The Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Stephen Twigg met with a visiting delegation from the CPA Western Cape Branch. The Speaker of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament, Hon. Masizole Mnqasela MPP and the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Beverley Schäfer MPP together with two Members - Hon. Gillion Bosman, MPP and Hon. Nomi Nkondlo, MPP - and officials from the Parliament met with the CPA Secretary-General and staff from the CPA Headquarters during a visit to the UK Parliament.

They discussed the ongoing training opportunities for Members of Parliament and parliamentary staff across the CPA Africa Region as well as the forthcoming 65th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Canada.

The Western Cape delegation were visiting the UK Parliament on a parliamentary exchange mission that also included meeting with Members of the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Senedd in Edinburgh and Cardiff respectively.

The Western Cape delegation were welcomed at the Senedd Cymru by CPA Wales President and Presiding Officer, Rt Hon. Elin Jones MS; Deputy Presiding Officer, Rt Hon. David Rees MS and Director for Senedd Business, Siwan Davies. The Speaker of Western Cape and Presiding Officer of Wales signed a Memorandum of Intention (MoU) between the Western Cape Provincial Parliament and the Senedd Cymru to co-operate, exchange best practice and strengthen relationship between the two institutions.

At the Scottish Parliament, the Western Cape delegation met with the CPA Scotland Branch President and Presiding Officer, Rt Hon. Alison Johnstone MSP as well as Miles Briggs, MSP and Paul McLennan, MSP to discuss petitions and voting systems, risk management, new ways of working and training for Members of Parliament.

Finally, the Speaker of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament and the delegation from the CPA Western Cape Branch were received by the CPA UK Joint Branch President and the Speaker of the UK House of Commons, Rt Hon. Sir Lindsay Hoyle, MP at the Speaker’s House.

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The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association connects, develops, promotes and supports Parliamentarians and their staff to identify benchmarks of good governance and the implementation of the enduring values of the Commonwealth. The CPA is an international community of around 180 Commonwealth Parliaments and Legislatures working together to deepen the Commonwealth’s commitment to the highest standards of democratic governance.

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