Parliamentary Witnesses Oaths Act, 1871

PARLIAMENTARY WITNESSES OATHS ACT 1871

CHAPTER LXXXIII.

An Act for enabling the House of Commons and any Committee thereof to administer Oaths to Witnesses.[1] [16th August 1881.]

[Preamble.]

Examination of witnesses on oath by the House of Commons and committees of the House.

1. The House of Commons may administer an oath to the witnesses examined at the bar of the said House.

Any committee of the House of Commons may administer an oath to the witnesses examined before such committee.

Any person examined as aforesaid who wilfully gives false evidence shall be liable to the penalties of perjury.

Where any witness to be examined under this Act conscientiously objects to take an oath, he may make his solemn affirmation and declaration in the words following:

“I, A.B., do solemnly, sincerely, and truly affirm and declare “that the taking of any oath is according to my religious belief “unlawful, and I do also solemnly, sincerely, and truly affirm “and declare,” &c.:

any solemn affirmation and declaration so made shall be of the same force and effect, and shall entail the same consequences as an oath taken in the usual form.

Any oath or affirmation under this Act may be administered by the Speaker of the House of Commons, or by such person or persons as may from time to time be appointed for that purpose either by him or by any Standing Order or other Order of the said House.

[S. 2 rep. 46 & 47 Vict. c. 39. (S.L.R.)]

As to additional power or privilege of House of Commons.

3. Nothing in this Act contained shall be held to confer any additional or further power or privilege on the Commons House of Parliament with reference to impeachment or other criminal jurisdiction or otherwise howsoever than is herein expressly enacted.

Short title.

4. This Act may be cited as “The Parliamentary Witnesses Oaths Act, 1871.”

[1 Short title, “The Parliamentary Witnesses Oaths Act, 1871.” See s. 4.]