Visit of the Honourable Pierre Claude Nolin, Speaker of the Senate, and a Parliamentary Delegation, United Kingdom

From March 19 to 21, 2015, the Speaker of the Senate, the Honourable Pierre Claude Nolin, conducted a visit to the United Kingdom. Accompanying the Speaker were the Honourable David P. Smith, P.C., Q.C., Senator, the Honourable Elaine McCoy, Senator, the Honourable Diane Bellemare, Senator and Mr. Charles Robert, Clerk of the Senate and of the Parliaments.

During the visit, the delegation met with:

• The Right Honourable the Baroness D’Souza, CMG, Lord Speaker;
• Lord Bew, Member of the House of Lords;
• Lord Brabazon of Tara, DL, Member of the House of Lords;
• Lord Lisvane, KCB, Member of the House of Lords;
• Mr. David Beamish, Clerk of the Parliaments, House of Lords;
• Dr. Christopher Johnson, Principal Clerk of Select Committees, House of Lords;
• Mr. Brendan Keith, Registrar of Lords’ Interests, House of Lords;
• Ms. Chloe Mawson, Clerk of the Privileges and Conduct Committee, House of Lords;
• Mr. Simon Burton, Reading Clerk and Clerk of the Overseas Office, House of Lords;
• Dr. Meg Russell, Reader in British and Comparative Politics and Deputy Director of the Constitution Unit, University College London;
• Dr. Andrew Blick, Lecturer in Politics and Contemporary History, King’s College London;
• Mr. Adrian Crompton, Director of Assembly Business, National Assembly of Wales;
• Mr. Richard Gordon, Q.C., Barrister and Coauthor of Parliamentary Privilege: Evolution or codification; and
• Dr. Chris Balinger, Academic Dean and Official Fellow of Exeter College.

The main objective of the visit was to discuss parliamentary privilege, an issue of common interest to both the Parliament of Canada and the Palace of Westminster. The report will be available once it is presented in the Senate. View report.