(Mr R J Tau): Hon House Chair, the report has been tabled and printed in the Announcements, Tablings and Committee Reports document. My role is just to remind hon members that we had a consultative conference or seminar with the provincial legislatures and Parliament from 5 to 6 September 2011.
At the heart of that seminar was the issue of our beginning to look at the role that the legislative sector in South Africa is playing in achieving the Millennium Development Goals. That must be reported to this House, without going into much detail on the report. As I have said, it has been printed.
You will note that, in line with the recommendations and conclusions of the seminar, the issues have been aligned with the five priorities of government.
Central to the five priorities, as agreed to by the seminar, is the question of how we as the legislative sector can strengthen our oversight role in ensuring that the departments we are supposed to oversee, align, in whatever way, their programmes, strategic plans and budgets with the Millennium Development Goals. That will strengthen our role as Members of Parliament in our oversight work - whether by questions, motions, statements or any other means - to align our work to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. It is in that context that we present the report to the House for it to be adopted.
We also want to note the fact that it was an historic moment. Not only was it about what national departments were doing - what they were seeking to achieve and how far they had achieved the goals and objectives set - but it was also primarily about highlighting what provinces were doing. If you go into the report, you will get the gist of what the provinces are doing and, beyond that, even what municipalities are doing to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
It is in that context that I rise to present the report to the House. Thank you. Debate concluded.
Question put: That the Report be adopted.
IN FAVOUR: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape.
Report accordingly adopted in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.