Proceedings of the Committee Relating
to the Report
DIE MERCURII, 25 NOVEMBRIS 1997
Present:
Lord Archer of Sandwell
Lord Mayhew of Twysden
Lord Merlyn-Rees
Lord Nicholls of Birkenhead
Mr Joe Benton
Sir Patrick Cormack
Mr Bill Michie
Mrs Ann Taylor
Mr Paul Tyler
Mr Alan Williams
The Orders of Reference are read.
It is moved that Lord Nicholls of Birkenhead
do take the Chair (Mrs Ann Taylor).
The same is agreed to.
The Joint Committee deliberate.
Ordered, That a letter from the Leader
of the House of Commons be considered.
Ordered, That the Joint Committee approve
a circular letter inviting evidence.
Ordered, That the Joint Committee be
adjourned to Tuesday 2nd December at 10.45 am.
DIE MARTIS, 2 DECEMBRIS 1997
Present:
Lord Mayhew of Twysden
Lord Merlyn-Rees
Lord Waddington
Lord Wigode
Mr Joe Benton
Sir Patrick Cormack
Mr Bill Michie
Mrs Ann Taylor
Mr Paul Tyler
Mr Alan Williams
Lord Nicholls of Birkenhead, in the Chair.
The Order of Adjournment is read.
The proceedings of Tuesday 25th November are
read.
The Joint Committee deliberate.
The following witnesses are called in and examined:
Sir Donald Limon, KCB, Clerk of the House of
Commons
Mr W R McKay, CB, Clerk Assistant of the House
of Commons
The Joint Committee deliberate.
Ordered, That the Joint Committee be
adjourned to Tuesday 16th December at 10.30 am.
DIE MARTIS, 16 DECEMBRIS 1997
Present:
Lord Archer of Sandwell
Lord Mayhew of Twysden
Lord Merlyn-Rees
Lord Waddington
Lord Wigoder
Mr Joe Benton
Mr Bill Michie
Mrs Ann Taylor
Mr Alan Williams
Lord Nicholls of Birkenhead, in the Chair.
The Order of Adjournment is read.
The proceedings of Tuesday 2nd December are
read.
The Joint Committee deliberate.
The following witnesses are called in and further
examined:
Sir Donald Limon, KCB, Clerk of the House of
Commons
Mr W R McKay, CB, Clerk Assistant of the House
of Commons
The Joint Committee deliberate.
Ordered, That the Joint
Committee be adjourned to Tuesday 20th January 1998 at 10.45 am.
DIE JOVIS, 20 JANUARII 1998
Present:
Lord Archer of Sandwell
Lord Mayhew of Twysden
Lord Merlyn-Rees
Lord Wigoder
Mr Joe Benton
Sir Patrick Cormack
Mr Bill Michie
Mrs Ann Taylor
Mr Paul Tyler
Mr Alan Williams
Lord Nicholls of Birkenhead, in the Chair.
The Order of Adjournment is read.
The proceedings of Tuesday 16th December 1997
are read.
The Joint Committee deliberate.
The following witness is examined:
The Rt Hon Jack Straw MP, Home Secretary
The Joint Committee deliberate.
Ordered, That the Joint Committee be
adjourned to Tuesday 27th January at 10.30 am.
DIE JOVIS, 27 JANUARII 1998
Present:
Lord Mayhew of Twysden
Lord Merlyn-Rees
Lord Wigoder
Mr Joe Benton
Sir Patrick Cormack
Mr Bill Michie
Mrs Ann Taylor
Mr Paul Tyler
Mr Alan Williams
Lord Nicholls of Birkenhead, in the Chair.
The Order of Adjournment is read.
The proceedings of Tuesday 20th January are
read.
The Joint Committee deliberate.
The following witnesses are called in and examined:
Mr Michael Davies CB, Clerk of the Parliaments
Mr Derek Rippengal CB QC, Counsel to the Chairman
of Committees
The Joint Committee deliberate.
Ordered, That the Joint Committee be
adjourned to Tuesday 3rd February at 10.30 am.
DIE MERCURII, 3 FEBRUARII 1998
Present:
Lord Mayhew of Twysden
Lord Merlyn-Rees
Lord Waddington
Lord Wigoder
Mr Joe Benton
Sir Patrick Cormack
Mr Bill Michie
Mrs Ann Taylor
Mr Alan Williams
Lord Nicholls of Birkenhead, in the Chair.
The Order of Adjournment is read.
The proceedings of Tuesday 27th January are
read.
The Joint Committee deliberate.
The following witness is examined:
Rt Hon John Morris QC MP, HM Attorney General
The Joint Committee deliberate.
Ordered, That the Joint Committee be
adjourned to Tuesday 10th February at 10.30 am.
DIE MERCURII, 10 FEBRUARII 1998
Present:
Lord Mayhew of Twysden
Lord Merlyn-Rees
Lord Waddington
Lord Wigoder
Sir Patrick Cormack
Mr Bill Michie
Mrs Ann Taylor
Mr Paul Tyler
Mr Alan Williams
Lord Nicholls of Birkenhead, in the Chair.
The Order of Adjournment is read.
The proceedings of Tuesday 3rd February are
read.
The Joint Committee deliberate.
The following witnesses are examined:
The Honourable George Cash, President of the
Legislative Council of Western Australia
Mr L B Marquet, Clerk of the Legislative Council
of Western Australia
The Joint Committee deliberate.
Ordered, That the Joint Committee be
adjourned to Tuesday 17th February at 10.30 am.
DIE MERCURII, 17 FEBRUARII 1998
Present:
Lord Archer of Sandwell
Lord Mayhew of Twysden
Lord Merlyn-Rees
Lord Waddington
Lord Wigoder
Mr Joe Benton
Mr Bill Michie
Mr Paul Tyler
Lord Nicholls of Birkenhead, in the Chair.
The Order of Adjournment is read.
The proceedings of Tuesday 10th February are
read.
The Joint Committee deliberate.
The following witnesses are examined:
Lord Bingham of Cornhill, Lord Chief Justice
of England
Mr Charles Johnson, Parliamentarian of the United
States House of Representatives
Ordered, That the Joint Committee be
adjourned to Tuesday 24th February at 10.30 am.
DIE MERCURII, 24 FEBRUARII 1998
Present:
Lord Archer of Sandwell
Lord Mayhew of Twysden
Lord Merlyn-Rees
Lord Waddington
Sir Patrick Cormack
Mr Bill Michie
Mrs Ann Taylor
Mr Alan Williams
It is moved that Lord Wigoder do take the Chair
during any absence of Lord Nicholls of Birkenhead (Sir Patrick
Cormack).
The same is agreed to.
Lord Wigoder, in the Chair.
The Order of Adjournment is read.
The proceedings of Tuesday 17th February are
read.
The Joint Committee deliberate.
The following witnesses are called in and examined:
Mrs Patricia Leopold, Senior Lecturer in Law,
University of Reading
Professor Anthony Bradley, Emeritus Professor
of Constitutional Law, University of Edinburgh
The Joint Committee deliberate.
Ordered, That the Joint Committee be
adjourned to Tuesday 10th March at 10.30 am.
DIE MARTIS, 10 MARTII 1998
Present:
Lord Archer of Sandwell
Lord Mayhew of Twysden
Lord Merlyn-Rees
Lord Waddington
Mr Joe Benton
Sir Patrick Cormack
Mr Bill Michie
Mr Paul Tyler
Mr Alan Williams
Lord Wigoder, in the Chair.
The Order of Adjournment is read.
The proceedings of Tuesday 24th February are
read.
The Joint Committee deliberate.
The following witness is examined:
Lord Weatherill, former Speaker of the House
of Commons
The Joint Committee deliberate.
Ordered, That the Joint Committee be
adjourned to Tuesday 17th March at 10.30 am.
DIE MARTIS, 17 MARTII 1998
Present:
Lord Archer of Sandwell
Lord Mayhew of Twysden
Lord Merlyn-Rees
Lord Waddington
Mr Joe Benton
Sir Patrick Cormack
Mr Bill Michie
Mr Paul Tyler
Mr Alan Williams
Lord Wigoder, in the Chair.
The Order of Adjournment is read.
The proceedings of Tuesday 10th March are read.
The Joint Committee deliberate.
The following witness is examined:
Rt Hon the Lord Rodger of Earlsferry, Lord President
of the Court of Session
The Joint Committee deliberate.
Ordered, That the Joint Committee be
adjourned to Tuesday 24th March at 10.30 am.
DIE MARTIS, 24 MARTII 1998
Present:
Lord Archer of Sandwell
Lord Merlyn-Rees
Lord Waddington
Sir Patrick Cormack
Mr Bill Michie
Mrs Ann Taylor
Mr Alan Williams
Lord Wigoder, in the Chair.
The Order of Adjournment is read.
The proceedings of Tuesday 17th March are read.
The Joint Committee deliberate.
The following witnesses are examined:
Rt Hon the Lord Newton of Braintree, OBE
Rt Hon John MacGregor, OBE, MP, former Leader
of the House of Commons
The Joint Committee deliberate.
Ordered, That the Joint Committee be
adjourned to Tuesday 31st March at 10.30 am.
DIE MARTIS, 31 MARTII 1998
Present:
Lord Archer of Sandwell
Lord Waddington
Lord Wigoder
Mr Joe Benton
Mr Bill Michie
Mrs Ann Taylor
Mr Paul Tyler
Mr Alan Williams
Lord Nicholls of Birkenhead, in the Chair.
The Order of Adjournment is read.
The proceedings of Tuesday 24th March are read.
The Joint Committee deliberate.
The following witness is called in and examined:
Rt Hon Sir Robert Carswell, Lord Chief Justice
of Northern Ireland
The Joint Committee deliberate.
Ordered, That the Joint Committee be
adjourned to Tuesday 7th April at 10.30 am.
DIE LUNAE, 7 APRILIS 1998
Present:
Lord Mayhew of Twysden
Lord Merlyn-Rees
Lord Waddington
Mr Joe Benton
Sir Patrick Cormack
Mr Bill Michie
Lord Nicholls of Birkenhead, in the Chair.
The Order of Adjournment is read.
The proceedings of Tuesday 31st March are read.
The Joint Committee deliberate.
The following witness is called in and examined:
Dr Geoffrey Marshall FBA, Provost of The Queen's
College, Oxford
The Joint Committee deliberate.
Ordered, That the Joint Committee be
adjourned to Tuesday 28th April at 10.30 am.
DIE MERCURII, 28 APRILIS 1998
Present:
Lord Archer of Sandwell
Lord Mayhew of Twysden
Lord Merlyn-Rees
Lord Waddington
Lord Wigoder
Sir Patrick Cormack
Mr Bill Michie
Mrs Ann Taylor
Mr Paul Tyler
Mr Alan Williams
Lord Nicholls of Birkenhead, in the Chair.
The Order of Adjournment is read.
The proceedings of Tuesday 7th April are read.
The Joint Committee deliberate.
The following witnesses are called in and examined:
Sir Gordon Downey, KCB, the Parliamentary Commissioner
for Standards.
The Joint Committee deliberate.
Ordered, That the Joint Committee be
adjourned to Tuesday 12th May at 10.30 am.
DIE MARTIS, 12 MAII 1998
Present:
Lord Archer of Sandwell
Lord Mayhew of Twysden
Lord Merlyn-Rees
Lord Waddington
Lord Wigoder
Sir Patrick Cormack
Mr Bill Michie
Mrs Ann Taylor
Mr Paul Tyler
Mr Alan Williams
Lord Nicholls of Birkenhead, in the Chair.
The Order of Adjournment is read.
The proceedings of Tuesday 28th April are read.
The Joint Committee deliberate.
Ordered, That the Joint Committee be
adjourned to Tuesday 19th May at 10.30 am.
DIE MARTIS, 19 MAII 1998
Present:
Lord Mayhew of Twysden
Lord Merlyn-Rees
Lord Waddington
Lord Wigoder
Sir Patrick Cormack
Mr Bill Michie
Mrs Ann Taylor
Mr Paul Tyler
Mr Alan Williams
Lord Nicholls of Birkenhead, in the Chair.
The Order of Adjournment is read.
The proceedings of Tuesday 12th May are read.
The Joint Committee deliberate.
Ordered, That the Joint Committee be
adjourned to Tuesday 2nd June at 10.30 am.
DIE MARTIS, 2 JUNII 1998
Present:
Lord Archer of Sandwell
Lord Mayhew of Twysden
Lord Merlyn-Rees
Lord Waddington
Sir Patrick Cormack
Mr Bill Michie
Mrs Ann Taylor
Mr Paul Tyler
Mr Alan Williams
Lord Nicholls of Birkenhead, in the Chair.
The Order of Adjournment is read.
The proceedings of Tuesday 19th May are read.
The Joint Committee deliberate.
Ordered, That the Joint Committee be
adjourned to Tuesday 9th June at 10.30 am.
DIE MARTIS, 9 JUNII 1998
Present:
Lord Archer of Sandwell
Lord Mayhew of Twysden
Lord Merlyn-Rees
Lord Waddington
Lord Wigoder
Mr Joe Benton
Sir Patrick Cormack
Mr Bill Michie
Mrs Ann Taylor
Mr Alan Williams
Lord Nicholls of Birkenhead, in the Chair.
The Order of Adjournment is read.
The proceedings of Tuesday 2nd June are read.
The Joint Committee deliberate.
Ordered, That the Joint Committee be
adjourned to Tuesday 16th June at 10.30 am.
DIE MARTIS, 16 JUNII 1998
Present:
Lord Archer of Sandwell
Lord Mayhew of Twysden
Lord Merlyn-Rees
Lord Waddington
Lord Wigoder
Sir Patrick Cormack
Mr Bill Michie
Mr Paul Tyler
Mr Alan Williams
Lord Nicholls of Birkenhead, in the Chair.
The Order of Adjournment is read.
The proceedings of Tuesday 9th June are read.
The Joint Committee deliberate.
Ordered, That the Joint Committee be
adjourned to Tuesday 23rd June at 10.30 am.
DIE MARTIS, 23 JUNII 1998
Present:
Lord Archer of Sandwell
Lord Mayhew of Twysden
Lord Merlyn-Rees
Lord Waddington
Lord Wigoder
Sir Patrick Cormack
Mr Bill Michie
Mrs Ann Taylor
Lord Nicholls of Birkenhead, in the Chair.
The Order of Adjournment is read.
The proceedings of Tuesday 16th June are read.
The Joint Committee deliberate.
Ordered, That the Joint Committee be
adjourned to Tuesday 27th October at 11.00 am.
DIE MARTIS, 27 OCTOBRIS 1998
Present:
Lord Mayhew of Twysden
Lord Merlyn-Rees
Lord Waddington
Lord Wigoder
Mr Joe Benton
Sir Patrick Cormack
Mr Bill Michie
Mrs Ann Taylor
Mr Paul Tyler
Mr Alan Williams
Lord Nicholls of Birkenhead, in the Chair.
The Order of Adjournment is read.
The proceedings of Tuesday 23rd June are read.
The Joint Committee deliberate.
Ordered, That the Joint Committee be
adjourned to Tuesday 3rd November at 10.30 am.
DIE MARTIS, 3 NOVEMBRIS 1998
Present:
Lord Archer of Sandwell
Lord Mayhew of Twysden
Lord Merlyn-Rees
Lord Waddington
Lord Wigoder
Sir Patrick Cormack
Mr Bill Michie
Mr Alan Williams
Lord Nicholls of Birkenhead, in the Chair.
The Order of Adjournment is read.
The proceedings of Tuesday 27th October are
read.
The Joint Committee deliberate.
Ordered, That the Joint Committee be
adjourned to Tuesday 10th November at 10.30 am.
DIE MARTIS, 10 NOVEMBRIS 1998
Present:
Lord Archer of Sandwell
Lord Mayhew of Twysden
Lord Merlyn-Rees
Lord Waddington
Lord Wigoder
Mr Joe Benton
Sir Patrick Cormack
Mr Bill Michie
Mrs Ann Taylor
Lord Nicholls of Birkenhead, in the Chair.
The Order of Adjournment is read.
The proceedings of Tuesday 3rd November are
read.
The Joint Committee deliberate.
Ordered, That the Joint Committee be
adjourned to Tuesday 17th November at 10.30 am.
DIE MARTIS, 17 NOVEMBRIS 1998
Present:
Lord Mayhew of Twysden
Lord Merlyn-Rees
Lord Waddington
Lord Wigoder
Sir Patrick Cormack
Mr Bill Michie
Mrs Ann Taylor
Mr Paul Tyler
Lord Nicholls of Birkenhead, in the Chair.
The Order of Adjournment is read.
The proceedings of Tuesday 10th November are
read.
The Joint Committee deliberate.
Ordered, That the Joint Committee be
adjourned.
DIE MARTIS, 8 DECEMBRIS 1998
Present:
Lord Mayhew of Twysden
Lord Merlyn-Rees
Lord Nicholls of Birkenhead
Lord Waddington
Lord Wigoder
Sir Patrick Cormack
Mr Bill Michie
Mrs Ann Taylor
Mr Paul Tyler
Mr Alan Williams
The Orders of Reference are read.
It is moved that Lord Nicholls of Birkenhead
do take the Chair (Mrs Ann Taylor).
The same is agreed to.
Ordered, That the Minutes of Evidence
and other proceedings of the Joint Committeeon Parliamentary Privilege
in the last session of Parliament, be adopted by the Committee—(The
Chairman).
The Joint Committee deliberate.
Ordered, That the Joint Committee be
adjourned to Tuesday 15th December at 10.00 am.
DIE MARTIS 15 DECEMBRIS 1998
Present:
Lord Archer of Sandwell
Lord Mayhew of Twysden
Lord Merlyn-Rees
Lord Waddington
Lord Wigoder
Mr Joe Benton
Sir Patrick Cormack
Mrs Ann Taylor
Mr Paul Tyler
Mr Alan Williams
Lord Nicholls of Birkenhead, in the Chair.
The Order of Adjournment is read.
The proceedings of Tuesday 8th December are
read.
The Joint Committee deliberate.
Ordered, That the Joint
Committee be adjourned to Tuesday 12th January 1999 at 10.00 am.
DIE MARTIS, 12 JANUARII 1999
Present:
Lord Archer of Sandwell
Lord Mayhew of Twysden
Lord Merlyn-Rees
Lord Wigoder
Sir Patrick Cormack
Mr Bill Michie
Mrs Ann Taylor
Mr Paul Tyler
Mr Alan Williams
Lord Nicholls of Birkenhead, in the Chair.
The Order of Adjournment is read.
The proceedings of Tuesday 15th December are
read.
The Joint Committee deliberate.
Ordered, That the Joint Committee be
adjourned to Tuesday 19th January at 10.00 am.
DIE MARTIS, 19 JANUARII 1999
Present:
Lord Archer of Sandwell
Lord Merlyn-Rees
Lord Wigoder
Mr Joe Benton
Sir Patrick Cormack
Mr Bill Michie
Mrs Ann Taylor
Mr Paul Tyler
Mr Alan Williams
Lord Nicholls of Birkenhead, in the Chair.
The Order of Adjournment is read.
The proceedings of Tuesday 12th January are
read.
The Joint Committee deliberate.
Ordered, That the Joint Committee be
adjourned to Tuesday 26th January at 10.00 am.
DIE MARTIS, 26 JANUARII 1999
Present:
Lord Archer of Sandwell
Lord Mayhew of Twysden
Lord Merlyn-Rees
Lord Waddington
Lord Wigoder
Sir Patrick Cormack
Mr Bill Michie
Mrs Ann Taylor
Mr Paul Tyler
Mr Alan Williams
Lord Nicholls of Birkenhead, in the Chair.
The Order of Adjournment is read.
The proceedings of Tuesday 19th January are
read.
The Joint Committee deliberate.
Ordered, That the Joint Committee be
adjourned to Tuesday 2nd February at 10.00 am.
DIE MARTIS, 2 FEBRUARII 1999
Present:
Lord Archer of Sandwell
Lord Mayhew of Twysden
Lord Merlyn-Rees
Lord Waddington
Lord Wigoder
Sir Patrick Cormack
Mr Bill Michie
Mrs Ann Taylor
Mr Paul Tyler
Mr Alan Williams
Lord Nicholls of Birkenhead, in the Chair.
The Order of Adjournment is read.
The proceedings of Tuesday 26th January are
read.
The Joint Committee deliberate.
Ordered, That the Joint Committee be
adjourned to Tuesday 16th February at 10.00 am.
DIE MARTIS, 16 FEBRUARII 1999
Present:
Lord Archer of Sandwell
Lord Mayhew of Twysden
Lord Merlyn-Rees
Lord Waddington
Lord Wigoder
Sir Patrick Cormack
Mr Bill Michie
Mrs Ann Taylor
Mr Paul Tyler
Lord Nicholls of Birkenhead, in the Chair.
A draft Report is proposed by the Chairman,
brought up and read.
Ordered, That the draft Report be read
a second time, paragraph by paragraph.
Paragraphs 1 to 208 are read and agreed to.
Paragraph 209 is read, amended (by dividing
it into two paragraphs) and agreed to.
Paragraphs 210-384 (now paragraphs 211-385)
are read and agreed to.
Resolved, That the Report, as amended,
be agreed to.
Ordered, That the Report be the Report
of the Joint Committee to each House.
Ordered, That the Executive Summary and
Summary of Recommendations be added to the Report and printed
together with the Report.
Ordered, That the following papers be
annexed to the Report:
A. Section 13 of the Defamation Act 1996
B. `Proceedings in Parliament': definition
C. Bribery legislation in Australia
D. Law Commission's draft Corruption Bill
E. Sub judice resolutions and practice
F. Relevant provisions from the Contempt
of Court Act 1981
G. Right of reply scheme in the New South
Wales Legislative Council
H. Parliamentary Papers Act 1840.
Ordered, That the memoranda received
by the Committee be appended to the Report.
Ordered, That the Chairman do make the
Report to the House of Lords and Mrs Ann Taylor make the Report
to the House of Commons.
Ordered, That such Reports be laid upon
the Tables of each House on Thursday25th March 1999.
Ordered, That, where the Chairman considers
it appropriate, embargoed copies of the Report may be given to
specific individuals and other persons not more than twenty four
hours in advance of publication.
Ordered, That the Joint Committee be
adjourned.
DIE MARTIS, 23 FEBRUARII 1999
Present:
Lord Archer of Sandwell
Lord Mayhew of Twysden
Lord Merlyn-Rees
Lord Waddington
Lord Wigoder
Sir Patrick Cormack
Mr Bill Michie
Mrs Ann Taylor
Mr Paul Tyler
Mr Alan Williams
Lord Nicholls of Birkenhead, in the Chair.
The Order of Adjournment is read.
The proceedings of Tuesday 16th February are
read.
The Joint Committee deliberate.
Ordered, That the order of 16th February
last relating to the laying of the Reports from the joint committee
to each House be discharged and the Reports be laid upon the Tables
of each House on 30th March 1999.
Ordered, That the Joint Committee be
adjourned.
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