Chairperson, hon Speaker, hon Ministers and Deputy Ministers, hon members, the House Chairperson: Internal Arrangements was appointed in accordance with the National Assembly Rule 14, amended on 26 May 2009. This Rule provides that the Speaker would allocate functions and responsibilities to the House Chairperson and announce this in the ATC. These functions and responsibilities are as follows: ensuring the wellbeing and interests of members; overseeing and ensuring alignment of structures dealing with members' interests and facilities; receiving and providing reports on issues of members' interests; ensuring the enhancement of capacity of members; ensuring the development of policy in respect of former members; developing and proposing policy on benefits and facilities for former members; and participating in liaison with the various parliamentary committees, e.g. the National Assembly Programming Committee, Chief Whips Forum, National Assembly Forum, Joint Rules, National Assembly Rules and the Joint Parliamentary Budget Forum.
As the House Chairperson on internal arrangements, I chair the Quarterly Consultative Forum which provides the vehicle for processing what I have just mentioned. The Quarterly Consultative Forum is a parliamentary forum where political parties in Parliament must represent the interests of their members without failure. However, we are experiencing some challenges regarding effective representation.
During the conference of the Speakers Forum in March this year, Shameela Seedat from Idasa referred to Parliament as "a theatre of dreams". We know that Lebo Mashile, in her poem, brought the matter uncomfortably closer to us when she said, "you and I; We are the keepers of dreams". However, the vexed questions for us members remain: What are these dreams? To whom does the dream belong? Who should fulfil this dream, and how?
To begin answering these questions in a reasonable manner, we need to revisit the idea and the meaning of the covenant; the solemn agreement that has conferred on all of us the honour of being called elected representatives and the voice of the people. I believe we will do justice to this social contract only if we express unwavering confidence in the sovereignty of Parliament, the state or the Republic, which is the embodiment of the collective will of the people.
I am often concerned when Members of Parliament do not make full use of some of the parliamentary structures at their disposal, intended to equip and empower them to excel in their service of the people. For instance, the Quarterly Consultative Forum - which now meets monthly - focuses on internal arrangements to cater for the interests and development of all Members of Parliament. We believe that a healthy, mentally alert, well- trained, sufficiently skilled and well-resourced Member of Parliament becomes an effective living tool to realize the mission and vision of Parliament. He or she is the agent of genuine transformation for the advancement of good for all the governed, in particular the majority of South Africans who are poor, homeless, unemployed, living with ill health, marginalised and underdeveloped.
The Speaker referred to this institution as "a strong, powerful institution of democracy".
In ensuring the success of our forum, we have cultivated a good relationship with service providers. These service providers are internal and external. Internal service providers include Members of Parliament and parliamentary services, and external service providers include the Department of Public Works and the VIP Protection Services of the Police.
Under internal service providers we have a support of units with different responsibilities. Various projects are in progress in consultation with various functional departments. The internal service providers play a pivotal role in ensuring that Parliament operates smoothly and that Members of Parliament are empowered and skilled and that their interests are generally enhanced.
Under the Institutional Support Services unit we have managed to set up a team to work on the improvement of the catering services. I think there was also a concern that the House's microphones are not adequate. The original request for microphones was processed, and a feasibility study was done. It was agreed that 120 microphones be installed. Sound and Vision has submitted a proposal to the Secretary to Parliament for funding. For assistance around this and other support, including parking in Parliament and maintenance, I am going to ask members to contact Mr Lionel Klassen, the manager of Institutional Division, at 0214033100.
Members' Facilities section provides a service to all members and administers and monitors all claims submitted and paid to members. The section is further responsible for the administration and support of the travel system through which members procure their travel. There was an increase in the budget of Members' Facilities. The increase was, in part, due to changes in the policy approved at the end of the third Parliament. These changes included additional travel allocations, provision for improved facilities for members over 70 years of age and members with special needs. The budget also includes compensation for members, facilities for members, as well as transfer payments to political parties. The facilities further include travel and related costs, telephone expenditure, relocation, training and facilities for former members and Ministers.
Facilities are provided to members in terms of the policy. In consultation with Members, the section continually reviews policy provisions and the services provided, to ensure that the changing needs of members are met. For further information in this regard, I am going to refer members to Ms Linda Harper, who is the manager of Members' Facilities, on 0214033421
Parliament has embraced ICT, information and communications technology, solutions as tools of trade to enable Members of Parliament to fulfil their duties efficiently and effectively. During the third Parliament, ICT equipment given to members was either underutilised or not used at all due to specific circumstances of individual members. A wider choice that is specifically targeted at the requirements of each member would greatly reduce this underutilisation.
As part of the fourth Parliament project, a subproject was created to identify, procure and implement ICT equipment for the fourth democratic Parliament in line with members' needs and requirements. To optimise entitlements and utilisation, members were provided with the following: One, a laptop of choice with a docking station and a mobile printer for use both on and off site. On site, the member can use a docking station and its accessories. Off site, the member can undock the laptop and use it anywhere in the world. The major benefit is to simplify information management as there is only one source of information both on and off site. This package includes a mobile printer.
Two, a multifunction desktop printer was also provided for on-site printing. Three, a mobile device of choice, selected from the following collection of mobile devices: an HTC S740, a Nokia 371, a Samsung Omnia 1900 and a Sony Ericsson Xperia 1, was provided for members.
Eat you heart out, hon Bapela. I can talk about these things!
For further assistance, I am going to refer members to Mr Malose Dolo, who is the manager of the project. His number is 0214038042.
The section of Members' Training is responsible for providing support and administration of training programmes for members. This falls directly within the parliamentary responsibilities of the Deputy Speaker.
The Advisory Training Committee, made up of Members of Parliament and which is responsible for advising the Presiding Officers on training matters, has been established. It is currently reviewing programmes which were offered in the previous parliamentary term with a view to recommend relevant and new programmes.
In the interim, the following programmes are being implemented: a Certificate in Public Finance, offered by Unisa; and a B.Comm Honours degree, offered by the University of the Western Cape. A new programme sponsored by the Speakers Forum and facilitated by the Public Administration Leadership and Management Academy ... [Interjections.]