Parliamentary Declaration Bill

House of Commons

Session 1997-98
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Parliamentary Declaration Bill

A
B I L L
TO
Provide for a new Declaration to be made by Members of Parliament upon their election to the House of Commons.
Whereas the democratic rights of the people of the United Kingdom depend upon their ability to choose whomsoever they wish to represent them in Parliament, subject only to their representatives not being otherwise disqualified by law;
And whereas the oaths now required under the Parliamentary Oaths Act 1866, the Promissory Oaths Act 1868 and the Oaths Act 1978 preclude certain persons from taking the oath or making the affirmation laid down by law:-
Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:-

Requirement to make a Declaration.     1. All Members of the House of Commons who have been duly elected and returned shall be required to make the Declaration set out in the Schedule to this Act, and having done so may take their seats and speak and vote in the House.

Members not making the Declaration.     2. Such Members who shall decide, for whatever reason, that they are unable or unwilling to make such a Declaration shall be entitled to all the other rights of Members, including the right to receive their parliamentary salary and allowances, from the date of their election and to make full use of all the facilities available to other Members who have made the Declaration.

Members who have taken the oath.     3. All present Members of the House of Commons who have already taken the oath or made the required affirmation at the time this Act comes into force shall be deemed to have made the Declaration contained in the Schedule.

Members who have not taken the oath.     4. Any Member who at the time this Act comes into force has been elected but has not taken the oath shall be entitled to the same rights as Members unable or unwilling to make the Declaration, as set out in section 2 of this Act.

Amendments.     5. The Parliamentary Oaths Act 1866, the Promissory Oaths Act 1868 and the Oaths Act 1978 shall cease to have effect so far as they relate to Members of the House of Commons.

Short title.     6. This Act may be cited as the Parliamentary Declaration Act 1998.

© Parliamentary copyright 1998
Prepared 14 January 1998

Parliamentary Declaration Bill

	A B I L L TO Provide for a new Declaration to be made by Members of Parliament upon their election to the House of Commons. Whereas the democratic rights of the people of the United Kingdom depend upon their ability to choose whomsoever they wish to represent them in Parliament, subject only to their representatives not being otherwise disqualified by law; And whereas the oaths now required under the Parliamentary Oaths Act 1866, the Promissory Oaths Act 1868 and the Oaths Act 1978 preclude certain persons from taking the oath or making the affirmation laid down by law:- Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:-
Requirement to make a Declaration.	1. All Members of the House of Commons who have been duly elected and returned shall be required to make the Declaration set out in the Schedule to this Act, and having done so may take their seats and speak and vote in the House.
Members not making the Declaration.	2. Such Members who shall decide, for whatever reason, that they are unable or unwilling to make such a Declaration shall be entitled to all the other rights of Members, including the right to receive their parliamentary salary and allowances, from the date of their election and to make full use of all the facilities available to other Members who have made the Declaration.
Members who have taken the oath.	3. All present Members of the House of Commons who have already taken the oath or made the required affirmation at the time this Act comes into force shall be deemed to have made the Declaration contained in the Schedule.
Members who have not taken the oath.	4. Any Member who at the time this Act comes into force has been elected but has not taken the oath shall be entitled to the same rights as Members unable or unwilling to make the Declaration, as set out in section 2 of this Act.
Amendments.	5. The Parliamentary Oaths Act 1866, the Promissory Oaths Act 1868 and the Oaths Act 1978 shall cease to have effect so far as they relate to Members of the House of Commons.
Short title.	6. This Act may be cited as the Parliamentary Declaration Act 1998.