.

   An Act to declare and define certain powers, privileges and immunities of Parliament, and of the members of Parliament, to secure freedom of speech in Parliament, to regulate admittance to the precincts of Parliament, to give protection to the persons employed in the publication of the reports and other papers of Parliament and for purposes incidental to or connected with the matters aforesaid.

PART I
INTERPRETATION.

1.   Interpretation.

   In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—

   (a)   "clerk" means the clerk to Parliament;

   (b)   "committee" means any standing, sessional, select or other committee of Parliament;

   (c)   "court" means a magistrate's court established under the Magistrates Courts Act, over which presides a chief magistrate or a magistrate grade I;

   (d)   "journals" means the minutes of Parliament or the official record of the votes and proceedings of Parliament;

   (e)   "member" means any member of Parliament;

   (f)   "officer of Parliament" means the clerk or any other officer or person acting within the precincts of Parliament, other than when serving a summons under section 9(3), under the orders of the Speaker, and includes any police officer on duty within the precincts of Parliament;

   (g)   "police officer" has the same meaning as in the Police Act;

   (h)   "precincts of Parliament" means the chamber and offices of Parliament and the galleries and places provided for the use or accommodation of strangers, members of the public and representatives of the press, and includes, while Parliament is sitting, and subject to any exceptions made by the direction of the Speaker, the entire building in which the chamber of Parliament is situated, and any forecourt, yard, garden, enclosure or open space adjoining or appertaining to that building and used or provided for the purposes of Parliament;

   (i)   "Speaker" means the Speaker of Parliament and includes any other member of Parliament when that other member is presiding at a meeting of Parliament;

   (j)   "standing orders" means the Standing Orders of Parliament for the time being in force;

   (k)   "stranger" means any person other than a member or an officer of Parliament.

PART II
PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES.

2.   Immunity from legal proceedings.

   No civil or criminal proceedings may be instituted against any member for words spoken before, or written in a report to, Parliament or to a committee, or by reason of any matter or thing brought by the member in Parliament or a committee by petition, bill, motion or otherwise.