Madam Deputy Speaker, hon members, hon Ministers and Deputy Ministers, the institution of Parliament has been referred to by some as the legitimate speaking place, or the institutional marketplace for ideas, or the theatre of dreams, or the engine of democracy, or even as the soul of the state - the state, this time, represented by all citizens. For this institution to play its expected role effectively, it will have to be underpinned by conscientious administrative and management services.
The other day the Speaker of the National Assembly, the hon Max Sisulu, pointed out to me a profound observation, namely that with each passing term of this Parliament the needs and the interests of members, including the implements of their trade, have become incrementally but, at times, radically sophisticated, prominently as a result of the demands of their daily responsibilities as the elected representatives of the people. These have ranged from transport, accommodation, human resources, security, offices and office equipment, computers, catering, parking, training, cellphones, etc. However, these cannot be adequately fulfilled at any given time of progress, development and new challenges.
An important milestone for us this year was when the Quarterly Consultative Forum was recently provided with additional support staff in the form of the forum support office. This development took place after consultations with the Secretary to Parliament, at which we stressed the importance of situating support for this joint forum of both the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces more centrally, that is in the Office of the Secretary to Parliament, at which administrative resources and services can be readily secured.
Members will recall that the Quarterly Consultative Forum, QCF, is a forum supporting the work of 490 Members of Parliament by facilitating inputs on matters relating to members' benefits, interests and facilities, as has been listed above.
Regarding a review of policies affecting members' interests, in an endeavour to improve the working conditions of Members of Parliament and enhance their effectiveness and efficiency, we are reviewing some of the parliamentary policies that bear little or no relevance to the growth of the institution.
For instance, as far as the members' training policy is concerned, which is designed to sharpen the skills and competencies of our members, preparing them for effective execution when dealing with oversight and accountability functions, Parliament offers training opportunities.
We are currently assisting the Deputy Speaker to formulate a programme of training for Members of Parliament. However, the normal leadership development programmes that capacitate members and that are planned by the Speakers' Forum will continue through the various internal and external processes. Here we also attach an annexure in the form of a report from the reference group working with the Speakers' Forum.
On 26 March to 28 March this year, a strategic workshop was held for the Office of the Deputy Speaker, with the objective of synergising all the areas of responsibility, including an integrated form of training for members. In addition, the Speaker felt that it was imperative for the periodic training of members on the workings of Parliament to take place at the beginning and the middle of each year. This training will include, among other things, rules and procedures in the House, motions, conduct of members, public speaking, speech-writing and the use of information, communication and technology, etc.
We have circulated a draft members' training policy and have requested feedback from parties. Thus far, I must say, we have not received responses. We, again, urge parties to give their inputs before the QCF meeting which is scheduled for 15 June. Again, I attach an annexure training report for 2011-12.
I now come to the remuneration and review of members' travel policy. Currently, the task team on the remuneration for public office bearers, chaired by the Chairperson of the NCOP and the Speaker of Gauteng, is engaging with the Seriti commission, which was appointed by the President, to discuss matters of salaries and tools of trade. The task team on members' travel facilities, co-chaired by Chief Whip Ntwanambi in the NCOP and Deputy Chief Whip Mr Magwanishe in the NA, is reviewing the Handbook on Facilities for Members, and the recommendations will be collated and presented to the QCF meeting of 15 June for further consideration.
This task team will also consider facilities for members with special needs, including air tickets - hon Van der Merwe - for current and former members. From the QCF, these recommendations will be forwarded to the executive authority to consider the financial implications thereof and thereafter to the Parliamentary Oversight Authority for final approval.
The Deputy Speaker has observed that there were necessary changes needed with regard to Parmed, that is the members' medical aid service provider, in order to make the medical aid more relevant to all Members of Parliament. As a result, parties have been requested to provide the Deputy Speaker with inputs on the changes they propose in the following areas: compulsory membership; composition of the Parmed Board; relevance of the presidential seal of 1975; benefits provided as compared to other medical aids - diversity; status of dependants; and fee structure.
We therefore remind members to provide inputs accordingly so as to fast- track the discourse of these issues at the Parmed annual general meeting on 1 June. If you haven't, you are already late.
With regard to the management of parliamentary villages, the Deputy Speaker requested that the Department of Public Works and the SA Police Service provide regular reports to the Quarterly Consultative Forum, in the absence of a properly functioning parliamentary villages management board.
It is important to note that the new Minister of Public Works, Minister Thulasi Nxesi, is introducing some far-reaching changes within the parliamentary villages which we need to take account of, hence there have been some delays experienced in implementing some of the decisions taken in the past financial year of Parliament. The Minister, the Deputy Speaker and I discussed the immediate establishment of an interim parliamentary villages management board, which must be chaired by a Member of Parliament, probably appointed by the Speaker, of which the Minister of Public Works and the Minister of Police and their directors-general will be members, along with the residents' committees executive members.
In so far as security at villages is concerned, the SA Police Service continue to report the following challenges experienced at the parliamentary villages for which they request the co-operation of Members of Parliament and the Department of Public Works. Some of the challenges are that the residents' committees are not functioning effectively at present. These structures need to be revitalised at Laboria Park and Pelican Park. There are no intercom systems between the houses and the main entrance to verify and make prior arrangements for the entry of visitors. The proper auditing of villages is needed, including a permit card system for pedestrians. These are currently being looked at by Public Works and the police.
We believe that when the Minister of Police becomes a member of the parliamentary villages management board, a lot of security matters relating to authority, protocol, powers and resources will be dealt with fairly. When coming to sport and recreation, I would like to present a factual appeal from the sports council to Members of this Parliament. Briefly, the Parliamentary Sport and Recreation Council is an important body whose objective is to promote the unity and wellness of hon Members and staff of Parliament.
It is therefore imperative that individual members of this House utilise any time at their disposal for participating in any sport or recreational code of their choice. The current Public Works Minister's turnaround strategy in the department is appreciated as it also caters for an urgent establishment of the long-outstanding gymnasiums in the parks where members reside.
The two existing parliamentary gyms are not equipped for optimum utilisation by members. However, they will be used especially during the sports council's newly introduced Wednesday walks. The administrative support should be provided by Parliament in order for the council to be effective and efficient as per the approved concept that established the council.
Now I want to turn to parliamentary management. I will start with the gift shop. Parliament is reintroducing a gift shop where Members of Parliament and visiting communities will be able to purchase parliamentary-branded material and merchandise such as caps, jackets, blazers, key rings, cuff links, T-shirts, scarves, and any other merchandise they require. Turning to the issue of the distribution of cellphones for members and insurance, I want to say that all members' cellphones are procured on a prepaid basis and delivered. There is no change regarding the ownership and insurance of these devices. Ownership remains with Parliament and the device is covered while on the parliamentary precincts. Members are thus requested to make provision for loss of the device outside of Parliament by including it under their own general insurance. The matter of insurance will be discussed at the next QCF meeting, because the Speaker did say that if the members and the parties wanted to review the insurance, then it was up to them to begin the process from scratch.
The tools of the trade are provided to members in terms of the Fixed Asset Policy of Parliament, and therefore old cellphones will need to be returned. With regard to the latest technology in the form of iPads, the Speaker has recommended that Members of Parliament purchase their own iPads as Parliament has provided cellphones as well as mobile desktops and laptop computers to all members. [Interjections.] So you are encouraged to buy your own iPads. [Interjections.] I am the messenger. [Laughter.] The Speaker is saying, "Don't kill the messenger." I still remember a secretary of Prime Minister Thatcher turning the whole thing around, saying that because they criticised him a lot, he wrote a book called Kill the Messenger. [Laughter.]
I now turn to household services. During the year the Catering Section introduced a Customer Satisfaction Survey, which requests members to express their satisfaction. This has focused the staff's attention on the improvement of services to members and given immediate attention to members' specific needs. This deals with food and so on. The cleaning and maintenance of members' offices and other facilities improved significantly. The number of cleaning staff was increased through the appointment of an independent service provider. The Household section has also improved the monitoring of contracted staff to ensure that all facilities are neat and kept tidy at all times.
In conclusion, we continue to urge all parties to include on their weekly caucus agendas a standing item on members' interests. We believe that this would enhance the functioning of the QCF, which meets once a month during parliamentary sessions. We further appeal to chairpersons of portfolio committees relevant to the interests and needs of Members of Parliament, that is health, welfare, education, security, sport, social development, transport, etc, to urge committees to play a role in the development and welfare of all Members of Parliament, which include themselves. There is no point having a Portfolio Committee on Police, but then having members struggling with their security while the portfolio committee looks outside Parliament. They all belong to one community, so we can't isolate ourselves.
When it comes to education, I want to say that members can't struggle with their children's education and so on while we have a portfolio committee dealing with education, but which is focusing outside of what affects members.
I would like to thank the following for their assistance and support and co- operation: My Co-Chairperson, Mr Tau, who is in the NCOP; the Speaker and the Chairperson; the Deputy Speakers of both Houses; the Members of the Quarterly Consultative Forum; the Chief Whips of both Houses; the Secretary, the Deputy Secretary and the chief operating officer of Parliament; the parliamentary management and all staff related to management and administration. Thank you very much. [Applause.] [Interjections.] Of course, I would like to thank my florist for these flowers.