The Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly Ms. Alexandria Faure participated in a selective study programme offered by the Interparliamentary Relations Office (IPRO) of the UK Parliament. This programme began in January 2023 and included online sessions that covered topics such as an introduction to Westminster, logistics of Chamber business, scrutiny in Parliament, engagement & Parliamentary outreach, and UK Parliamentary culture. Organizing this study programme was Mr. David Hirst, Ms. Karen Georgiou, and Ms. Lisa Stead. Participants, while limited, attended from a variety of countries such as Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Kenya, Anguilla, Japan, the Netherlands, and of course Seychelles.
The study programme culminated in a five-day visit to Westminster, from Monday 26th June to Friday 30th June 2023, where all eight participating senior parliamentary officials were given an opportunity to establish professional links, discuss and exchange valuable information, and tour both Houses of the UK Parliament. An exclusive and notable moment of the visit was the meeting of the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Rt. Hon. Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP. Other key moments included meeting the Serjeant at Arms Mr. Ugbana Oyet, observing the Speaker’s Procession into the Chamber of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, observing the Prime Minister’s Questions from the Public Gallery. Including observing a session of the House Lords from the Public Gallery, tour of the restoration and renewal projects being undertaken within the Palace of Westminster, amongst many other informative and educational sessions undertaken throughout the five-day period.
The programme concluded with a seminar in which each participant gave a brief presentation on a topic of their choice. Educational programmes and information exchanges such as this are crucial for parliaments all over the world to effectively carry out their duties. They enable staff and officials to stay updated on legislative developments, policy initiatives, and best practices, while also offering a sense of empowerment to parliamentary staff to continually provide a high standard of service and to foster transparent, accountable parliamentary processes.
