Commonwealth Parliamentary Association

National Assembly for Wales Branch Executive

Report to the AGM for the Period 1 November 2006 – 31 October 2007

CPA-AGM2007-2

Background

The National Assembly for Wales unanimously agreed a motion signed by the four party leaders to apply for admission to membership of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) on July 7 1999.  Wales was formally welcomed into the CPA at the General Assembly meeting in Trinidad on 19 September 1999.

The Branch Executive meets once a term, on the basis that any other Branch Members who wish to be present are welcome to attend.  An AGM of the whole Branch is held each autumn.

Branch Structure

All Assembly Members

President:  The Rt. Hon the Lord Elis-Thomas PC AM

Vice President: Rosemary Butler AM

Chair: Alun Cairns AM

Vice Chairs:

Jeff Cuthbert AM (Vice John Griffiths AM from 24 October 2007)

Mike German AM

Janet Ryder AM (Vice Elin Jones AM from 24 October 2007)

Secretary:

Claire Clancy (Vice Paul Silk from 12 February 2007)

Chair's Report

The Branch has maintained its position as an active Member of the CPA.  It has sent delegates to conferences and seminars in the UK and overseas.  It has built on the links established with the Parliament of Lesotho and has developed further experience in the provision of parliamentary strengthening programmes.  The Branch has hosted a range of visitors from across the Commonwealth visiting the Assembly.

Activities Undertaken during the Period of the Report:

Caribbean Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, 6-12 January 2007

Supported by the Branch sponsorship scheme, Nick Bourne AM attended the 1^st Caribbean Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference on the island of Trinidad and presented a paper on the ‘Scrutiny and the Role of the Opposition’.

Commonwealth Day, 13 March 2007

Commonwealth Day was celebrated on Tuesday 13 March at the Assembly.  A seminar was held in the Siambr Fach for students from Commonwealth countries studying in Wales.  Over 20 countries were represented on the day with students coming from Aberystwyth, Bangor and south Wales universities to make presentations on the Commonwealth Day theme for 2007 ‘Respecting Difference: Promoting Understanding’.   At the invitation of the CPA Headquarters Secretariat the Branch also sent two young people from Wales to attend the Commonwealth Day Observance in London.

British Isles and Mediterranean Region Conference, 14-17 May 2007

Rosemary Butler AM, Branch Vice President represented the Assembly at the British Isles and Mediterranean Region Conference hosted by the Northern Ireland Assembly in Stormont.

Royal Opening of the Senedd, 4 June 2007

Invitations were extended to Presidents of the Branches of the British Isles and Mediterranean Region of the CPA.  The Isle of Man, Northern Ireland and Scotland Branches were all represented at the ceremony.

Parliamentary Seminar Inward Visit, 19 July 2007

The Branch hosted an inward visit to the Assembly by a delegation of some 35 parliamentarians attending a Parliamentary Seminar hosted by the CPA UK Branch at the Palace of Westminster.  The Wales Branch provided a cross-party panel of Assembly Members to provide delegates with an introduction to Wales and Welsh politics and hosted a lunchtime reception attended by both the Presiding Officer and the First Minister.

53^rd Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, 21-30 September 2007

The Deputy Presiding Officer led a delegation that also included Alun Cairns AM and Mohammad Asghar AM to attend the 53^rd Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in New Delhi from 21-30 September.

Parliamentary Strengthening in Lesotho, 29 September – 6 October 2007

Mike German AM supported by Committee Clerk John Grimes delivered a two day committee skills training seminar in Maseru for the Chairs and Clerks of the National Assembly’s five new portfolio committees.  The seminar also provided an opportunity to report back on the progress of education and health links between Wales and Lesotho.  

Commonwealth Parliamentary Seminar, Edinburgh, 28 October – 3 November 2007

The Deputy Presiding Officer attended a Commonwealth Parliamentary Seminar hosted by the Scottish Parliament and chaired a workshop on ‘Access to Information’.

Miscellaneous Commonwealth Visitors to the Senedd

The Branch provided Members to assist in the provision of programmes for Commonwealth visitors to the Assembly:

• High Commissioner of Lesotho, 30 November 2006
• Uganda Parliament, 5 December 2006
• Tanzanian Government, 24 January 2007
• Speaker of St Helena Legislative Council, 10 May 2007
• Kwa Zulu Natal Provincial Legislature, 24 May 2007
• Parliament of Western Australia,  31 May 2007
• Sri Lankan Parliament, 2 July 2007
• Nova Scotia Provincial Legislature, 13  July 2007

Developments:

Change of Secretary

Claire Clancy took over as Branch Secretary from Paul Silk on her appointment as Chief Executive and Clerk to the Assembly on 12 February 2007.

Change of Branch Vice President

Rosemary Butler AM took on the Ex Officio appointment of Branch Vice President on her appointment as Deputy Presiding Officer.

Change of Branch Executive Vice Chairs

Janet Ryder AM and Jeff Cuthbert AM took over Executive Committee responsibilities from Elin Jones AM and John Griffiths AM at the 24 October meeting of the Branch Executive.  This was the first meeting of the Branch Executive after the appointment of Elin and John to Ministerial positions.

Branch Representation on CPA Executive Committee

The Branch took over responsibility for fielding a British Isles and Mediterranean Region representative to the CPA Executive Committee.  Alun Cairns AM was nominated to provide the representative in his role as Branch Chair.

Forward Look:

Branch Sponsorship Scheme, (0ngoing)

Members are reminded of the availability of this scheme and encouraged to look for opportunities to apply for support for study visits to other Commonwealth Parliaments and Assemblies.

Climate Change Seminar, 27-30 November 2007

Darren Millar AM will represent the Branch at a seminar on Climate Change at the Westminster Parliament hosted by the CPA UK Branch.

British Isles and Mediterranean Region Conference. 12-15 May 2008

The Gibraltar Branch of the CPA will host the 39^th BIMR Conference

Commonwealth Day, 11 March 2008

Commonwealth Day will be celebrated at the Senedd.

Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, September 2008

.The 54^th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in September 2008.