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Delegation Reports
Parliamentary delegation from Uruguay
17 to 21 November 2008 Delegation Mr Alberto Perdomo Mr Alberto Couriel Dr Diego Canepa Mr Gustavo Bernini Dr Jose Amorin Mr Oscar Piquinela Mrs Carina Galvalisi The delegation arrived at Heathrow on Sunday, 16 May, and was met on arrival by His Excellency Mr Ricardo Varela, Ambassador to Uruguay and Miss Dominique Rees, Deputy Secretary of the IPU. The official programme started on Monday morning with a tour of the Household Cavalry barracks led by Captain James de St John-Pryce and Captain Charlie Meredith-Hardy. The second meeting that morning was at the offices of Diageo where the delegation enjoyed an animated discussion on trade issues. Lunch in Shepherd’s Restaurant was hosted by Baroness Gibson of Market Rasen OBE, Chair of the Latin American All Party Group. Discussions at the lunch had the theme of Climate Change and Nuclear Energy and a number of UK parliamentarians and experts on the issues participated. The delegation then moved on to Parliament for a meeting with Colin Challen MP, Chairman of the All Party Group on Climate Change. Mr Challen, who met the Environment Minister from Uruguay a few weeks previously, outlined the main aspects of the Climate Change Bill. He informed the delegation about the newly established Climate Change Committee which will be set up in December to advise the Government on emissions targets and will report to Parliament on progress made in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The delegation mentioned a new forestation programme that had been introduced in Uruguay where one million hectares have been planted. After a brief rest back at the hotel, Monday’s programme ended with the official welcoming dinner in the House of Commons hosted by Dr Roger Berry MP, Chair of the British Group IPU. Tuesday morning began with a tour of the Palace of Westminster led by Gordon Prentice MP. The delegation then had a meeting with Mark Hutton MP, Chair of the Overseas Office in the House of Commons, for a presentation on Parliamentary Procedures. The discussion also covered Members’ pay and expenses, the procedure followed in tied votes in the House and what happens when the Commons and Lords cannot reach agreement on amendments, known as ‘double insistence’. The delegation then moved to Portcullis House for a meeting with Mike Gapes MP, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, who briefly explained the Select Committee system in the House of Commons and then went into detail on the work of the Foreign Affairs Committee. The delegation expressed their concerns that Latin America was not a priority for the UK Government. Mr Gapes reassured them that the UK recognised the very important geopolitical role of Uruguay in Mercosur, but that the UK was under pressure to increase it’s presence in Asia and in new emerging countries and as a consequence a number of embassies in Latin American had been closed. He explained this was a budgetary problem. Lunch that day took place in Peers’ Dining Room and was hosted by Baroness Hooper. After lunch the delegation met Alda Barry, Registrar of Members’ Interests, who described to them the work of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards. Following this the delegation was able to view proceedings in the House of Lords before meeting with the Lord Speaker. The last meeting of the day was with Shaun Stewart of Rio Tinto who outlined details of the company’s project to build a port in Western Uruguay which will despatch iron ore from mines in Brazil. Dinner that evening was at the Ambassador’s residence where the delegation had an enjoyable evening in the company of a number of Latin American ambassadors. Wednesday morning began with a two-hour round-table discussion with members of the British Group IPU chaired by Jeremy Corbyn MP. The discussions began with opening remarks on the longstanding good relations between our two countries. The other topics covered at the meeting included Uruguay’s relations with its Mercosur neighbours and with Argentina, climate change and energy, including nuclear energy and the effects of the financial crisis on international trade. After the discussions, the delegation went on to observe Prime Minister’s Question Time before heading off to Lancaster House for the Government Lunch hosted by Bob Blizzard MP. After a short, sightseeing trip around London the delegation returned to Parliament for a meeting with Gillian Merron MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office who sought the delegation’s views on issues of climate change, the financial crisis and Uruguay’s peacekeeping role. The last event in Westminster was a reception hosted by the Speaker, the Rt Hon Michael Martin MP, in his State Apartments. This event was also attended by other UK parliamentarians and other Central American ambassadors. Early the next morning, the delegation travelled up to Edinburgh. They were greeted at the airport by Mark Burgess, from the International Division of the Scottish Government. The delegation headed directly to the Scottish Parliament where they were met by Margaret Neal of the External Liaison Unit. There was time in the afternoon for the delegation to enjoy a tour of Rosslyn Chapel before heading for a brief rest at the Hotel. Dinner that evening was at Edinburgh Castle and was hosted by Michael Russell MSP, Minister of the Environment. The delegation departed Edinburgh early on Friday morning and headed to Ascot Racecourse for the day with lunch hosted by Alan Meale MP and Roger Easterby, Director of Parliamentary Affairs at the Tote. The delegation returned to Uruguay later that evening.
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