Speaker addresses Waikato University
9 August 2013 (updated on 9 August 2013)
On Thursday, as part of an official visit to New Zealand, the Speaker of the House of Commons, Rt Hon John Bercow MP, delivered a speech entitled "Parliaments of the Future" at Waikato University, Hamilton.
In the speech, Mr Speaker spoke about technological developments and their potential impact on elections and political representation. The Speaker referred to the increased use of Urgent Questions in the House of Commons and spoke of how ‘the three enduring functions of a Parliament’ – representation, scrutiny and legislation – might be fulfilled by the Parliaments of the future.
Mr Speaker’s speech in New Zealand: Parliaments of the Future
Mr Speaker was visiting the New Zealand Parliament at the invitation of the Right Honourable David Carter, Speaker of the House of Representatives. As part of the visit, Speaker Bercow spent time in Wellington observing question time and Parliament in session and also met with New Zealand MPs to discuss how they scrutinise Government and hold the executive to account. On the visit, Mr Speaker also met with Tonga, Samoa and Cook Islands Speakers.