Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger (Bridgwater and West Somerset) (Con)

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I beg to move,

That leave be given to bring in a Bill to provide for corporate status of and for certain privileges and immunities to be accorded to the international inter-parliamentary organisation of national and sub-national legislatures of Commonwealth countries known as the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and to its Secretary-General; and for connected purposes.

I declare an interest as chairman of the UK branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and as international vice-chairman and acting chairman.

I have been a Member of this House for 21 years. In all that time I cannot recall many ten-minute rule Bills ever becoming law, but I sincerely hope that this one will be different, and for several very good reasons. For a start, the Bill would cost the taxpayer absolutely nothing. In fact, it would probably save public money because the CPA and its London-based international operations already cost very little to run, as Mr Speaker knows.

The contributions of every participating Commonwealth Parliament keep the wheels turning. All 180 branches across the globe chip in with subscriptions that help to finance the work we do, and this work is of the utmost importance as it promotes parliamentary democracy—that is rather what we have just been talking about—and good governance. The motive is to improve the way decisions are taken throughout the Commonwealth.

The CPA runs an extensive range of programmes and activities. We run online courses, workshops, webinars and conferences, as well as publications, toolkits and handbooks. Our values are Commonwealth-centred and seek to uphold the highest principles that the Commonwealth promotes. We are here to mentor and to teach. We offer world-class research and library facilities, and our ethos is to improve and nurture proper understanding of the way things can be done within a parliamentary system.

We are in business to build a wide-ranging perception of parliamentary democracy that recognises every national context and is totally non-partisan and non-exclusive. Through its many different programmes, the CPA sets out to capture the diverse experience of parliamentary democracies across the Commonwealth.

We are talking about a community of 2.4 billion people all over the planet. The Parliaments they elect are frequently young, so the CPA’s focus and ethos seeks to engage young people in a positive way. We have encouraged the sharing of ideas for 110 years, and we recognise the diverse challenges that many Commonwealth jurisdictions face. All our work seeks to strengthen what individual member Parliaments can do. Above all, we are in the business of dialogue at national, regional and pan-Commonwealth levels.

For that reason, the nature of the CPA’s status in law really matters. Increasingly, we operate rather like a non-governmental organisation. Our voice is listened to at the highest levels throughout the Commonwealth, but there remains one legal peculiarity that the Bill seeks to cure. By a curious quirk of tradition, the CPA still qualifies as a charity. When the organisation was founded 110 years ago, it was granted charitable status. Perhaps there was a compelling reason at the time, but as the years have passed and the old empire gave way to the new, young Commonwealth, a growing mood of concern began to spread among CPA members about what it means to be a charity.

For example, questions have been raised about whether it is right that taxpayers’ money from low and middle-income countries should continue to be sent to a UK charity. That is perhaps an arguable point, but it is important. In the spirit of doing what the Commonwealth tries so hard to do, it would be much better if any such argument were removed. Achieving that requires a legal change, with a Bill such as this being adopted and put on the statute book.

I do not believe there is any reason to doubt that such a measure would command widespread, if not overwhelming, support in this House and the other place. The Bill is simple and straightforward, and I believe it enjoys the support of both Houses. The CPA seeks a legal status in UK law that is similar to the one enjoyed by comparable organisations such as the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie. As a group of parliamentary nations that share the French language—a long list of places such as Belgium, Canada, Belize and Cambodia—it is a mini Gallic Commonwealth. Such simple legal recognition would enable the CPA to have yet more positive influence. I do not think that is much to ask.

I am delighted that the former Lord Speaker, Baroness D’Souza, has already introduced a similar measure in the other place. The enthusiasm for change unites all the parties throughout our Parliament. Mr Speaker has been an enormous advocate for what we are trying to achieve and has been helpful in every way.

This would also be a fitting tribute to the patron of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Her Majesty the Queen. If ever such a measure were to be passed, it should be in this year of her jubilee. There is no greater supporter of Commonwealth ideals than the monarch. The respect in which she is held and the influence for good that she continues to wield are vital to the ongoing way the Commonwealth works.

I pay tribute to the Foreign Secretary, and to Ministers and shadow Ministers, for the work they have done to help us in this matter. Of course, there are a lot of things we need to do. Yesterday, I received a letter from the Minister who looks after the Commonwealth, which I will need to read carefully and digest as to any ramifications and things that we may have to address. I know that the Government are listening, and I hope that they will find a time and opportunity suitable to carry this Bill forward, so that we can change this situation. I therefore commend the Bill to the House.

Question put and agreed to.

Ordered,

That Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger, Julie Elliott, Andrew Rosindell, David Mundell, Bob Blackman, Mrs Maria Miller, Harriett Baldwin, Theo Clarke, Steve Brine, Sarah Champion, Chris Elmore and Dr Lisa Cameron present the Bill.

Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger accordingly presented the Bill.

Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 25 February, and to be printed (Bill 257).