Moved by
Lord Lester of Herne Hill
43: After Clause 7, insert the following new Clause—
“Reports etc of certain Parliamentary matters protected by absolute privilege
(1) The following are absolutely privileged—
(a) a fair and accurate report of proceedings in Parliament;
(b) a fair and accurate report of anything published by or on the authority of Parliament; and
(c) a fair and accurate copy of, extract from or summary of anything published by or on the authority of Parliament.
(2) The court must stay any proceedings where the defendant shows that—
(a) the proceedings relate to the publication of anything that falls within paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of subsection (1); or
(b) the proceedings seek to prevent or postpone the making of any such publication.
(3) This section also has effect in relation to the Welsh Assembly and the Northern Ireland Assembly (and any reference to Parliament is to be read as a reference to the Assembly in question).
(4) The Parliamentary Papers Act 1840 is repealed.”