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Committee of Privileges

Commons Select Committee

The Committee of Privileges is appointed to consider specific matters relating to privileges referred to it by the House. The scope of any inquiry comprises all matters relevant to the matter referred.

The Committee of Privileges currently has two matters referred to it:

On 27 October 2016 the House ordered that “the exercise and enforcement of the powers of the House in relation to select committees and contempts” be referred to the Committee. The Committee’s inquiry is assessing different options for enforcing the House’s powers to summon witnesses and call for production of documents. This includes reviewing the House’s available sanctions in cases of non-compliance by witnesses and other contempts. The Committee published a report making proposals for consultation on 3 May 2021, and published a further report making its final recommendations to the House on 16 June 2022.

On 21 April 2022 the House agreed the following Resolution:

“That this House:

(1) notes that, given the issue of fixed penalty notices by the police in relation to events in 10 Downing Street and the Cabinet Office, assertions the Rt hon Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip has made on the floor of the House about the legality of activities in 10 Downing Street and the Cabinet Office under Covid regulations, including but not limited to the following answers given at Prime Minister’s Questions: 1 December 2021, that “all guidance was followed in No. 10”, Official Report vol. 704, col. 909; 8 December 2021 that “I have been repeatedly assured since these allegations emerged that there was no party and that no Covid rules were broken”, Official Report vol. 705, col. 372; 8 December 2021 that “I am sickened myself and furious about that, but I repeat what I have said to him: I have been repeatedly assured that the rules were not broken”, Official Report vol. 705, col. 372 and 8 December 2021 that “the guidance was followed and the rules were followed at all times”, Official Report vol. 705, col. 379, appear to amount to misleading the House; and

(2) orders that this matter be referred to the Committee of Privileges to consider whether the Rt hon Member’s conduct amounted to a contempt of the House, but that the Committee shall not begin substantive consideration of the matter until the inquiries currently being conducted by the Metropolitan Police have been concluded (referred by the House on 21 April 2022).

The Committee will make an announcement about its handling of this matter in due course.

More background on the purpose of the inquiry can be found by contacting privileges@parliament.uk

Find out more about this committee

These pages only show information for this committee from the start of 2020 onwards. Earlier information can be found on the previous version of the UK Parliament website.

View previous Committee of Privileges website

2 current inquiries

Inquiries allow committees to consider oral and written evidence on a particular topic. They usually result in the publication of a report.

View all inquiries

Boris Johnson (Matter referred on 21 April 2022)

Written evidence:

Deadline 29 July 2022

Opened 29 June 2022

Select Committees and Contempts

On 16 June 2022

Opened 11 May 2019

Latest news

Privileges Committee call for evidence in inquiry into Boris Johnson

The Committee of Privileges issues a call for evidence relating to the matter referred to it by the House on 21 April 2022

Privileges Committee publish further report on select committee powers following consultation

Committee of Privileges sets out revised proposals

Privileges Committee to hear from Members of both Houses on select committee powers

Committee to hear from Members of both Houses on select committee powers

29 November 2021

Latest publications

View all publications

First Report - Select committees and contempts: review of consultation on Committee proposals

Inquiry Select Committees and Contempts

Committees Committee of Privileges

Published 16 June 2022

HC 401

Report

First Report - Select committees and contempts: clarifying and strengthening powers to call for persons, papers and records

Inquiry Select Committees and Contempts

Committees Committee of Privileges

Published 2 May 2021

Report

Contact us

Email: COMMITTEEOFPRIVILEG@parliament.uk
Phone: 020 7219 6615 (general enquiries) / 0207 219 1493 or 07712540141 (Paul Connolly: Media enquiries)