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Commonwealth Parliamentary Association

Events

Report on the opening ceremony

Scottish Parliament to host Commonwealth parliamentarians

26 October 2007

Parliamentarians from Commonwealth nations and regions ranging from Norfolk Island to the Punjab will debate ways to strengthen parliamentary democracy in the Commonwealth, at an event at the Scottish Parliament next week.

Thirty-four parliamentarians will take part in the 19th Commonwealth Parliamentary Seminar, which runs from Monday 29 October until Friday 2 November.

The seminar will provide delegates with the opportunity to debate the following key issues:

• The relationship between parliament and the people: parliamentary ethics, transparency and accountability;

• The right to information;

• Financial scrutiny of the executive;

• The role of parliamentary committees and the committee system;

• The relationship between parliament, the executive and the public service.

The Scottish Parliament’s Presiding Officer Alex Fergusson MSP will welcome visiting parliamentarians at an opening ceremony on Monday.

Mr Fergusson said:

"The aim of the CPA seminar is to strengthen parliamentary democracy and good governance across the Commonwealth, so that our parliaments may more effectively represent the people we serve.

"Parliamentarians, including our own, will make the most of this opportunity to exchange, and benefit from, the achievements and best practice of other parliaments and assemblies.”

The seminar will host delegates from a diverse range of parliamentary backgrounds. Sardar Shaukat Hussain Mazari MPA, who is Deputy Speaker of the Punjab Provincial Assembly in Pakistan, will be taking part.

Another attendee is the Hon Anthony D Leo MLC, a Member of the St Helena Legislative Council, who will make the long journey to Edinburgh from the small South Atlantic Island.

The 34 parliamentarians come from national and regional parliaments, assemblies and senates in Ghana, Namibia, Zambia, South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, India, Australia, Norfolk Island, St Helena, Canada, the Caribbean islands, Malaysia, Singapore and from Scotland and elsewhere in the British Isles.

Two members of the Scottish Parliament are attending the seminar as members of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Scotland Branch. These are Ian McKee MSP and Hugh O’Donnell MSP.

The seminar is being organised by the CPA Scotland Branch in coordination with CPA Secretariat in London.

More information about the CPA and the 19th Commonwealth Parliamentary Seminar can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msp/cpa/index.htm

Photography

Photographs will be available of the opening ceremony by contacting Andrew Cowan on 0131 348 6269 or andrew.cowan@scottish.parliament.uk.

Webcasting

The opening ceremony, which will take place from 9.15am until 10.15am on Monday 29 October will be webcast on http://www.holyrood.tv/.

For further information, the Scottish Parliament media contact is:

Kallon Basham: 0131 348 6088
RNID Type talk calls welcome
Email: kallon.basham@scottish.parliament.uk

For public information enquiries, contact: 0131 348 5000
Text phone: 0845 270 0152 RNID Typetalk calls welcome
email: sp.info@scottish.parliament.uk

Visit our website at: www.scottish.parliament.uk