Parliamentary Budget Vote by The Hon. Mr. Avril Harding MP
2004-06-22. The ID welcomes the appointment of the new secretary to Parliament and his staff well.
As we move from the political decade
to an economic one where emphasis is on delivery and targets to be
achieved, Parliaments oversight role over the executive needs to be
strengthened. The ID welcomes intended initiatives to provide more
research support to committees as part of Parliaments strategic
planning. The ID however feels that more support should be given to
MP's so that they can perform better.
After 10 years of democracy there is a need to review the role and functions of the Committees. This must be done to ensure that Committees meet their Constitutional role of oversight. Departments make presentations and respond to questions but no actual engagement on oversight happens. A new work method as to how Committees operate and interact with Departments must be developed. All these initiatives must be built in to the strategic planning processes of Parliament.
This will assist members to engage more actively with Departments on policy issues and programs. However, more training is required for committee support staff to deliver a more efficient service. In this context, the training and development budget should be expanded in line with the new focus of Parliament.
The Public Participation Unit (PPU) must be commended for its sterling work done in taking Parliament to the communities etc; however we require more interactive programs on NEPAD and the African Union, engaging civil society more on this issue.
The marginal growth in constituency support is insufficient especially for smaller political parties given their small funding base. Infrastructure development at constituency level is expensive, hence the amount of R 40 797 m is inadequate because the cost of infrastructure is the same for all parties irrespective of size.
Similarly with political party support, as a new party with limited resources, amounts allocated are insufficient to properly upkeep core political party functions. Parliament must review the practice of paying allowances to parties on a two monthly basis. The allowances should be paid in full or bi-annually so that parties can derive the benefit of accrued interest. An MP's work is not to just attend meetings of the House or to sit in Committees. Constituency work is a vital part of any MP's work and therefore MP's must be empowered to do a proper job. Making sure that that happens is one of the primary duties of Parliament.
The problem of security at Parliamentary villages and the conditions of some units needs to be drastically revisited. Parliamentary management must work closely with Department of Public Works. Above all else, Parliament must take action against errant MP's who are deliberately breaching their conditions of occupation.
Training of new members needs a more strategic focus which should include budget analysis, general legislative analysis, and methodologies on oversight. Such interventions will empower MP's to participate more meaningful in the reports of the various Departments.
The ID supports involvement of this Parliament in the multi-lateral organisations. Parliament must ensure that representatives to the Pan African Parliament (PAP) understand that they represent the collective of this House and not their individual political parties. We believe that participation by opposition parties in PAP sittings should be on a rotational basis.
I thank you.
A Harding MP
After 10 years of democracy there is a need to review the role and functions of the Committees. This must be done to ensure that Committees meet their Constitutional role of oversight. Departments make presentations and respond to questions but no actual engagement on oversight happens. A new work method as to how Committees operate and interact with Departments must be developed. All these initiatives must be built in to the strategic planning processes of Parliament.
This will assist members to engage more actively with Departments on policy issues and programs. However, more training is required for committee support staff to deliver a more efficient service. In this context, the training and development budget should be expanded in line with the new focus of Parliament.
The Public Participation Unit (PPU) must be commended for its sterling work done in taking Parliament to the communities etc; however we require more interactive programs on NEPAD and the African Union, engaging civil society more on this issue.
The marginal growth in constituency support is insufficient especially for smaller political parties given their small funding base. Infrastructure development at constituency level is expensive, hence the amount of R 40 797 m is inadequate because the cost of infrastructure is the same for all parties irrespective of size.
Similarly with political party support, as a new party with limited resources, amounts allocated are insufficient to properly upkeep core political party functions. Parliament must review the practice of paying allowances to parties on a two monthly basis. The allowances should be paid in full or bi-annually so that parties can derive the benefit of accrued interest. An MP's work is not to just attend meetings of the House or to sit in Committees. Constituency work is a vital part of any MP's work and therefore MP's must be empowered to do a proper job. Making sure that that happens is one of the primary duties of Parliament.
The problem of security at Parliamentary villages and the conditions of some units needs to be drastically revisited. Parliamentary management must work closely with Department of Public Works. Above all else, Parliament must take action against errant MP's who are deliberately breaching their conditions of occupation.
Training of new members needs a more strategic focus which should include budget analysis, general legislative analysis, and methodologies on oversight. Such interventions will empower MP's to participate more meaningful in the reports of the various Departments.
The ID supports involvement of this Parliament in the multi-lateral organisations. Parliament must ensure that representatives to the Pan African Parliament (PAP) understand that they represent the collective of this House and not their individual political parties. We believe that participation by opposition parties in PAP sittings should be on a rotational basis.
I thank you.
A Harding MP
