House of Lords data dashboard: Peerage creations
This page provides interactive data on the creation of life peerages in the House of Lords.
Documents to download
-
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.
Documents to download
-
Interception of Communications: The Wilson Doctrine (90 KB , PDF)
Related posts
-
-
Executive oversight of the UK constitution: Lords Constitution Committee report
In January 2025 the House of Lords Constitution Committee published a report on the responsibility of the government (the executive) to oversee the constitution. It concluded that the UK’s constitutional arrangements would benefit from several improved safeguards, such as the appointment of a senior minister to advise on constitutional matters and for advisory bodies to be put on a statutory footing.
-
UK-Mauritius treaty on the Chagos Archipelago
The Chagos Archipelago has been the subject of a long-standing dispute over its sovereignty between the UK and Mauritius. Having been retained by the UK since 1965, the largest island, Diego Garcia, later became the site of a joint UK-US military base. In May 2025, the UK reached an agreement to transfer sovereignty of the islands back to Mauritius, while maintaining an initial 99-year lease of Diego Garcia. The agreement also includes security and financial provisions.
