ABSTRACT
A breach of privilege is conduct offending against one of the known privileges of Parliament. Contempt is a far wider concept than this and has been defined as:
The main types of contempts dealt with by the House of Commons, with illustrations, are listed by Erskine May as being:
(a) misconduct in the presence of the House or its committees; (b) disobedience to rules or orders of the House or its committees; (c) presenting a forged or falsified document to the House or its committees; (d) misconduct by Members or officers as such; (e) constructive contempts: such as speeches or writing reflecting on the House; wilful
misrepresentation of debates; premature disclosure of committee proceedings of evidence; other ‘indignities’ offered to the House;
(f ) obstructing Members in the discharge of their duty; (g) obstructing officers of the House while in the execution of their duty; (h) obstructing witnesses.
