There is no formal mechanism within the Parliament to track whether standing committee recommendations are implemented after a ministry responds.
Secretary-General to Parliament Jeanette Emberson said this while responding to a query from Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence member Virendra Lal during a standing committee hearing on Parliament’s annual report.
“Accordingly, the secretariat does not monitor or report on the subsequent implementation status of those recommendations,” she said.
She said Parliament could follow best practices from other parliaments and establish a register to keep a record of recommendations and their implementation.
“This would enable standing committees to track and monitor the implementation of their recommendations through regular follow-up processes and, where necessary, determine whether the relevant agencies or ministries or entities should be called or recalled before the committee to account for progress made.”
A separate question on research capacity was raised by committee chair and deputy Speaker Lenora Qereqeretabua.
She pointed out that the Research and Library Services unit which produces briefs, summaries, speaking notes and speeches for MPs had only three research officers and one librarian during the reporting period. Ms Qereqeretabua questioned whether Parliament planned to expand the capacity of its research unit.
Ms Emberson admitted it was a challenge
“One research staff was on study leave overseas during that period.”
She said capacity had since improved to four research officers and one librarian.
“We had other internal issues too that we had to deal with in terms of performance of staffing within that unit, but that has since been dealt with.”
