CPA statement: CPA Status Bill in UK Government’s Legislative Programme

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) has welcomed the announcement today that a Bill to change the CPA’s legal status has been included in the UK Government’s Legislative Programme announced in the King’s Speech.

As set out in the CPA’s Strategic Plan (2022 to 2025), the CPA is seeking a change in its status. The proposed Bill is expected to provide the basis to confer on the CPA a legal status comparable to an international organisation. The CPA was registered as a UK charity in 1971 and it is subject to regulation by the UK Charity Commission and UK legislation on the charities sector.

The proposed Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and International Committee of the Red Cross (Status) Bill will also change the status for another international organisation, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The ICRC is a neutral, independent and impartial humanitarian organisation helping victims of armed conflicts and other situations of violence.

The Acting Chairperson of the CPA Executive Committee, Hon. Arthur Holder, MHA, Speaker of the House of Assembly of Barbados welcomed the announcement and said:

“The CPA has been working tirelessly to change the status of the Association for a number of years and so we welcome this latest announcement by the UK Government as a positive step towards this goal. Changing the CPA’s legal status is a legislative change that has been requested by Commonwealth Parliamentarians across the CPA’s membership.”

The CPA Secretary-General, Stephen Twigg said:

“The CPA has long sought a change in its legal status with recognition in UK law. On behalf of the CPA, we would like to thank the UK Government and the efforts of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the CPA UK Branch in advancing this legislative change to the CPA’s legal status. We look forward to working with parliamentary colleagues to progress this important piece of legislation through the UK Parliament to ensure that CPA’s work on strengthening Parliaments and promoting democracy can continue uninterrupted.”

Click here for additional details about the proposed Bill. Further details will be announced in due course.

• To note: A Private Members’ Bill on the CPA’s Legal Status was introduced in the last UK Parliament by Rt Hon. Dame Maria Miller and Rt Hon. Baroness Frances D’Souza with cross party support in both Houses of the UK Parliament. The Bill completed its Second and Third Readings in the House of Commons and Second Reading in the House of Lords but was not completed in the parliamentary schedule available before the UK General Election was called in May 2024.

-ENDS-

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association connects, develops, promotes and supports Parliamentarians and their staff to identify benchmarks of good governance and the implementation of the enduring values of the Commonwealth. The CPA is an international community of around 180 Commonwealth Parliaments and Legislatures working together to deepen the Commonwealth’s commitment to the highest standards of democratic governance.

For media enquiries, please contact communications@cpahq.org.