This In Focus provides a briefing on the background and current status of the Wilson Doctrine, which concerns the interception of parliamentarians’ communications.
Interception of Communications: The Wilson Doctrine (90 KB , PDF)
In 1966, the then Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, made a statement in the House of Commons declaring that MPs telephone calls would not be intercepted. He also said that if this policy were to change he would tell the House about it, when it was compatible with national security to do so. Since that time, many governments have stated that they continue to abide by the Wilson Doctrine, as the statement became known, which was also extended in 1997 by then Prime Minister, Tony Blair, to other forms of communication. This In Focus note examines the Wilson Doctrine and the findings of an Investigatory Powers Tribunal in October 2015, which considered its current application.
Interception of Communications: The Wilson Doctrine (90 KB , PDF)
Assessing Scotland’s contribution to the wider UK economy and to UK wellbeing is complex. This article presents information on factors involved in this relationship, including data on the Scottish and UK economies and the effect of devolution on the UK economy as a whole. It also summarises surveys of peoples’ wellbeing in the UK.
This Lords Library briefing sets out how the House of Lords is structured, governed and managed, including joint working with the House of Commons.
On 2 December 2021, the House of Lords is scheduled to hold a short debate on a motion tabled by Lord Sharkey (Liberal Democrat). He will ask the Government what steps it is taking to protect vulnerable people from financial fraud. This article provides information about the various types of fraud committed and the scale of the problem; which groups are more vulnerable to fraud; and what is being done to tackle the crime.
