House of Commons supports the Burmese Parliament Research Service
28 July 2016 (updated on 28 July 2016)
The Burmese Parliament (the Hluttaw) has just published an official English language translation of the Hluttaw Research Services’ Key Issues for the new Hluttaw (2016). This is believed to be the first publication of its kind produced by a developing parliament.
The book, first released in Burmese in February 2016, provided all of the 664 Members of the second Hluttaw (498 directly elected by voters, and 166 military appointed personnel) with an impartial, informative overview and analysis of topical political issues facing the country.
The book was written by Hluttaw researchers and it addresses a range of topical and politically sensitive issues, including the constitution amendment debate and the boat migrants issue in 2015.
Oliver Bennett, a research expert from the House of Commons Library seconded to the Hluttaw full-time, provided support and editorial guidance to the Hluttaw in writing and compiling this book.
House of Commons’ Hluttaw strengthening project
The House of Commons’ support to the Hluttaw has been in place for nearly two and a half years. During that time, the Commons Library expert has helped to support the establishment of the Research Services and spent time coaching, mentoring and training researchers in international best practice parliamentary research. This training has above all stressed the need for parliamentary research services to provide impartial, accurate and timely research for Members.
Since the Research Services were established in 2014, more than 60 briefings have been published, and in each successive year more confidential Member enquiries have been answered. In the first session of the second Hluttaw (1 February – 10 June 2016), nearly 600 enquiries in total were answered by the research teams in each of the three Hluttaws – more than were answered in 2014 and 2015 combined. Members of the first Hluttaw welcomed the new research services and the briefings that that were provided.
In addition to the Hluttaw research strengthening project, the House of Commons is also supporting staff development within the Hluttaw committees. Both of these projects are generously funded by the UK Department for International Development.
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