Burmese Parliamentary officials recognised for House of Commons training

The certificates were presented by Gavin McGillivray, the Head of DFID in Burma, U Kyaw Soe, Director General of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, and Oliver Bennett for the UK House of Commons.
 
In January 2014 the House of Commons agreed to provide a programme on research support in the Hluttaw; this was later broadened to include committee support. The programme is being overseen and delivered by Oliver Bennett, a senior House of Commons Library policy analyst on secondment to the Hluttaw. Since it began, Hluttaw officials have published over 50 Research Briefings, handed out over 9000 copies of these, and answered more than 300 enquiries.
 
The nine research and committee managers who attended a recent trip to the UK to study research and committee management received Certificates of Participation, whilst 37 researchers were given Certificates of Parliamentary Research Induction. Their achievements were also marked by speeches from Gavin McGillivray, U Kyaw Soe and Oliver Bennett.
 
The Rt. Hon John Bercow MP, Speaker of the House of Commons said:

“My warmest congratulations to the research teams, who have built up such an invaluable service. It is a source of great pride that our two Parliaments have worked so closely together on this initiative, and I look forward to following the teams’ progress in the second Hluttaw.”

Thura U Shwe Mann, Speaker of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw said:

“The research briefings that had been produced by the research teams, with the support of the House of Commons, have demonstrated the critical importance of Research Services to the future of the Hluttaw.”

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Chair of the International Donor Coordinating Committee said:

“Timely access to reliable information is an essential requirement for every Parliamentarian. I would like to congratulate the staff of our Hluttaw Research Service on successfully completing their training, and to thank the House of Commons for its continued support to this important initiative.”

 Gavin McGillivray, Head of DFID Burma said:

“We are proud to be able to support the Hluttaw’s endeavours to establish research services, which are crucial to inform effective decision-making in a democracy. Huge congratulations to all my colleagues in the Hluttaws for their hard work.”

House of Commons support to the Burmese Parliament

Lack of information and research advice for MPs was a major challenge identified by the Burmese parliament (Pyidaungsu Hluttaw) after it was established in 2011. To help address this issue the House of Commons, the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, UNDP and the IPU agreed to work in partnership to establish a parliamentary research service along the lines of the House of Commons Library.

The project is funded by the UK Department for International Development.

•         Find out more about the programme
 
Image: Ross Becker