Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Scotland Branch

“Contributing to the Advancement of Parliamentary Democracy”

REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE

COMMITTEE OF THE SCOTLAND BRANCH 2014-15

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About the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Scotland Branch Since its establishment in May 2000, the CPA Scotland Branch (the Branch) has facilitated the needs of Members not only from the Scottish Parliament, but also from other Commonwealth legislatures. The Branch has continued to build on links that have been established over the years and has sought engagement with new partners. The Branch has sought opportunities to add value to links already established between Scotland and other Commonwealth countries. It seeks to implement the work of the Scottish Parliament’s International Strategy and complement work of the Scottish Government and other organisations that promote Scotland and its people on the international stage. The Branch also organises and sponsors international conferences and seminars in the Scottish Parliament and arranges for Members to attend CPA conferences and take part in cross party visits to other legislatures. Further information about the work of the Branch is available via its webpage: www.scottish.parliament.uk/abouttheparliament/12444.aspx

Office-Bearers Presidents: The Rt Hon Tricia Marwick MSP Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament Vice-Presidents: The Rt Hon Nicola Sturgeon MSP (from

October 2014) Rt Hon Alex Salmond MSP (to October 2014) Kezia Dugdale MSP (from February 2014) Johann Lamont (to October 2014) Executive Committee: Patricia Ferguson MSP Margaret Mitchell MSP Tavish Scott MSP Sandra White MSP Secretary: Margaret Neal UK and International Relations Office (UKIRO)

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SCOTLAND BRANCH ANNUAL REPORT 2014-15 Highlights of 2014-15

The Scotland Branch hosted an event in the Scottish Parliament to mark Commonwealth Day 2015. Members of the Branch welcomed 100 guests to observe a Members’ Business debate in the Chamber about the Commonwealth. The guests included approximately 100 young people in the 16-24 age group;

Speakers from four Commonwealth parliaments and assemblies visited;

UK and International Relations Office (UKIRO) arranged 12 inward visits from eight Commonwealth countries to the Scottish Parliament;

17 places were made available for Branch Members to attend nine CPA events outside Scotland;

Women MSPs were selected to attend 70% of places for outward visits.

Introduction 1. Since the last AGM in June 2014, the CPA Scotland Branch Executive

Committee (BEC) has continued to develop a wide-ranging programme of activities which have sought to promote the Scottish Parliament on an international stage. The Branch has also sought to enable Members to develop and build upon links with parliamentarians from across the Commonwealth and maintained established links with civil society organisations with an interest in the Commonwealth.

CPA Scotland Branch President, the Presiding Officer, Rt Hon Tricia Marwick MSP (centre) and Members of the Branch Executive Committee (L to R: Tavish Scott MSP; Sandra White MSP, Presiding Officer; Margaret Mitchell MSP; Patricia Ferguson MSP)

2. The BEC met formally on 12 occasions since the last AGM. This is a 25%

increase in the number of meetings held in 2013-14. Over the report period, it

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supported Members attendance at a range of international conferences, seminars and organised an event in the Parliament in relation to Commonwealth Day.

Inward visits 3. UKIRO arranged 12 inward visits from eight countries across the Commonwealth

during the report period. This is a reduction from 17 visits in the previous year. A full list of these inward visits is attached at Annex A.

4. The main areas of interest for inward delegations were political developments in Scotland; parliamentary processes; and the Scottish independence referendum.

British Islands and Mediterranean Region (BIMR) Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) Conference 5. The BIMR CWP Steering Committee held a conference of women

parliamentarians from within the region to discuss the Role of Parliamentarians in Ending Violence against Women and Girls. The conference was hosted by the CPA Gibraltar Branch. Patricia Ferguson MSP, Cara Hilton MSP and Sandra White MSP attended and reported to the BEC following the conference.

6. Patricia Ferguson MSP, Chairperson of the BIMR CWP Steering Committee, opened the conference. Highlights included a session on Violence Against Women and the Economy where Baroness (Patricia) Scotland and Dr Philippa Olive used experience and research to illustrate the scale of the problem and demonstrate how investing in solutions to tackle violence against women (both prevention and protection) leads to economic savings in the longer-term. The problem has huge economic impacts on criminal justice, health, social welfare budgets and lost economic activity, money which would not need to be spent if the abuse did not occur. The figures were compelling: for every £1 invested there was a predicted £6 longer-term saving. The use of reliable data which could robustly stand up to challenge was emphasised, as was the need for cross-government collaboration.

7. During the session on Protecting Women and Girls against Abuse on Social

Media, the delegation heard enlightening and persuasive presentations on how the proliferation of internet use had brought with it a range of risks for women users. Case-studies were used to illustrate examples of harmful internet usage and content including trolling and revenge porn, both of which can have profound psychological effects on victims. The official conference report can be found at the following link: www.uk-cpa.org/news/bimr-cwp-conference-in-gibraltar/

Commonwealth Week event 8. The theme for Commonwealth Day 2015 was ‘A Young Commonwealth’. The

Commonwealth’s 53 member countries have a combined population of over 2 billion, of which more than 60% are under 30 years of age. The Commonwealth sees young people as assets who should be empowered to realise their potential and contribute fully to national development. Young people have a proven capability to lead change so are a vital and valuable investment for now and the future.

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9. Members of the BEC met with 23 students from Scottish universities for a round table discussion on the topic: Ending Violence Against Women and Girls: Scotland’s Response.

Members of the Branch Executive Committee with students from Scottish universities during the round table discussion to commemorate commonwealth day 2015.

10. A Members’ Business debate took place in the Chamber about the

Commonwealth to which all reception guests were invited to observe from the Public Gallery.

11. Consul Generals and Honorary Consuls from the 13 Commonwealth countries

represented in Scotland were invited to nominate 10 representatives from each of their countries between the ages of 16-24 who are living in Scotland to attend the reception. In addition, the BEC also invited Branch Members and representatives from Scottish universities and other organisations with an interest in the Commonwealth. Belinda Cree from the University of the West of Scotland and Amy McDermott from Stirling University also addressed the guests at a reception which took place in the Garden Lobby.

12. As well as celebrating Commonwealth Day, this event introduced new

communities to the Parliament and provided an opportunity for people who live in Scotland to visit the Parliament and meet with MSPs.

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Margaret Mitchell MSP photographed in the garden lobby with reception

guests

13. The Scotland Branch also sponsored Louise Cameron MSYP and Terri Smith

MSYP to participate in the Commonwealth Day Observance Ceremony and associated events in London. The visit report can be found at the following link: www.scottish.parliament.uk/abouttheparliament/53448.aspx

Outward visits 14. As well as organising programmes for inward visits, Branch Members also

participated in six CPA related outward visits, conferences and seminars this year. A full list of outward visits over the course of the reporting year is detailed in Annex B.

60th CPA Annual Parliamentary Conference (CPC) – Yaoundé Cameroon 15. The CPA holds its annual plenary conferences, usually in October. The devolved

legislatures, all of which have active CPA Branches within the UK, were invited to send one delegate. Tavish Scott MSP represented the Scottish Parliament (see also Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians entry below). The Scottish Parliament was also represented at the Society of Clerks-at-the-Table in Commonwealth Parliaments meeting which runs in parallel with the Plenary Conference.

16. It was noted with sadness that Dr William Shija, Secretary General of the CPA,

sadly passed away in London at the start of the Conference. Dr Shija visited the Scottish Parliament on several occasions and his support will be missed.

17. The theme for the 2014 Conference was: Repositioning the Commonwealth for the Post-2015 Development Agenda. The format for the Conference involved an opening ceremony, regional group meetings, eight themed workshops, two specific plenary sessions and a meeting of the General Assembly of the CPA. In addition a meeting of the CPA International Executive Committee took place as did a small branches conference.

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18. The Conference was attended by around 500 parliamentarians and officials from all nine regions of the Commonwealth. The Conference provided an opportunity for parliamentarians from across the Commonwealth to discuss the strengths and challenges of democratic governance. Further information about the conference can be found at the following link: www.cpahq.org/CPAHQ/cpadocs/2014%20Conference%20Concluding%20Statement.pdf

19. The 61st Commonwealth Plenary Conference will be hosted by the Pakistan

Branch from 3- 8 October 2015. British Isles and Mediterranean Region (BIMR) 20. CPA Branches are grouped geographically into nine Commonwealth Regions for

representation on the CPA International Executive Committee and for the organisation of regional conferences and seminars on parliamentary practice and procedure. The Regions are: Africa; Asia; Australia; British Islands and Mediterranean; Canada; Caribbean; Americas and Atlantic; India; and the Pacific and South-East Asia.

21. There are currently 13 Branches within the BIMR: Alderney, Cyprus, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, Malta, Northern Ireland, Scotland, St Helena, UK and Wales.

22. The CPA Cyprus Branch hosted the BIMR Annual Conference 2015 from 24 to 27 May 2015. The Scotland Branch delegation comprised Patricia Ferguson MSP, Margaret Mitchell MSP and Sandra White MSP and the theme of the conference was: Parliaments in the face of Contemporary Challenges. A visit report will be available on the Scotland Branch’s webpage in due course at the following link: www.scottish.parliament.uk/abouttheparliament/54077.aspx

Members of the Branch Executive Committee, 45th BIMR Annual Conference, Limassol Cyprus, 2015

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Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) Steering Group 23. Patricia Ferguson MSP attended a meeting of the CWP International Steering

Group which took place in Yaoundé Cameroon in October 2015. Ms Ferguson was re-appointed Vice-Chair of the CWP steering group. The visit report can be found at the following link: www.scottish.parliament.uk/POandUKandIRO/60th_Commonwealth_Plenary_Conference-Cameroon.pdf

BIMR Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Steering Committee 24. Ms Ferguson also chairs the BIMR CWP Steering Committee. The Committee is

producing regular newsletters which are circulated to all women Members throughout the region. The Committee has also now established a strategic plan and a website. Further details about the BIMR CWP and the strategic plan can be found at the following link: www.uk-cpa.org/about/cwp/

25. The CWP BIMR's focus will be on working with women across the region to

increase representation of women in parliaments and politics, and connecting women through the Commonwealth network. The steering committee hopes to also link with other groups and associations such as UN Women, United Nations Development Programme and the Commission on the Status of Women.

CPA Parliamentary Seminars, Study Groups and other events 6th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Youth Parliament North West Provincial Legislature of South Africa. 26. Siobhan McMahon MSP attended the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association

Youth Parliament which took place in Mmbatho, South Africa from 2-8 November 2014. This was the first time that young parliamentarians had been included in the Youth Parliament and Ms McMahon acted as a mentor. The event took place in the North West Provincial Legislature. The theme of the conference was “Deepening the Commonwealth’s Commitment to Democracy and Youth Development.”

27. The main objective of the CPA Youth Parliament is to educate participants about

the Commonwealth and to demonstrate how Parliaments are able to make legislation; to debate matters of national and international importance; to demand accountability from those in government; to discuss legislation in committees; and to change government without recourse to civil disorder. A copy of the visit report is available on the CPA Scotland Branch webpage.

Human Rights in the Modern Day Commonwealth 28. In 2015 the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta will be commemorated around the

world. The spirit of Magna Carta has been represented in almost every constitution within the Commonwealth, in the French and US constitutions and in the UN Charter of Human Rights. This anniversary will be marked by a series of commemorative events by the Houses of Parliament at Westminster and in other legislatures across the world. As part of the Westminster celebrations, the CPA

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UK Branch brought together 50 international parliamentarians over three days to discuss the development of human rights in the modern day Commonwealth. Margaret Mitchell MSP and Tavish Scott MSP represented the Scotland Branch at the Human Rights in the Modern Day Commonwealth: “Magna Carta to Commonwealth Charter” on 4-6 February 2015 at the Houses of Parliament.

29. The programme included the practical and social understanding of rights and freedoms, protection of women and girls, female genital mutilation (FGM), the death penalty, equality, LGBT rights, freedom of speech and a free press, terrorism and the right to a fair trial. The visit report which covers attendance at the CPC can be found at the following link: www.scottish.parliament.uk/POandUKandIRO/magna_Carta.pdf

26th Commonwealth Parliamentary Seminar, Dhaka, Bangladesh 30. Margaret McCulloch MSP attended the 26th Commonwealth Parliamentary

Seminar from 17-22 May 2015 which was hosted by the CPA Bangladesh Branch in Dhaka. This seminar was designed to be an intensive learning exercise in parliamentary matters. The seminar theme was Strengthening Parliamentary Democracy and the focus was on developing the skills of parliamentarians. A visit report will be available on the Scotland Branch’s webpage in due course through the following link: www.scottish.parliament.uk/abouttheparliament/54077.aspx

12th Canadian Parliamentary Seminar 31. Anne McTaggart MSP attended the 12th CPA Canadian Parliamentary Seminar in

Ottawa from 24-30 May 2015. The theme of the seminar was Strengthening Democracy and the Role of Parliamentarians: Challenges and Solutions. The CPA Canada Branch and the CPA Secretariat co-host the Canadian Parliamentary Seminar on an annual basis. A visit report will be available on the Scotland Branch webpage in due course, through the following link: www.scottish.parliament.uk/abouttheparliament/54077.aspx. CPA Mentoring Scheme

32. As reported last year, James Dornan MSP and Neil Findlay MSP had been selected to take part in the CPA Mentoring Scheme. This scheme was launched to facilitate collaboration between Commonwealth parliamentarians in order to gain experience, knowledge and a broader perspective on the work of another member of the CPA. Interest in the scheme from other legislatures was not as expected and as a result it was not possible to match the Scotland Branch members. It is unlikely that this activity will be progressed until after the 2016 Scottish Parliament election.

Engagement with the National Assembly of Malawi 33. As reported last year, tripartite elections to the Assembly took place in Malawi in

May 2014. It was therefore considered important that Members of the Scottish Parliament engaged with Malawian Members as soon as possible thereafter to re-kindle existing working relationships and forge new relationships and links. This task was made easier when the CPA Secretariat invited Liam McArthur MSP

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to join its resource team which delivered post-election workshops to the newly elected Assembly Members in June 2014.

34. This was followed by a visit in August 2014 to the Scottish Parliament by the Honourable Speaker, Mr Richard Msowoya MP along with the Acting Clerk of Parliament, Roosevelt Gondwe, to discuss how both institutions could move forward in the future. During that visit, the Speaker set out in discussions with the Presiding Officer and other MSPs those areas of particular importance on which he would like this next phase of the engagement to focus.

35. This year marked the 10th anniversary of CPA Scotland Branch’s engagement with the National Assembly of Malawi. It was therefore fitting that this important milestone should be marked appropriately. Deputy Presiding Officer Elaine Smith MSP led a delegation to Malawi from 7-12 February 2015. The members of the delegation were James Dornan MSP and Liam McArthur MSP along with David McGill, Head of Chamber Office and Reporting and Margaret Neal, Secretary of the CPA Scotland Branch.

36. Although the National Assembly was sitting during the visit the delegation delivered four workshops aimed at strengthening parliamentary democracy to chairs of committees and senior officials.

37. This visit provided an excellent opportunity to reach out across a wide but small

spectrum of individuals and groups within Malawi with very strong links to Scotland and to build on existing links. In addition to delivering these workshops, the delegation attended 19 other meetings and engagements. A visit report will be available on the Scotland Branch’s webpage in due course, through the following link: www.scottish.parliament.uk/abouttheparliament/54077.aspx

Internship Programme 38. The Branch has firmly established an internship programme with the National

Assembly of Malawi. The programme seeks to provide an annual placement, within the Scottish Parliament for two officials from the National Assembly.

39. Kettie Musukwa and Isabel Tambala are spending four weeks at the Scottish Parliament primarily working with clerking teams to the Legislation Team, Chamber Desk, Education and Culture Committee and Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee from 1-26 June 2015 where they will undertake a detailed study into the workings of parliamentary committees, support to committee members and Chamber Office procedures.

40. As well as supporting the interns’ own professional development, the outcomes

from the interns visit, and what they have learned, will be cascaded to colleagues at the National Assembly on their return with the aim of enhancing support to committee clerks and elected members there and provide knowledge about outreach initiatives employed by committees within the Scottish Parliament.

Future Commonwealth engagement and events 41. The 47th BIMR Conference will be held in Jersey. The dates have still to be

confirmed however it is likely to take place in June 2016.

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42. Patricia Ferguson MSP will attend the CWP Steering Group meeting which will

take place in Islamabad during the first week in October 2015.

43. The 61st CPC will take place in Islamabad from 3 to 8 October 2015. The theme of the Conference will be Renewing the Commitment to Pluralism and Inclusive Democracy Within the Commonwealth. More than 500 Parliamentarians and parliamentary officials are expected to attend. It is likely that the Scotland Branch will send one delegate and one observer.

44. The BIMR CWP will organise a conference hosted by Guernsey Branch in

February 2016.

45. The Scotland Branch will hold its first seminar on 23 September 2015. The seminar will highlight how social media is being used as weapon of abuse against individuals.

Branch finances 2014-15 46. The UK and International Relations Office (UKIRO) has responsibility for the

management of the Branch’s cost centre. Costs relating to the annual membership fees of the CPA; the Branch’s attendance at the CPA regional and annual Conferences; visiting CPA parliamentarians expenditure; outward visits by the Branch; and any other activities were charged against this cost centre across the course of the financial year which runs from 1 April to 31 March (therefore the financial years of 2014-15 and 2015-16 straddle the period of this annual report).

47. As the Branch is wholly funded by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB), via UKIRO, the accounts are audited along with the SPCB’s accounts. These are attached at Annex C.

48. This shows that from 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2015 the Branch incurred expenditure of £46,643.

49. UKIRO is responsible for identifying and planning expenditure to be incurred by the Branch and ensuring that sufficient funds are allocated to the cost centre to cover. It should be noted that planned activity with Malawi to organise an interns programme in the final quarter of the 2014-15 financial year did not come to fruition therefore around £5,000 of planned expenditure did not happen.

50. For further information on any aspects of this report, please contact Margaret

Neal, Branch Secretary. Margaret.neal@scottish.parliament.uk

Annex A

Commonwealth inward visits organised by the UK and International Relations

Office: 20 June 2014 to 18 June 2015

Date Country Delegation

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20.08.2014 Malawi Speaker of the National Assembly of Malawi, the Rt Hon Richard Msowoya MP, Roosevelt Gondwe, Acting Clerk of the National Assembly

25.08.2014 Australia Clayton Barr MP, Parliament of New South Wales

10.11.2014 Australia Bridget Noonan, Deputy Clerk, Parliament of Victoria

02.12.2014 Malawi Honourable George T. Chaponda, MP, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Mr Bernard H. Sande, High Commissioner to the United Kingdom,

22.01.2015 Canada James Rajotte MP, Gerald Keddy MP, Ray Boughen MP, Irene Mathyssen MP, Pat Martin MP, Senator Nancy Ruth, Senator Joan Fraser, Elizabeth Kingston, CPA Canada Branch, Chris Chant, Canadian High Commission

29.01.2015 UK Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Mitchell McLaughlin MLA,

29.01.2015 Fiji Speaker of the Parliament of Fiji, the Hon Dr Jiko Luveni MP, Hon Pio Tikoduadua MP, Leader of Government, Hon Ro Teimumu Kepa MP, Leader of the Opposition, Viniana Namosimalua, Secretary General of Parliament, Dyfan Jones, UNDP Pacific Centre, Robert Harper, CPA UK Branch

05.03.2015 New Zealand High Commissioner of New Zealand, His Excellency the Rt Hon Sir Lockwood Smith,

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Honorary Consul Sir Neil McIntosh, Mary Llewellyn-Fowler, New Zealand High Commission

17.03.2015 New Zealand Kerry Scott, Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives, New Zealand

08.04.2015 Australia Deputy Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, Hon Peter Chandler MLA

14.05.2015 Pakistan Asad Qaiser MPA, Speaker of the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

04.06.2015 Cyprus His Excellency Mr Euripides L Evriviades, High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus

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Annex B

Commonwealth outward visits organised by the UK and International Relations

Office: 20 June 2014 to 18 June 2015

Date Reason/Place of Visit Delegation

3-10 October 2014 60th Commonwealth Plenary Conference, Cameroon

Patricia Ferguson MSP, Tavish Scott MSP

2-8 November 2014 The 6th Commonwealth Youth Parliament, North West Provincial Legislature, South Africa

Siobhan McMahon MSP

4-6 February 2015 "Magna Carta to Commonwealth Charter" International Parliamentary Conference, Houses of Parliament, London

Margaret Mitchell MSP, Tavish Scott MSP

6-8 February 2015 BIMR CWP Conference, Gibraltar

Patricia Ferguson MSP, Cara Hilton MSP and Sandra White MSP

5-14 February 2015 Cross party delegation visit to the National Assembly of Malawi

Deputy Presiding Officer Elaine Smith MSP, James Dornan MSP, Liam McArthur MSP

23-26 March 2015 Strategic Plan workshops at the National Assembly of Malawi

Stewart Gilfillan, Assistant Chief Executive

17-21 May 2015 26th CPA Annual Parliamentary Seminar, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Margaret McCulloch MSP

24-27 May 2015 45th BIMR Regional Conference, Limassol, Cyprus

Patricia Ferguson MSP, Sandra White MSP, Margaret Mitchell MSP

24-30 May 2015 12th Canadian Parliamentary Seminar, Ottawa, Canada

Anne McTaggart MSP

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Annex C CPA Scotland Branch accounts for the period 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2015

Date Activity Cost

April 2014 BIMR CWP Conference: refunds +£6,283

June 2014 Guyana parliamentary strengthening: refund of rail travel tickets

+£408

27-30 May 2014 BIMR Conference, Cardiff £498

25-31 May 2014 25th Commonwealth Seminar, Tanzania £3,388

11-13 June 2014 Malawi post-election visit

+£32

1-7 June 2014 11th Canadian CPA Parliamentary Seminar

£1,795

19 June 2014 CPA Scotland Branch AGM £182

5-10 October 2014 CPA Plenary Conference, Cameroon £2,643

2-10 October 2014 BIMR CWP Representative activities £1,912

2-8 November 2014 CPA 6th Youth Parliament £880

30 November 2014 Membership Fees £7,524

30 November 2014 Budget surrender to SPCB £7,000

4-6 February 2015 Magna Carta £1,440

6-8 February 2015 BIMR CWP Gibraltar £1,358

6-13 February 2015 Malawi 10th anniversary and TAP 3 outward visit

£12,992

23-27 March 2015 Malawi TAP3: Strategic Plan outward visit

£2,124

11 March 2015 Commonwealth Day programme £2,799

4-8 May 2015 Canadian staff development programme £1,015

24-27 May 2015 BIMR Annual Conference Cyprus flights £3,018

24-30 May 2015 26th Commonwealth Parliamentary Seminar, Dhaka, Bangladesh

£1,525

1 April 2014 -31 March 2015

Incidentals £19

1 April 2014 -31 March 2015

Hospitality Provision £874

1 April 2014 -31 March 2015

Branch Meetings £380

Total Expenditure £46,643

+ denotes receipts (Money coming into the Branch)