E N D
ANZACATT Professional Development Seminar 2010Strengthening, Security and Promoting ParliamentWorkshop 2ABenchmarking – International developments in strengthening parliamentsParliamentary Support and InfrastructurePresentation by Lynne EdmonsonSenior Parliamentary Officer (Research and Education)Office of the Clerk of the House of RepresentativesNew Zealand
Aims of approach Benchmarking requires a measurement mechanism in order to identify a performance “gap” Approach aims to identify: • Priorities and means for strengthening Parliament • More efficient and effective processes • Goals for programme output, service quality and process improvement
Benchmarks • Quantitative or Qualitative data (statistics/percentages, surveys, hits/feedback forms, interviews, reports) • Relevant (enhances environment) • Realistic (priorities) • Purposeful (objectives) • Add value (best practice)
Parliamentary Staff CPA 5.1.1 The legislature shall have an adequate non-partisan professional staff to support its operations including the operations of its committees. Examples: - percentages analysed to identify number of Clerks-at-the-Table required to support operations - supporting the operations of select committees - member support (induction and ongoing educational sessions for MPs) - professional development/training for staff
General - Infrastructure CPA 1.7.1 The legislature shall have adequate physical infrastructure to enable members and staff to fulfil their responsibilities. Examples: - goes beyond Chamber, committee rooms and Offices - includes records management, eCommittee
Representational function – Constituent relations CPA 8.1.1 The legislature shall provide all legislators with adequate and appropriate resources to enable the legislators to fulfil their constituency responsibilities. Example: - relationship management (ongoing support and infrastructure)
Parliamentary Staff - General CPA 5.1.4 Members and staff of the legislature shall have access to sufficient research, library, and ICT facilities. Examples: - supporting staff (expertise) and back-up systems available - partnerships
CPA 9.2.1 Where the constitution or parliamentary rules provide for the use of multiple working languages, the legislature shall make every reasonable effort to provide for simultaneous interpretation of debates and translation of records. Examples: - European Parliament and Canada - vital for transparency of the legislature and to encourage citizen participation Accessibility - Languages
Transparency and accessibility of parliament IPU 4.3 How effective is parliament in informing the public about its work, through a variety of channels? Accountability Examples: - broadcasting - reporting - website - publications - select committees process - petitions - Citizens Initiated Referenda - tours/education services for public/tertiary/special interest groups - constituency clinics
IPU data collection framework 5 = very high/very good 4 = high/good 3 = medium 2 = low/poor 1 = very low/very poor or Devising a method of scoring by setting top scores higher in areas considered more important than others
Sources of information Association of Secretaries General of Parliaments (ASGP), (2009). Evaluating parliament: Objectives, methods, results and impact. Geneva, Switzerland, Thursday 22 October 2009. Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), (2006). Benchmarks for Democratic Legislatures, A Study Group Report. Duncan, Tom. Benchmarking and Measuring the Management of Parliament. Paper presented at 35th Presiding Officers and Clerks Conference, Melbourne, Victoria, July 2004. Inter-parliamentary Union (IPU), (2008). Evaluating Parliament: A self-assessment toolkit for Parliaments. International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), (2008). Assessing the Quality of Democracy: A Practical Guide. Laurie, Neil, (Chair). Benchmarking, KPI’s, Annual Reporting for parliamentary departments and the use of member surveys. Paper presented at ANZACATT Professional Development Seminar, Sydney, 29 January 2004. Monk, David, (2009). In the Eye of the Beholder? A Framework for Testing the Effectiveness of Parliamentary Committees. Parliamentary Studies Paper 10, Crawford School of Economics and Government, The Australian National University, Canberra.