POLITICAL parties were on Monday asked to consider changes to the Powers and Privileges of Parliament Act, the legislation that gives them special protection from defamation claims and arrest. The joint subcommittee on powers and privileges has been meeting in the wake of last month’s appeal court ruling in favour of Pan Africanist Congress MP Patricia de Lille, and Speaker Dr Frene Ginwala’s subsequent call for an urgent review of the legislation. Among the issues they have been asked to consider are whether the freedom of speech they enjoy in the debating chamber should give them the right to defame a member of the public.