The Deputy Clerk Participates in Public Accounts Committee Workshop at the UK Parliament

The Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly of Seychelles, Ms.  Alexandria Faure, attended the Public Accounts Committee Workshop for Clerks and Officials at the UK Parliament from 5th to the 7th December 2022 in the United Kingdom. Ms. Faure currently serves as Committee Secretary to the Finance & Public Accounts Committee.

 

 

The three-day workshop was organized by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK (CPA UK) and included the participation of delegates from thirty-two states of the Commonwealth – spanning from Africa, Asia-Pacific, the Americas, Caribbean and Europe, as well as the UK overseas territories. The Clerk’s and officials in attendance shared vocational experiences, examined existing parliamentary practices and discussed new approaches to the financial scrutiny work of the Public Accounts Committees (PACs) of the respective national parliaments across the Commonwealth. The sessions were interactive and included a Tour of the Houses of Parliament at the Palace of Westminster, as well as the opportunity to view a live public hearing of the UK PAC, chaired by Dame Meg Hillier. The sessions involved discussions and training on a wide range of parliamentary practices such as the importance of the relationship between the PACs and Supreme Audit Institutions; effectively following up and report writing; the handling of sensitive evidence; communicating the work of the PACs; and parliamentary conduct.

 

 

One of the CPA UK’s core tasks is to build relationships with parliaments across the Commonwealth. This is achieved through a programme of parliamentary strengthening and capacity building activities. Ms. Faure found the sessions to be highly beneficial and looks forward to strengthening connections with colleagues from across the commonwealth, including introducing some approaches and practices to the Finance & Public Accounts Committee of Seychelles.

 

Editor’s notes: CPA UK brings together UK and Commonwealth parliamentarians and officials to share knowledge and experience through peer to peer learning. It aims to improve parliamentary oversight, scrutiny and representation and is located in, and funded by, the UK Parliament.