Press Release
29th October 2007

Commonwealth Comes to Holyrood
Parliamentarians from every corner of the globe are converging on Holyrood to debate ways to strengthen parliamentary democracy in the Commonwealth.

34 parliamentarians, from Australia to Zambia, are taking part in the 19^th Commonwealth Parliamentary Seminar, which runs from Monday 29^th October until Friday 2^nd November.

MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, led one of the seminar’s first sessions, introducing the delegates to the political scene in Scotland in the aftermath of May’s elections.

Speaking after the session, Mr McNeil said:

“No matter whether we’re representing people in Greenock or Ghana, politicians should be striving to make sure our parliaments represent the people we serve effectively and efficiently.  The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) therefore aims to strengthen parliamentary democracy and good governance across the Commonwealth.

“The Seminar being held in the Scottish Parliament his week gives us a great opportunity to do this by learning from each other, exchanging ideas and sharing best practice.  I was therefore more than happy to chair a lively introductory discussion on the current political scene in Scotland, during which we heard a variety of views put forward by politicians from across the political spectrum.”

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 session being chaired by Mr McNeil will hear contributions from 3 members of the Executive Committee of the CPA Scotland Branch: Roseanna Cunningham MSP (SNP); Karen Gillon MSP (LAB); Ted Brocklebank MSP (CON).

Each Member will give a 10 minute presentation on their perception of the current political situation, and will respond to questions and points raised by delegates from the floor.

Mr McNeil was asked to chair the session as, having sat for six years on the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body and for four on the Scottish Parliament Bureau – which govern the internal workings and the business programme of the parliament respectively – he has direct experience of how Holyrood has tackled important governance issues in the past.

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 national and regional parliaments, assemblies and senates represented include: Ghana, Namibia, Zambia, South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, India, Australia, Norfolk Island, St Helena, Canada, the Caribbean islands, Malaysia, Singapore, Scotland and elsewhere in the British Isles.
ENDS

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