Explanatory Notes

Parliamentary Standards Act 2009

2009 CHAPTER 13

21st July 2009

Commentary on Sections

Section 1: Bill of Rights

45.Section 1 provides that nothing in the Act should be construed by any court in the United Kingdom as affecting parliamentary privilege, as set out in Article IX of the Bill of Rights 1689. Article IX provides “that the freedom of speech and debates in Parliament ought not to be impeached or questioned in any court or place out of Parliament”. This section is to remove any doubt about whether any provision in the Act affects Article IX.