Delegation Report

DELEGATION REPORT

Introduction

1. The 64th Westminster Seminar on Parliamentary Practice and Procedure took place from November 30 to December 04, 2015 at Houses of Parliament, London. The Seminar is an annual event and is considered the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association’s (CPA) flagship capacity- building programme for first-term parliamentarians and newly appointed procedural and committee Clerks from across the Commonwealth.

2. The aim of the Seminar is to strengthen the knowledge, skills and confidence of first-term Members of Parliament and newly-appointed Clerks in the core aspects of their work of parliamentary practice and procedure within a Westminster framework.

3. The six (6) objectives of the 64th Westminster Seminar were:

Objective 1. To provide an overview of the leadership and administrative functions of Parliaments with the purpose of ensuring good governance.

Objective 2. To promote an understanding of parliamentary practice and procedure with reference to legislating and scrutinising the executive, as well as ethics, standards and accountability.

Objective 3. To clarify the role and responsibilities of parliamentarians in balancing their commitments as either a minister or backbencher, their work in the constituency/community, party discipline and transparency, cross-party relations.

Objective 4. To develop skills and abilities to carry out the work of a parliamentarian/Clerk with specific reference to committee work, parliamentary questions, engagement with the public, media and other stakeholders.

Objective 5. To explore the several sources of information and advice available to Members/Clerks.

Objective 6. To provide an opportunity for the first-term parliamentarians and newly appointed Clerks to network with their counterparts from across the Commonwealth.

Parliamentary Delegation

4. The delegation to the 64th Westminster Seminar on Parliamentary Practice and Procedure comprised: . Hon. Dr. Lovell Francis, MP, Minister of State in the Ministry of Education and Leader of the delegation; . Mrs. Glenda Jennings-Smith, MP; and . Ms. Sheranne Samuel, Procedural Clerk Assistant, and Secretary to the delegation.

5. The delegation departed Trinidad and Tobago on Saturday November 28, 2015 and arrived in London on Sunday November 29, 2015.

6. The delegation departed London on Sunday December 06, 2015.

7. The programme of activities is provided in Appendix A.

{Day 1}

Tour of Houses of Parliament

8. Prior to the start of the Westminster Seminar, there was an opportunity for delegates to go on a tour of the Houses of Parliament. It was an official tour conducted by a professional tour guide, covering the official line of route including both Chambers of the House. The Tour was attended by Ms. Sheranne Samuel, Procedural Clerk Assistant.

Welcome and Introductions. Overview of the Seminar Programme

9. The 64th Westminster Seminar on Parliamentary Practice and Procedure was opened with a welcome from CPA UK’s Executive Committee Chair, Ian Liddell-Grainger MP.

Session 1: Introduction to the Westminster System and Key Current Challenges

10. Participants were introduced to the Westminster System of parliamentary democracy, with an exploration of its development and identification of the key challenges that parliamentary institutions now face.

11. Chairing the session, Rt. Hon. David Hanson MP, Shadow Minister for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), highlighted devolution arrangements, reform of parliamentary expenses and dealing with the sheer volume of communications enabled by modern technology as some of the key issues facing Westminster.

12. Lord Lisvane KCB, Member of the House of Lords and former Clerk of the House, gave a brief overview of the development of the modern Westminster System, before outlining some of the specific practical upgrades to its infrastructure urgently needed by Parliament.

13. The last panellist in this session, Charlotte Leslie MP, Parliamentary Private Secretary at the Department for International Development (DFID) and the FCO, briefed participants on the UK’s expenses scandal of 2009 and the impact it has had on the relationship between MPs and their constituents. In her conclusion, she urged her Commonwealth colleagues not to become overly concerned with administration and power structures when there were global issues of huge and wide-reaching significance that parliamentarians must face, not least the ways in which their countries should respond to pressing threats to national and global security.

Hon. Dr. Lovell Francis, MP and Mrs. Glenda Jennings-Smith, MP reviewing the seminar booklet

Session 2: Overview of the Legislative Process

14. The legislative process was explored in the second session, chaired by Tim Loughton MP, – a topic that was further explored in later sessions.

15. Liam Laurence-Smyth, Clerk of Legislation in the House of Commons, gave an overview of the passage of legislation, highlighting the particularities of Westminster’s bicameral system.

16. Jessica De Mounteney, Senior Parliamentary Counsel in the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, outlined her office’s role and why it exists in the UK.

17. The discussion highlighted that the level of support to backbench members in regard to legislative advice greatly varies, in different jurisdictions, in particular when it comes to private members’ legislation.

Session 3: Parliamentary Administration, Finance and Governance

18. This session was an opportunity for delegates to compare Parliamentary administration, finance and governance with Nigel Evans MP, Member of CPA UK’s Executive Committee, chairing.

19. David Natzler, Clerk of the House of Commons, opened the session by updating participants on the recent changes to Parliament’s governance. This saw the creation of the post of Director General to sit beneath and work alongside the Clerk of the House. The Director General is broadly responsible for administration and the Clerk of the House is responsible for governance, practice and procedure. However, Mr. Natzler emphasised that this is a new and developing structure, and that the way the Clerk and Director General work together is likely to change incrementally over the coming months.

20. Another particularly prominent theme in this session, and a hugely pressing issue for Westminster, was the restoration and renewal of the ancient Palace of Westminster to make it fit for purpose as a modern Parliament. Ian Ailles, the newly-appointed Director General, outlined the considerations in planning this project, as well as the more general and constant modernisation required for Parliament to keep pace with the ever- changing requirements of its Members and staff and also the general public.

21. Finally, Andrew Makower, Finance Director of the House of Lords, gave an overview of the governance and administration of the UK’s second Chamber, as well as the delineation between the arrangements of the two (2) Houses.

22. The ensuing discussion was focused on the issue of funding of Parliament and whether/how it may affect the independence of the institution.

Session 4: Role of the Speaker

Rt. Hon. John Bercow, MP addresses participants of the 64th Westminster Seminar on Parliamentary Practice and Procedure

23. The Rt. Hon. John Bercow MP, Speaker of the House of Commons, outlined his role, emphasising the importance of impartiality and the appearance of impartiality. He also discussed his work as a champion of Parliament, supporting and developing the role of backbenchers, scrutinising government and promoting the institution to the general public.

24. The Lord Speaker, Rt. Hon. Baroness D’Souza, CMG then gave an overview of the system in the House of Lords, a self-regulating Chamber, where the role of the Speaker was created only ten (10) years ago. She stressed the very different role of the Lord Speaker, which is often not so much focused on order in the Chamber, but rather on promoting and protecting the reputation of the House and trying to inform the wider public not only about what the House does, but how the members of the public can influence the work of its Members.

25. Rt. Hon. Sir Alan Haselhurst MP, a Member of CPA UK’s Executive Committee and its former Chair, chaired the session.

A Conversation – What Gives Parliament its Power?

26. The first day of the programme concluded with an opening lecture at Speaker’s House entitled, ‘What Gives Parliament its Power?´ Chairing, Charles Walker OBE MP, former Chair of the Procedure Committee, envisaged a more powerful, central role for Parliament in democracy, holding the executive to account and having its say in national decision- making.

27. Professor Meg Russell of the Constitution Unit at the University College London explained the perceived distinction between the ‘arena’ Parliament (Westminster System) and the ‘transformative’ Parliament (for example the US Congress). She argued that the UK Parliament does have demonstrable legislative influence and power over the executive through the mechanism of the confidence vote. Prof. Russell described Westminster’s power as ‘the power of exposure, of testing government policy in public.’

28. Sarah Champion MP, Shadow Minister for Preventing Abuse, encouraged her colleagues to recognise Parliament as a theatre with huge visibility and the power to shine a light on issues of national importance. She used examples from her own experience to demonstrate ways in which backbench MPs can influence legislation and policy, in her case, in the critical area of protecting children from abuse.

29. This session was followed by a reception hosted by Ian Liddell-Grainger, MP, Chair, CPA UK Executive, at the Speaker’s House.

{Day 2}

30. MPs and clerks attending the 64th Westminster Seminar separated for a detailed examination of the different roles they play in Parliament.

Members’ Sessions

Session 5A: Role of an MP

31. For this session on the role of an MP, Valerie Vaz MP, outlined the conflicting priorities of constituency, party and parliamentary work. She stressed the importance of time in constituency and meetings with constituents, concluding that ‘at the end of the day we are there to serve the people, and the people put us there to do so.’

32. Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh, MP discussed her work as a Scottish MP, highlighting the differences between the work of Members of the Scottish Parliament, Scotland’s devolved institution, and the MPs who represent Scotland at Westminster. She also stressed the duty of MPs to act as mentors to those seeking to enter Parliament, especially people from under-represented or marginalised groups.

Hon. Dr. Francis, MP contributing during the session on the Role of an MP

Session 6A: Role of the Loyal Opposition

33. The next session, on the concept of the ‘Loyal Opposition,’ was chaired by Stephen Pound, MP who opened the session by reminding participants that simply ‘opposing’ is not enough for the Opposition to fulfil its role; it must present a credible alternative and act as a government-in-waiting.

34. Kirsty Blackman, MP outlined the particular role of the Scottish National Party, which represents part of the UK Parliament in Opposition but forms the government in the Scottish Parliament. The increasing strength of different opposition parties in the UK creates a new dynamic, which highlights issues such as the importance of strengthening co-operation between different opposition parties. She also discussed financing for opposition parties.

35. Rt. Hon. Cheryl Gillan, MP contrasted the life of an opposition MP with that of a government MP, and made the case for effective co-operation between government and opposition parties.

36. Finally, Hon. Patrick Yaw Boamah, MP used his experience as a Kenyan parliamentarian as a case study to explore the way the constitution defines the role of the Opposition.

Session 7A: Business of the House

37. In a session on the Business of the House, chaired by Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall, Rt Hon. Chris Grayling, MP outlined how he, as Leader of the House of Commons, organises the business of the Chamber. He also gave an overview of his role as a conduit between the government and Members of Parliament.

38. Chris Bryant MP, Shadow Leader of the House of Commons, gave his perspective as the Shadow Leader. He also gave a practical example of the difficulties and traps of organising business in the Labour Minority

Government of the 1970s where divisions would be won or lost by one vote.

39. Finally, David Nuttall, MP discussed the Backbench Business Committee, an innovation to the Westminster System that allows backbenchers a far greater chance of seeing their issues debated in the Chamber.

Session 8A: Party Discipline in Parliament

40. Exploring the role of the Whips’ office in maintaining party discipline, Dame Angela Watkinson, MP emphasised the importance of strong personal relationships and encouraged Whips to take a genuine interest in their parliamentary party.

41. Rt. Hon. Alan Campbell, MP, the Opposition Deputy Chief Whip, outlined the role of the Opposition Whips and the role they play in co-ordinating an Opposition with smaller parties.

42. Finally, Anne Milton, MP, Government Deputy Chief Whip stressed the changing nature of Whips’ work, noting that while her predecessors might have used coercion to ensure their colleagues toed the party line, the role has now become more pastoral and involves an equal amount of support for party MPs and ensuring party discipline.

43. All speakers stressed the importance of effective communication between the government and opposition Whips’ offices.

Session 9A: Legislative Process: Pre-legislative Scrutiny and Committee Stage

44. The afternoon began with a session on pre-legislative scrutiny. Rt. Hon. Caroline Spelman, MP used her experience on the Draft Modern Slavery Bill Joint Committee as a case study to demonstrate how beneficial pre- legislative scrutiny in Committee can be, especially in the case of important legislation. The main aim of pre-legislative scrutiny is to allow more time

for the scrutiny of a Bill, as well as to provide more space for inter-party co-operation. For instance, the Committee’s wide-reaching consultation on the draft Modern Slavery Bill led to the inclusion of a provision on businesses’ responsibility for their supply chains.

45. David Lloyd, Head of the House of Commons Scrutiny Unit, then outlined his office’s role and the way in which it supports Members. He stated that scrutiny is part of the role of the committee but its particular focus is on drafting Bills, providing legal expertise and supporting departmental committees.

46. The Q&A segment showed a wide divergence in practice among participants’ Parliaments, with Brett Hudson MP of New Zealand pointing out that New Zealand subjects all its draft legislation to pre-legislative scrutiny.

Session 10A: Legislative Process: Amending Legislation

47. The penultimate session of the day further considered the legislative process, specifically amending legislation. Hon. Antoine Borg, MP of the Parliament of Malta chaired the session, and opened by outlining some of the major legislative developments in Malta in recent years – e.g. legalising abortion and divorce and creating civil partnerships.

48. David Slater, the Clerk of the Environmental Audit Committee and former Public Bill Office Clerk, gave participants a detailed outline of the processes for amending legislation through Bill Committees.

49. Dr Louise Thompson, a Lecturer in British Politics at the University of Surrey, then considered how effective Bill Committees are at influencing and amending legislation. She suggested that while amendments themselves might not always be successful, they often influence subsequent amendments by the government itself, and so achieve the desired change in the proposed Bill.

50. Dr Thompson also discussed the role of a Bill Committee Chair, which is very different to that of Select (Departmental) Committees. A Bill Committee Chair, appointed from the Panel of Chairs, looks at the tabled amendments in regard to their timing and relevance to the scope of legislation – there are certain levels of discretion to be considered in regard to both aspects.

51. David Slater went on to explain that, as a less political Chamber, the House of Lords has greater success with non-government amendments than the Commons.

Session 11A: Role of a Committee Member

52. Bernard Jenkin, MP chaired the session on Select Committees. He gave participants an overview of recent reforms, such as the election of Committee chairs, which have strengthened the independence and power of Select Committees.

53. Dr Ruth Fox of the Hansard Society analysed the extent of the Society’s power and effectiveness. According to Dr. Fox about 40% of Select Committee reports are accepted by the government and around 30% are implemented over the long-term. She stated that Select Committees are influential, highlighting the influence these committees have on the behaviour of Ministries, who take into account the likely reaction of a Select Committee when formulating a policy.

54. Finally, Iain Wright, MP concluded with the perspective of an Opposition Select Committee Chair. He touched on the increasing practice of Committees working together on an enquiry that falls within both of its remits. His presentation reflected one of the themes of the day, which was that truly effective accountability should not involve opposition for its own sake; Select Committees should assess and advise rather than simply criticise.

Clerks’ Sessions

Clerks in session, CPA Room

Session 5B: Role of the Clerk Select Committees

55. The Clerks began the day with sessions on the role of the Select Committee Clerk, with Andrew Kennon, Principal Clerk of Select Committees of the House of Commons.

Session 6B: Role of the Clerk: Legislation

56. Mathew Hamlyn of the Private and Public Bill Office and Christine Salmon Percival, Deputy Head of the House of Lords’ Legislation Office, discussed the process of legislation going through both Houses and the role of the Clerk in the “ping-pong” process.

Session 7B: Role of the Clerk: Procedure

57. This session focused on the clerk’s responsibility for ensuring correct procedure in the Chamber. Paul Evans, Clerk of the Journals at the House of Commons, led this session’s in-depth discussion on precedent and standing orders.

Session 8B: Member/Clerk Relations

58. A frank and constructive discussion on Member-Clerk relations followed, led by Dr Lynn Gardner, Clerk of the Committee on Standards and Committee on Privileges, and Richard Ward, the new Clerk of the Education Select Committee.

Session 9B: Legal Services and the Speaker’s Counsel

59. Michael Carpenter, Speaker’s Counsel in the House of Commons, led a session on legal services available in Westminster and the role of the Speaker’s Counsel.

Session 10B: Standing Orders

60. This session explored Standing Orders and other procedural guidance available with Martyn Atkins, the Clerk of the Procedure Committee.

{Day 3}

Session 12: Giving MPs a Voice: Private Members’ Legislation, Adjournment Debates, Parliamentary Questions and Motions

61. In the morning’s first session, Andrew Stephenson, MP opened the discussion on the ways MPs can raise issues on behalf of their constituents and any causes they support. He used examples from his personal experience to frame an exploration of parliamentary questions (PQs), adjournment, backbench business debates, Early Day Motions and Private Members’ Legislation. In particular, he emphasised the importance of persistence – for example, in order to seek government support for a mill in his constituency, he raised it during numerous oral PQ sessions over the course of months, until in his words the government responded in order to ‘get him to shut up’!

62. Fergus Reid, the Clerk of Private Members’ Bills, gave an overview of Private Members’ legislation, the process for achieving it and the effectiveness of the mechanism. He used footage from the documentary

“Inside the Commons” to illustrate the possibility of a Private Member’s Bill succeeding in the face of government opposition.

63. Finally, Mike Hennessy, Table Office Clerk and Clerk to the Backbench Business Committee, outlined the difference between oral and written PQs. He also briefed participants on the innovation caused by the Backbench Business Committee, which, since its establishment in 2010, has given backbenchers time for debate. This sentiment sparked debate between himself and Fergus Reid who did not believe that backbench debates give much real influence to Members.

Session 13: Holding the Prime Minister to Account – Prime Minister’s Questions

64. This session, on holding the Prime Minister to account, involved a briefing on Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) from Graham Stringer, MP and a screening of the last week’s PMQs. The PMQs carded for Wednesday 02, 2015 was cancelled due to the urgent debate on the UK’s response to the crisis in Syria, part of which was screened for participants to observe over lunch.

Session 14: The Accountable Parliament: Parliamentary Ethics and Standards

65. This session involved an exploration of parliamentary ethics and standards. Rt. Hon. Sir Kevin Barron MP, the Chair of the Standards and Privileges Committees, set the scene by exploring some of the reputational issues the UK Parliament has suffered in recent years and how these have led to reform. In his view, the reform had not been as positive as it might have been, but the benefits of an independent authority were clear.

66. Eve Samson, former Clerk of the Standards and Privileges Committees and now of the European Scrutiny Committee, began by considering to whom Parliament should be accountable. MPs are accountable to the electorate and their party’s ‘selectorate’. The Parliament through the Committees on

Standards and Privileges and links with the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards has authority over the ethics of MPs.

67. Ms. Samson explained the recent separation of the Committees on Standards from that on Privileges; this was done to enable lay members to sit on the Standards Committee, while MPs retained the ability to decide their own privileges.

68. Gwen Harrisson, from the Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, then outlined the role of the Parliamentary Commissioner, notably: • Maintaining the four (4) registers, most notably the Register of Members’ Interests; • Maintaining the Code of Conduct, which regulates MPs’ parliamentary and public life (not personal); and • Investigating complaints. 69. Lord Bew, Chair of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, explained the function of this non-departmental government body, whose purpose is to advise the Prime Minister on questions of standards and ethics.

Session 15: Dispersing Sovereignty: Devolution and Localised Governance

70. Patrick Grady MP, the SNP’s spokesperson for International Development, opened a session on devolution by bringing participants up to speed on how Scotland’s devolution arrangements have evolved in recent years. He also briefly covered recent moves towards ‘EVEL’ or English Votes for English Laws, and the many different local, regional, national and European elections in which UK citizens vote.

71. Lord Purvis of Tweed, Liberal Democrat and Spokesperson for Energy & Climate Change and a former Member of the Scottish Parliament, went into detail on specific devolved powers and the very different arrangements currently in place in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

72. Meka Whaitiri, MP gave an overview of New Zealand’s political arrangements as a case study for the way in which the self-determination of minority groups or indigenous populations can be guaranteed.

Session 16: Knowledge is Power: Parliamentary Research and Information Services

Mrs. Glenda Jennings-Smith, MP raising a point during the session

73. The final session of the day looked at the research and information services available to parliamentarians. Penny Young, Librarian and Director General of the Department of Information Services, discussed the services available from the House of Commons Library and research departments, and explored the future of library services in a world of information, easily available via the internet.

74. Dr Chandrika Nath, Deputy Director of the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST), explained POST’s work, including the way it supports Committees.

75. Concluding the session, Rollo Hope, Chief of Staff to Sir Gerald Howarth, MP, discussed the ways in which Members’ staff can access information and inform their Member’s work. He used his office’s work on Sir Gerald’s Private Member’s Bill on Defence Expenditure as a case study to illustrate the real impact of effective research support for Members.

76. At the close of the day’s programme a reception was hosted by the Clerk of the House, at his residence.

Delegation with Hon. Marco Archer MP, Cayman Islands at a reception hosted by the Clerk of the House

{Day 4}

Visit to the Parliamentary Education Centre

77. This was an optional session to give delegates an opportunity to visit the new Parliamentary Education Centre, which was opened in 2015. Parliament’s Education Service aims to inform, engage and empower young people to understand, and get involved in Parliament, politics and democracy. It is visited year-round by schools across the UK at no charge, and aims to allow one (1) million school children to visit over the next decade. The new Education centre combines modern technology with education information in order to engage young audiences. Sheranne Samuel, Procedural Clerk Assistant took part in this visit.

Session 17: Parliament in the Age of Modern Democracy: Education and Outreach

78. Chloe Smith, MP opened the day’s main programme with a session on parliamentary education and outreach. She stressed the importance of reaching out to engage with the next generation of voters to build their trust in Parliament: ‘Parliament must be where the people are.’

79. Louise Palmer, representing the Parliamentary Education Centre, then described the Centre and the educational content that visiting children experience. Children can participate in mock debates in rooms that replicate the House of Commons and Lords Chambers, and also watch a 3-D video depicting the history of democracy in the UK. Ms. Palmer also outlined the resources the Parliament makes available to schools.

80. Meg Hillier, MP gave an overview of the findings of the Speaker’s Commission on Digital Democracy. One of the key findings of the Commission was the importance of open data, to make Parliament’s information fully interactive and digital. Its most controversial finding was that by 2020 the UK should have secure online voting. She also acknowledged the challenges MPs face in using digital communications

without being overwhelmed, as well as keeping up with developments in technology.

Session 18: A Parliament for All: Ensuring Equality and Good Working Environment

81. In the next session, discussing equality and a good working environment, Baroness Barker opened with an overview of the development of workplace equality in the UK in the past decades. She concluded with a reminder of the dual economic and moral cases for equality and diversity: ‘discrimination costs business, and in a parliament it means that you don’t represent your country.’

82. Professor Sarah Childs, a gender specialist from the University of Bristol, explored the ways in which Parliament has improved its accessibility to women as MPs and staff – from practical developments such as the crèche, to more political ones such as the establishment of the Women & Equalities Select Committee. Prof. Childs also outlined her ongoing study at Parliament, after which she plans to make recommendations for packages of reform and innovation which will bring Westminster closer to the IPU standard of the ‘gender-sensitive Parliament.’

83. Ann Moghaddami, Chair of ParliAble (Parliament’s disability workplace equality network), discussed ways in which Parliament has been made to be more accessible and inclusive as a workplace. She outlined the Diversity and Inclusion Scheme and the way it is mainstreamed. Ms. Moghaddami also explored the work of Parliament’s workplace equality networks for disability, gender, sexuality and race, ethnicity and cultural heritage.

Session 19: Working Parliament – Observing UK Parliament in Action

84. This session presented an opportunity for participants to view ‘the working Parliament,’ observing the House of Commons, House of Lords Chambers, Select Committees and Hansard in action.

Session 20: The Role of the Media

85. In a discussion of the role of the media, Diane Abbott, MP gave her view of the importance of a relationship with the media. Parliamentarians and the media share responsibility for scrutinising government and politicians in a working democracy.

86. James Landale, Deputy Political Editor at the BBC, outlined his role as a Lobby journalist, and the importance of a good working relationship with politicians to facilitate a transparent flow of information to the public. He did caution against too cosy a relationship as it can mean that both parties fail in their role of shining a light on misconduct.

87. Hon. Sunjeev Birdi, MP (Kenya) and former journalist, used the relationship between parliamentarians and the media in Kenya as a case study to demonstrate the importance of co-operation and transparency, and in particular the value of investigative journalism in exposing corruption.

88. All three (3) panellists considered the fast-developing world of social media, which they agreed created opportunities as well as challenges in making Parliaments more transparent.

Session 21: Parliament, NGOs and CSOs

89. In the penultimate session of the day, Klara Skrivankova of Anti-Slavery International returned to Rt. Hon. Caroline Spelman MP’s case study of the UK’s Modern Slavery Act to illustrate how civil society and NGOs can support parliamentarians’ work. She encouraged parliamentarians to see NGOs as partners rather than enemies to their work.

90. CPA UK’s Head of Conferences and Projects, Susie Latta, drew on her experience at the Democratic Society, a social enterprise focused on civic participation and new models of governance for her session. The Society has worked on issues of current importance such as devolution and the new constitutional arrangements following the Scottish Referendum. The

Democratic Society sought to work with key MPs and Committees to act as a conduit for citizens’ wishes and opinions.

Closing Plenary: Common Path to Democracy: Commonwealth Oral History Project

91. The main part of the Westminster Seminar concluded with a presentation on the Commonwealth Oral History Project, a unique digital research resource on the oral history of the Commonwealth since 1965. Its presenters, Dr. Sue Onslow and Professor Philip Murphy, used the opportunity to introduce it as a resource to delegates. They also reminded the parliamentarians of the Commonwealth’s long history as a force of progress in the pursuit of its ideals of democracy, human rights, good governance and the rule of law.

{Day 5}

Constituency Visits

92. On the final day of the Seminar, MPs spent the day with London based Members of Parliament in their constituencies. The MPs were divided into various groups, with each group visiting a different constituency. The Constituency Day programme, gave Members a unique insight into the workings of a Constituency Office and an opportunity to discuss how a Member manages the concerns of constituents alongside parliamentary duties. (See Appendix B)

93. Dr. Francis visited the Brentford and Isleworth Constituency. The visit was an interesting one. The MPs visited a school in the District of Hounslow, which went from being one of the worst rated in London to one of the best rated by getting the parents and community involved. The group of MPs also met with the Hounslow Chamber of Commerce to discuss the importance of entrepreneurship, apprenticeship and education. The visit ended with lunch with the two (2) MPs whose constituencies make up the area.

94. Mrs. Glenda Jennings-Smith, MP visited the constituency of Wimbledon along with MPs from Australia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, British Virgin Islands, Kenya, Pakistan and Selangor, Malaysia. The group met with Mr. Stephen Hammond, MP for the constituency of Wimbledon at his residence where he conducts "surgeries" with his constituents on a regular basis. He is assisted by his wife and an office assistant. Mr. Hammond admitted that most of the complaints and requests he received came via e-mail and social media. On his end, he keeps his constituents abreast of government’s plans and achievements through bulletins.

95. Mr. Stephen Hammond, MP highlighted some of his priorities for his constituents:- . To ensure the economic recovery benefits all, with more jobs and improved living standards; . To create a shared local vision to protect what is best and to deliver a better quality of life for residents and businesses; and . To deliver local transport upgrades and solicit information for possible upgrades.

96. It was observed that strong ties exist between the MP and his community, church, Chamber of Commerce as well as a rapport with the local business people. Regular discussions with these stakeholders keep the Member in touch of issues affecting his constituents and also affords him real time feedback. This helps in decision-making as well as setting priorities.

97. The visit ended with a tour to Wimbledon Tennis ground and a short meeting with the Chamber of Commerce at a coffee shop.

MPs on tour of Wimbledon, among them Mrs. Glenda Jennings-Smith, MP

Workshop: Effective Communication

98. The session on effective communication was facilitated by Kate Faragher, a Communications Coach and Consultant with BeSpoke Skills and focused on building trust with Members and improving communication with MPs.

Workshop: Effective Committee Reporting and Recommendations

99. Chris Shaw, Clerk of Business, Innovation and Skills Committee, House of Commons, discussed the key ingredients of a good report. Ways of recognising stakeholder input was also discussed. The use of infographics and making reports social media friendly was highlighted. Generally, it was agreed that shorter reports are preferred.

100. The House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee’s Report on the ‘The Extension of Offensive British Military Operations to Syria’ was used as an example in this session.

Discussion: What Makes for an Effective Committee?

101. This session was facilitated by David Lloyd, Head of the Scrutiny Unit. This Unit provides legal and other assistance to Select Committees in the UK Parliament.

102. Mr. Lloyd noted that a Committee works best when there is consensus. It is also important for a Committee to have a clear idea of what it wants to achieve and establish a work plan. He insisted that writing effective reports is crucial but it is also necessary to be persistent and follow the progress of reports.

Q&A Session and Highlights from the Week

103. This session was facilitated by Crispin Poyser, Clerk Overseas Office, House of Commons, Simon Burton, Reading Clerk, House of Lords, John Benger, Clerk Assistant and Director General Department of Chamber and

Committee Services, House of Commons and Liam Laurence Smyth, Clerk of Legislation, House of Commons.

104. Clerks highlighted key points that stood out to them over the past week. Among these were Points of Order, delegated legislation and use of social media.

105. Mr. Smith also sought the feedback on a possible Westminster Summer School to train persons in parliamentary practice and procedure. The target group will be mid-career Clerks about to take up leadership roles. The suggested length of the Summer School is two (2) weeks.

Hon. Dr. Lovell Francis, MP Head of Delegation

December 11, 2015

Appendix A

Appendix B