Overview

This bill seeks to repeal section 13 of the Defamation Act 1996. This section relates to evidence concerning parliamentary proceedings in defamation cases. The repeal aims to strengthen parliamentary privilege regarding freedom of speech within Parliament.

Description

The core purpose of the Parliamentary Privilege (Defamation) Bill is to remove section 13 of the 1996 Defamation Act. This section currently allows for the admissibility of evidence from parliamentary proceedings in defamation cases, potentially limiting the freedom of speech of MPs and peers. By repealing this section, the bill intends to ensure that statements made within Parliament are absolutely protected from defamation lawsuits, reinforcing the principle of parliamentary privilege.

The bill's short title would be the Parliamentary Privilege (Defamation) Act 2014. It would come into force upon passing and would apply to the entire United Kingdom.

Government Spending

The bill is not expected to have a significant impact on government spending. The repeal of a section of the Defamation Act is largely a legislative change with minimal financial implications for the government.

Groups Affected

This bill primarily affects:

• Members of Parliament (MPs): The repeal enhances their protection from defamation lawsuits for statements made in Parliament, promoting freedom of speech.
• Members of the House of Lords (Peers): Similar to MPs, this bill strengthens their protection against defamation claims for parliamentary statements.
• Individuals bringing defamation claims: This group may face limitations in using parliamentary proceedings as evidence in defamation cases.

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