Commonwealth Parliamentary Association - Isle of Man Branch

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, which was formed in 1911 under the name of the Empire Parliamentary Association, is an Association of Commonwealth parliamentarians who, irrespective of race, religion or culture, are united by community of interest, respect for the rule of law and human rights and freedoms, and the pursuit of the positive ideals of parliamentary democracy. It has as its purpose the promotion of "knowledge and education about the constitutional, legislative, economic, social and cultural systems within a parliamentary democratic framework with particular reference to the countries of the Commonwealth of Nations and to other countries having close historical and parliamentary associations with it". It is composed of branches in legislatures of Commonwealth countries, including state and provincial assemblies as well as national parliaments. Members of each legislature in which a branch is formed are entitled to become members of that branch. Each branch is autonomous and has an equal voice in Association affairs. The governing body (the General Assembly) meets annually at the plenary conference. The management of Association affairs is conducted by an Executive Committee composed of elected officers plus representatives from each of the Association's regions. The Isle of Man branch was formed in 1937.

The Association provides the sole means of regular consultation between members of Commonwealth parliaments. It pursues its objectives by means of annual Commonwealth Parliamentary Conferences, Small Countries Conferences and Regional Conferences, interchange of delegations, organisation of seminars and the production of various publications.

Each year the Isle of Man branch sends two delegates to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (the Plenary Conference) at which parliamentary and political issues are discussed in an effort to improve the way parliaments work and to broaden the understanding of members. The same delegates attend the separate Conference of Members from legislatures serving smaller populations (the Small Countries Conference). In 2008 the Plenary Conference was held in Kuala Lumpur in August. Summary reports of both conferences are published and sent direct to all Heads of Governments within the Commonwealth, Leaders of the Opposition, selected Ministers and relevant international organisations so that the views of Commonwealth members may be reflected.

The branch also sends four delegates each year to the Conference of the British Islands and Mediterranean Region. The Regional Conference is generally held in the spring and was, this year, hosted in May by the Gibraltarian Branch. The member branches of the Region are:

Alderney
Cyprus
Falkland Islands
Gibraltar
Guernsey
Isle of Man
Jersey
Malta
Northern Ireland
St Helena
Scotland
United Kingdom
Wales

The UK branch hosts an annual seminar on parliamentary practice and procedure which has been held at Westminster since 1951. From time to time the branch is invited to send a member to participate in these seminars. The branch also sends members on study visits to other branches and hosts return visits. It welcomes visiting parliamentarians and on request will contact the Secretariat of any member branch which any of our own members intends to visit, whether officially or privately.

The Association also operates the Parliamentary Information and Reference Centre which processes enquiries on political, parliamentary and constitutional matters.

Hon Clare Christian MLC, President of Tynwald (Joint President)
Hon Steve Rodan SHK (Joint President)
Hon Allan Bell MHK, Chief Minister (Vice President)
Hon Juan Watterson MHK (Chairman)
Phil Braidwood MLC
Hon Tim Crookall MHK
Alex Downie MLC
Richard Ronan MHK
Noel Cringle OBE (Associate Member)

Hon Secretary: Mr Roger Phillips
Clerk of Tynwald

Assistant Hon Secretary: Mr Jonathan King
Deputy Clerk of Tynwald