Letter to the Chairman from Mr PDG Hayter,
LVO, the Clerk of the Parliaments, House of Lords
Thank you for your letter of 4 November and
for the invitation to give evidence to the Procedure Committee
on the sub judice rule.
The present resolution of this House on sub
judice was passed to give effect to the recommendations of
the Joint Committee on Parliamentary Privilege in 1999, and since
then the resolution has not given rise to difficulties in its
application in the Lords. Since there is no mischief that has
caused problems here, I do not have much to offer your enquiry
on the practical side. Answers to the more theoretical or philosophical
questions might be better left to the Law Lords and other judges.
This House will of course consider very carefully
the report of your Committee, and will look with interest at any
recommendations for change that it might propose. If you are minded
to make any such recommendations affecting both Houses, I would
welcome the opportunity to comment before any firm decisions are
taken.
November 2004
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