The Office of the Ombudsman has published a new guide, The OIA and parliamentary privilege, in response to questions about the impact of the Parliamentary Privilege Act 2014 on the Official Information Act 1982.

The guide explains that there is no specific ground for withholding information that constitutes parliamentary proceedings just because it constitutes parliamentary proceedings.

The reasons for refusal must be found in sections 6,9 or 18 of the Official Information Act.

The guide also states that the Parliamentary Privilege Act does not prevent the Ombudsman from investigating and reviewing the withholding of information that constitutes parliamentary proceedings under the OIA.