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Delegation Reports
Parliamentary delegation from the United Arab Emirates
26 to 28 January 2009 Delegation H.E. Dr Fatema Al Mazrooei, PhD, H.E. Hussain Al Shafar H.E. Rashed Al Murar H.E. Saeed Al Hafri H.E. Jamal Al Hai H.E. Dr. Mohamed Al Mazrooei (General Secretary) The delegation led by His Excellency, the Speaker of the Federal National Council, Mr Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair, arrived at Farnborough Airport on the evening of Sunday, 25 January. They were met by the United Arab Emirates Chargé d’Affairs Mr Al Shamisi, Kenneth Courtenay, General Secretary of the British Group IPU (BGIPU) and Andrea Skyring, Deputy Secretary. The official programme began on Monday morning with a visit to the newly launched 24/7 BBC World Service (Arabic) where the delegation met the Head of Arabic Service, Hosam El-Sokkari. The delegation then travelled to the Palace of Westminster where they were formally welcomed by Jill Pay, Sergeant at Arms, before meeting with Liam Laurence Smyth, Clerk of Bills, who briefed the delegation on parliamentary practices and procedures in the House of Commons. Lunch was at Shepherd’s restaurant hosted by the Rt Hon John McFall MP and Members from both the Treasury Select Committee and the British Group IPU. The discussion focussed on the current international financial crisis. Following lunch, the delegation met parliamentarians on the executive committee of the Council for Arab-British Understanding (CAABU). The meeting was chaired by Christine Russell MP, Vice-Chair of the BGIPU, and covered a whole range of subjects. One of the issues discussed was the problem of obtaining student visas since the introduction of a points system. The delegation secured a promise from MPs that they would speak to the Home Office regarding this issue. The final meeting of the day was with Angela Eagle MP, Exchequer Secretary at the Treasury. The delegation had discussions on recent major UK announcements in the financial sector, fiscal policy and housing as well as the FSA work on Northern Rock and the review of the regulation and supervision of the banking sector. In the evening, Christine Russell MP, Vice-Chair of the BGIPU, and members of the BGIPU hosted a welcome dinner for the delegation. Tuesday began with a tour of the Palace of Westminster led by BGIPU Executive Committee Member Eric Illsley MP. This was followed by a meeting with the Rt Hon Baroness Hayman who briefed the delegation on her role as Lord Speaker and the ongoing reform of the House of Lords. There was time before lunch for two members of the delegation to have a guided tour of the House of Commons library before the whole delegation headed off to meet Ken Purchase MP and Members of the Foreign Affairs Committee. The Parliamentary lunch was hosted by the Rt Hon Lord Jopling DL in the Peers’ Dining Room. After lunch, the delegation met Peter Luff, Chairman of the Business and Enterprise Select Committee, in Portcullis House, along with Committee Members. Julie Kirkbride MP, Lembit Opik MP and Anthony Wright MP. In the evening, the delegation had dinner with the Speaker, the Rt Hon Michael Martin MP, in his apartments in the House of Commons. The dinner was undoubtedly the highlight of the visit, and many of the delegates commented that it was by far the grandest affair they had ever experienced in their parliamentary travels. Wednesday morning began with a two-hour round table discussion with Members of the BGIPU and the United Arab Emirates All Party Parliamentary Group, chaired by John Grogan MP. During the discussions, the delegation asked MPs and Peers if they could ask the Foreign Secretary about the disputed sovereignty of the Abu Musa, Tunb and Lesser Tunb islands in the Persian Gulf near the Straight of Hormuz. The delegation wanted to know what representations the Foreign Secretary has received from the United Arab Emirates Government and what representations the Government has made to the Government of Iran and the recent Iranian delegation to London on the disputed sovereignty. The Members undertook to ask the Foreign Secretary. The delegation then attended Prime Minister’s Questions before moving on to Lancaster House for lunch with Lord Bach, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State and Government Spokesperson, Ministry of Justice. The delegation then departed London for onward flights home.
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