Helping spread democratic practice

Monday, March 30, 2009

Several Chairs and Deputy Chairs of committees in the Council of Representatives of the Parliament of Iraq visited London to study the British parliamentary and political system.

Meg, representing Labour Friends of Iraq (LFIQ), and Tony Baldry MP, representing Conservative Friends of Iraq (CFIQ), jointly hosted a session with them to discuss how the UK Parliament organises oversight of Ministers.

 

They answered various questions from the Iraqi’s, especially on the procedures of how to scrutinise the Government. The Iraqi parliamentarians were keen to learn about how foreign parliaments conduct themselves, and to see what lessons can be drawn as they develop their own institutions and practices. Developing institutions do not have to start entirely from scratch, they can import whatever lessons and customs they feel suits their own needs.