PRIVILEGES OF M.Ps.

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXIII, Issue 97, 28 April 1939, Page 8

PRIVILEGES OF M.Ps.

REPORT OF SELECT COMMITTEE.

N.Z. Press Assn

. — By Tel. Copyright.

LONDON, April 25. The select committee on the O'fAcial Secrets Act, set up after the Sandys incident, reports that it is inadvisable to attempt precisely to deflne the extent of immunity from prcsecution that members of the House of Commons enjoy. The dignity and independence of Parliament are best served by keeping the privileges indefinite. If they are precisely defined the executive could devise means outside the privileges to harass members of the House of Commons. Parliament has disciplinary powers over its own members, but. "the commfttee relies not so much on that as on the good sense of members of the House. The inauiry brougnt home to members the need for discretion where the safety of the realm was affected. The report stresses that Ministers must not use their executive powers to impede members of the House in discharging their proper duties. The committee suggests that the House pass a resolution declaratory of Parliament's privileges which, though not bind;ng on the courts wculd doubtless be respected by them. It adds that members of the House of Commons are not entitled to claim privilege when addressing constituents.